WWE star John Cena proposes to wrestler girlfriend Nikki Bella on stage

WWE superstar John Cena has proposed to fellow wrestler Nikki Bella on stage after winning a fight.

The romantic gesture took place after the couple defeated two other fighters in a WrestleMania 33 tag-team challenge.

Cena and Bella were celebrating a win against The Mizz and Marse on Sunday when the WWE superstar got down on one knee and presented his girlfriend with a diamond ring.

"I have been waiting so long to ask you this," he said as the crowd cheered.

"Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, will you marry me?" he asked, addressing the wrestler by her real name.

The 33-year-old Total Divas star accepted.

Later, Cena shared a post on his Twitter feed, thanking his "always expressive family the WWE Universe for allowing me to have a WrestleMania moment that I will never forget".

Bella's sister Brie, who is nine months pregnant and was away from the competition, posted about the "incredible moment" on Instagram.

"I'm filled with such happiness for my sister!" she said.

Wrestling fans were more sceptical on social media, accusing the WWE of staging the act.

"Best scripted proposal ever," one user wrote.

"This is literally staged," said another.

The couple started dating in 2012, after Cena divorced his high school sweetheart Elizabeth Huberdeau.

"So this is the one I will remember," Cena told Hollywood Life on Monday.

"Everyone always asks me what is my favourite match and the answer is always the same - the next one. But when you ask me that after Sunday, my answer will be: The second I was in a WrestleMania ring alongside Nicole."