During a conversation with Chris Van Vliet, Nia Jax shared her insights on the significant changes within WWE after Paul “Triple H” Levesque succeeded Vince McMahon as the company’s leader. She explained how this transition affected her experience and outlook inside the wrestling world.
Nia Jax described her early days, stating that she and her peers were completely immersed in WWE life, constantly focused on storylines and bookings. Injuries were often ignored, with performers pushing through pain without much support.
“Some of the girls that I came up with, we all kind of made WWE our whole lives. Like morning, noon, and night—storylines, talking about it all the time, and worrying about our bookings. And back in the day, if you got hurt, you were forgotten about. It was hard to get back in the rhythm. So we just didn’t, you know—we pushed through things like, ‘I’m not hurt, I’m fine,’ and I’m going to stay, and I want to, you know, skip all my friends’ weddings and baby showers,”
she said.
She noted that returning under the new regime felt markedly different, bringing a healthier balance and renewed perspective on her value. She expressed,
“And then coming back, it felt different, you know? Where it’s like, no, WWE is my passion and I love it and I want to be a part of it, but it’s not going to be my entire life. I’m not going to make it the focal point. But it also gave me a different perspective, like making sure I realized that I— I won’t say the prize—but I’m kind of, you know, like I felt like I wasn’t the prize before. Where it’s like, no, I bring a lot to the table. There’s a lot in me that I can bring to the table. So it gave me a different perspective coming back.”
The Transformation in Nia Jax’s Wrestling Style and Confidence
Van Vliet probed further into how Nia’s in-ring style and self-assurance have evolved since 2018. He asked,
“Who do you think is the version we see of you now versus, say, like 2018 in the ring?”
and
“It feels like maybe it’s a different style, maybe a different approach that you take to it. How do you contrast the two?”
Nia explained that earlier in her career, she was restricted by preconceived notions about what she could do based on her size, leading to a feeling of being confined. She said,
“I feel as though before I was taught a certain way—like you’re a certain size, you can’t do these things. Stay away from this. Don’t let them do this to you. So I was kind of pigeonholed into a little bit of a box, and I was afraid to get out of it because the person telling me was somebody who runs the show. You work for an audience of one.”
However, under Triple H’s direction, she felt empowered to embrace her individuality and showcase her true abilities.
“And this time around, Hunter [Triple H] was more like, ‘Be you. Be you. Show them what you can do,’ because he’s like, ‘I know what you’re capable of.’ So I feel like the difference is just me being myself a little bit more. I’m adding who I am into my character instead of feeling like I have to stay here and make sure that somebody’s happy,”
Nia stated.
Significance of the Change within WWE Culture and Future Outlook
Nia Jax’s remarks highlight the cultural shift in WWE under Triple H’s leadership, moving from a rigid and demanding environment to one that supports authenticity and personal well-being. This transformation not only affects performers’ health and mindset but also influences how characters and styles develop. With this progressive approach, WWE is likely to continue evolving into a more supportive workplace that encourages wrestlers to express themselves fully, impacting both the quality of entertainment and the careers of future talent.
