In 2018, during the height of Total Divas‘ popularity, the seventh season featured a prominent storyline about Alexa Bliss and her engagement to former WWE Superstar Buddy Murphy. This narrative peaked in Season 7, Episode 8, titled “Wedded Bliss,” which aired in January of that year. The show highlighted the struggles the couple faced as their plans to marry were delayed due to conflicting schedules and professional challenges.
Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy had been engaged for two years without setting a wedding date. Murphy was still an NXT Superstar and had yet to move up to WWE’s main roster. Additionally, injuries and the looming possibility of Murphy’s release, or potentially returning to Australia, contributed to the postponement of their marriage plans.
Tensions Surface During a Confrontational Lunch Scene
One of the episode’s key moments was a lunch scene where Bliss’s close friend, Nia Jax, openly questioned the sincerity of the engagement. Nia bluntly suggested that Alexa might be making excuses to delay the wedding because she was unsure about marrying Murphy. This confrontation took place directly in front of Murphy, creating evident emotional strain among the trio.
This exchange intensified the drama, revealing deeper doubts within the relationship. After the lunch, in a confessional interview, Jax notably remarked that Murphy’s potential release could provide Bliss with
“more of an out from the relationship.”
This moment was critical in the season’s storyline arc, offering viewers insight into Alexa’s personal dilemmas alongside their public wrestling personas.
Current Lives of Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy
Since ending their engagement in 2018, Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy have remained amicable. Bliss has moved forward personally and professionally by marrying musician Ryan Cabrera and welcoming a daughter in 2023. After taking time off for her pregnancy, she made a highly celebrated comeback at the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Alongside this return, she committed to WWE with a five-year contract and entered into an intriguing tag team partnership with Charlotte Flair. Together, they currently hold the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Buddy Murphy, now known as Buddy Matthews, was released from WWE during budget cuts in 2021 but found a new path in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2022. His tenure at WWE, though promising, lacked the breakthroughs he sought. In AEW, he has made his mark as part of the House of Black faction, capturing the AEW World Trios Championship. However, Aleister Black’s unexpected return to WWE has placed uncertainty over the future of Murphy’s partnership with Brody King.
Injury has sidelined Murphy since AEW Grand Slam Australia, where he courageously faced Kazuchika Okada. Fans remain hopeful he will soon return and receive opportunities as a singles competitor to showcase his full potential. On the personal front, Murphy’s life has also advanced—he married fellow WWE star Rhea Ripley in 2024. Both Australians have had a long-standing relationship, reflecting positive steps in their personal journeys.
The Lasting Impact of Their Storyline and Personal Growth
The engagement saga between Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy, as aired on Total Divas, illuminated the challenges wrestlers face balancing personal relationships with demanding careers. Nia Jax’s candid confrontation was a rare glimpse into the emotional complexity behind the scenes. While the couple ultimately parted ways, their ability to maintain friendship and move on successfully has been reassuring to fans.
Both Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy have since evolved in their careers and personal lives, signifying resilience and growth beyond their earlier struggles. Bliss’s continued success in WWE and Murphy’s rising profile in AEW suggest bright futures ahead. Their story remains a compelling chapter in WWE history that resonates with the realities of life in professional wrestling.
