Nia Jax left WWE in November 2021 amid a series of talent cuts affecting several wrestlers including Eva Marie, Ember Moon, and Mia Yim. After a period away from the company marked by uncertainty, she made a surprise return in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, reigniting her wrestling career under the WWE banner once again.
Adjusting to Life Beyond WWE After Release
Following her release, Jax encountered significant challenges as she adapted to life outside the WWE, which had been her long-standing professional environment. She shared that wrestling remained her passion but she was unsure where her future lay, expressing the shock and confusion that followed her departure.
I didn’t think that I wanted to wrestle anywhere else, but I did know that I wanted to still wrestle,
Jax told Insight With Chris Van Vliet.
I didn’t even know if I was going to come back to the WWE, honestly. It was my whole life at the time. So when I was released, it was kind of a shock where I was like, what is my life?
She explained that having spent most of her life immersed in WWE’s demanding schedule, the idea of wrestling elsewhere didn’t initially cross her mind, despite encouragement from others in the industry.
I had to reset. I’m like, what is my life right now? My whole life’s been WWE and I really didn’t think about an after. A lot of wrestlers, they get caught up in that because it happens to be like that. When we’re on the road five days a week, you don’t really think about it after. So I didn’t think about wrestling anywhere else. Everybody kept saying try here and go there.
The Path to Rejoining WWE Full-Time
Jax reached a crossroads where her wrestling career seemed either destined to return to WWE or come to an end. Her return began with a cameo in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble, which required approval from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, also known as Triple H. This brief appearance rekindled her desire to wrestle full time.
It was funny because I came to the back [from the Rumble match] and Bruce [Prichard] is like ‘Hey, do you want to do this again?’ I was like ‘Maybe.’ I didn’t give him a definite yes because I wasn’t really sure at that point,
Jax said.
But then I sat and I waited. It was like a girl waiting for a guy to call. I was like ‘Are they going to call me?’ I’m kind of sitting around, then got back in the ring and spoke to TJ [Wilson]. He was like ‘Yeah, why don’t you come back?’ I’m like okay, let me get in better shape.
Motivated by renewed interest, Jax committed to intensive training to prepare for her potential return. She trained with TJ Wilson and Natalya at The Dungeon 2.0 facility in Florida, and also attended sessions at the D-Von Dudley Academy, operated by WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley. With encouragement from her former Performance Center coach Sara Amato, she eventually reached out to Levesque to discuss her comeback in earnest.
I texted him, literally I was sitting at [Amato’s] house, her son and my nephew play together. I just said, ‘Hey, Hunter, how are you doing? Want to chat?’ Then literally like two minutes later, he’s like, ‘Yeah, we can hop on a call later.’ Then it all just rolled from there,
Jax explained.
Return to WWE and Current Achievements
Jax made her official WWE return in September 2023, making an immediate impact by attacking Raquel Rodriguez and then-WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley on WWE Raw. Since returning, she has reclaimed a prominent position in the company as the Queen of the Ring winner and former Women’s Champion. Her leadership in the locker room has earned her respect among fellow wrestlers.
This comeback not only marks a significant personal victory for Jax but also demonstrates her resilience within the demanding world of professional wrestling. Her journey highlights the importance of determination and support networks, especially under the pressures wrestlers face while balancing performance and career uncertainty.
Looking ahead, Nia Jax’s resurgence positions her as a key figure in WWE’s women’s division, where she continues to influence the evolving landscape both inside the ring and behind the scenes.
