Why Did John Cena and Nikki Bella Break Up?

Nikki Bella is “heartbroken” by her split from John Cena just weeks before they were set to tie the knot.

Although Cena said in the past that he didn’t want to get married again — he was previously married to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 until 2012 — he got down on one knee and proposed to Bella last year at WrestleMania 33. However, a source close to Bella told PEOPLE that Cena started getting cold feet as the wedding date drew near.

The source said, “She never gave him an ultimatum. He talked a really good game about having changed, about having his priorities straight, about knowing what’s important, and that it was her. But as the day got closer, it was like he just went back to who he’s always been — which is someone who puts himself first, always,” the insider says. “He’s an incredibly dedicated, driven, ambitious guy. And for the longest time, he said he didn’t think he had room in his life for a spouse or kids. It seems like in the end that was still the truth.”

“But in that case, he never should’ve proposed, let alone in front of millions of people. Now she’s heartbroken.”

“This was supposed to be the happiest time of her life,” the source adds. “He ruined it and blew everything up.”

Their wedding was set for Saturday, May 5 in Mexico, where Bella was excited to celebrate her Mexican heritage with family and friends.

“It wasn’t going to be some showy Hollywood, over-the-top glitzy thing,” the source tells PEOPLE.

The insider says Bella will be “fine,” and feels that Cena is “the ultimate heel.”

“In wrestling, there are two archetypes: faces and heels,” the source explains. “A face is a good guy, a hero, who you root for. A heel is a villain, who sometimes can seem like a good guy but then turns around and shows his true, evil colors. John Cena just revealed himself as the ultimate heel.”

The couple announced their breakup in a joint statement, which Bella shared on Twitter and Instagram.

“After much contemplation and 6 years of being together Nikki Bella and John Cena announced today their decision to separate as a couple,” the statement reads.

“While this decision was a difficult one, we continue to have a great deal of love and respect for one another. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time in our lives.”

Cena seemingly opened up about the end of the relationship on Monday, tweeting, “Hardship, loss, and humility are extremely difficult waters to navigate, but perseverance thru them builds a strength to withstand anything life throws your way.”