Nixon Newell, formerly known as Tegan Nox in WWE, is speaking out with raw honesty and renewed purpose. In a recent appearance on the Muscle Memory YouTube channel, Newell opened up about her release from WWE, the lingering “injury-prone” label, and what comes next as she looks to take back control of her career.
Newell addressed a narrative that’s followed her for years — the claim that she’s too injury-prone to be reliable in the ring. She acknowledged that the perception has affected her ability to land opportunities.
“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,” Newell explained. “In reality, my knees are better than ever.”
She had sharp words for her critics:
“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.”
Now taking bookings on the independent circuit, Newell is focused on rediscovering the passion that made her fall in love with wrestling in the first place.
“I want to find that love and that fun in wrestling again that I had lost for many different reasons,” she said.
Newell revealed that one opponent stands out on her wishlist — Toni Storm.
“I have known Toni for close to my entire career… I’d love to revisit that.”
She also named Kris Statlander, Jody Threat, and Dani Luna as wrestlers she hopes to face again. She announced plans to form a tag team with her real-life girlfriend, Miranda Alize, as part of her ongoing evolution.
Newell reflected fondly on her time in WWE, especially her acclaimed feud with Dakota Kai, which included their unforgettable WarGames betrayal and a brutal TakeOver: Portland street fight.
She also praised Becky Lynch, calling her a true advocate for overlooked talent:
“She’s such an advocate for women that don’t have, you know, the back pedal that a lot of the other females do… She puts us on a pedestal and says, ‘These people need a spotlight.’”
Newell also mentioned working with Cody Rhodes behind the scenes and how helpful he was during her time in NXT.
Newell revealed that her 2022 WWE return happened unexpectedly after a conversation with Paul “Triple H” Levesque about a green card issue turned into a job offer. After her second stint was cut short, her goals are now crystal clear:
“If I ever go back to WWE, it’s to make them want me. Make them need me. Same with every other company. I want them to need me.”
After recovering from a serious car accident earlier this year, Newell is now fully active and taking bookings. She’ll appear for Hurricane Pro in Texas on July 28 and is eyeing a return to the UK to settle “unfinished business” with Dani Luna.
