Nixon Newell Explains WWE Health Situation That Sparked Confusion

Nixon Newell, formerly known as Tegan Nox in WWE, is setting the record straight on the health rumors that followed her WWE absence. After her last match on July 7—a dark match against Blair Davenport—Newell vanished from television, sparking speculation that she had suffered an injury or was too ill to compete.

During an interview with Wrestling In Middle, Newell confirmed she was dealing with a medical issue—but insisted it never stopped her from wrestling.

“So this is the thing—I was sick during it, but it wasn’t a sickness where I couldn’t wrestle. I was cleared. I was completely cleared. Everyone knew I was cleared. All, like, you know… it was just—I was having some stomach issues where, um, at certain times I couldn’t keep food down or liquid down. But it wasn’t like a ‘she can’t wrestle.’ Like, I wrestled during the entire sickness—you know, in just dark matches. It wasn’t like, ‘you can’t wrestle.’ It was just—they didn’t book me, unfortunately.”

The former NXT UK standout said the condition still flares up occasionally, but never stopped her from working in the ring—and that’s what stings the most.

“Not entirely sure what the illness was. Like, it flares up now and again. So it’s not like—I can’t wrestle. I’ve been wrestling with it for over a year now. So that makes it even more disheartening, ‘cause it’s like—it’s right there. You could have been there.”

Newell’s comments add a deeper layer to the frustrations she’s expressed since her WWE release. While fans assumed she was too injured or sick to perform, she was fully cleared and available the whole time—just not used.