Nixon Newell (formerly Tegan Nox in WWE) recently sat down for a wide-ranging interview on the Muscle Memory YouTube channel, covering everything from her recent WWE release and the “injury-prone” label to her future goals and memories of working with top stars like Becky Lynch and Cody Rhodes. Newell spoke candidly about the challenges she has faced and her determination to rebuild her name on her own terms.
Confronting the “Injury-Prone” Label
Newell addressed the online narrative that has followed her throughout her career, stating that the perception of her being injury-prone has affected her ability to get bookings. “It does definitely carry into, like, promotions sometimes, like, people are worried about my knees, but it’s because of this online flack that I get when, in reality, my knees are better than ever,” she said. She dismissed the online critics, stating, “They couldn’t do what I do. They couldn’t even lace up my boots. So why am I letting these people that do nothing but sit in their basement licking Cheeto dust off their fingers? Tell me what I can and can’t do? Absolutely not.”
The Road Ahead: A World Tour and a Dream Match
Newell’s main goal right now is to travel and rediscover her passion for the business. “I want to find that love and that fun in wrestling again that I had lost for many different reasons,” she explained. When asked who she wants to face, one name stood above all others.
“The one name that is, like, forefront is Toni Storm,” Newell revealed. “Like, I have known Toni for, close to my entire career at this point… and we’ve been good friends, so to see her doing like what she’s doing now, and have traveled the world with her and wrestled her hundreds of times, I’d love to revisit that.” She also listed AEW’s Kris Statlander and TNA’s Jody Threat and Dani Luna as opponents she’d like to face again, and announced she will be forming a tag team with her real-life girlfriend, Miranda Alize.
Memories of WWE
Newell looked back fondly on some of her most memorable WWE moments. She called her NXT storyline with long-time friend Dakota Kai, which included the unforgettable WarGames turn and a street fight at TakeOver: Portland, one of her favorite programs. “It was incredible to be a part of that, and then to have that whole storyline with her… that’s one of my favorite matches of all time,” she said.
She also praised Becky Lynch for her professionalism during their NXT Women’s Title match on Raw. “She’s such an advocate for women… that don’t have, you know, the back pedal that a lot of the other females do,” Newell said. “She’s such an advocate for putting us on a pedestal and be like, ‘Hey, no, these people need a spotlight. Let’s do it.'”
The Ultimate Goal
Newell also revealed the surprising story of her second WWE return, which happened after she called Paul “Triple H” Levesque for advice on a green card issue and was offered a contract on the spot. After that run was cut short, her mission is now crystal clear.
“I want to go back when they need me, and when they want me,” she said about a potential WWE return. “I want to be able to build up a platform for myself, build myself back into the style that Nixon Newell was, so then they can call into me… If I ever go back to WWE, is to make them want me, make them need me. Same with every other company. I want them to need me.”
After dealing with the effects of a serious car accident following her WWE release, Nixon Newell is now actively taking bookings on the independent circuit. She has upcoming dates in Texas, including a match at Hurricane Pro on July 28, and has expressed a desire to return to the UK to settle “unfinished business” with Dani Luna.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Muscle Man Malcolm with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
