Nixon Newell, known in WWE as Tegan Nox, has faced a series of setbacks in her wrestling career, including extended absences from the ring because of injuries. One significant missed opportunity arose during WWE Evolution, the company’s first all-women pay-per-view event, where Newell was unable to compete despite being originally scheduled to do so. This event took place in 2018 and marked a major milestone for WWE’s women’s division.
Newell Reflects on the Event and Her Disappointment
In a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic, Newell shared her mixed emotions about WWE Evolution. While she appreciated being able to attend and see her peers perform at a historic show, she expressed deep frustration at not being able to participate herself. Newell only discovered the news that she had been pulled from the card on the day of the event, catching her off guard as she passed by backstage.
“It was obviously super depressing, because it was supposed to be…I was supposed to be a part of Evolution,”
Newell stated.
“So that sucked, which I only found out I was supposed to be part of that day, as I was walking past. They’re like ‘Oh, I’m so sad you don’t get to perform.’ I’m like ‘What do you mean?! Like, what do you mean?’ And then I found it all out.”
The Wrestling Classic, h/t Wrestling Inc.
Set to Compete in the Mae Young Classic Final
Newell revealed that the match she was originally scheduled for was a high-profile one, featuring a future top star in All Elite Wrestling. She was told, although she remained uncertain, that she would have competed against Toni Storm in the Mae Young Classic Final, a prestigious tournament showcasing rising women wrestlers.
“It was supposed to be, from what I was told and I don’t know…I don’t know if it was true, but I was told by multiple people it was supposed to be me and Toni in the Mae Young Final,”
she explained. The Wrestling Classic, h/t Wrestling Inc.
Impact of the Missed Match on Newell’s Career
This missed chance at WWE Evolution represents one of several challenges Nixon Newell has faced throughout her career, including her departure from AEW alongside Miranda Alize last year. Missing a spotlight match with Toni Storm, who has since become a leading figure in women’s wrestling, likely delayed Newell’s rise within WWE and the industry at large.
Looking forward, this story highlights the unpredictable nature of professional wrestling careers, where injuries and booking decisions can abruptly alter trajectories. Fans of Newell and Toni Storm will no doubt remember this near showdown as a significant “what if” moment in the evolution of women’s wrestling.
