When most wrestlers receive that dreaded phone call from WWE talent relations, it’s typically a somber moment filled with disappointment and uncertainty. For Tegan Nox (Nixon Newell), however, her November 2024 release became an unexpectedly comedic moment that left the WWE executive on the other end of the line clearly rattled.
The Birthday Curse Strikes Again
During a candid appearance on the Sappenin’ podcast, the Welsh wrestler revealed the bizarre timing pattern that has haunted her WWE departures. This marked the second time the company had released her around her birthday celebrations.
The call came just 48 hours before Nox was scheduled to embark on a birthday cruise. She couldn’t help but notice the cruel irony of the situation.
“Two days later I was going on a cruise for my birthday, right? Bastards—it’s like they knew. They fired me twice. The first time was right after my birthday, and this time it was a week before my birthday.”
When Laughter Became the Best Medicine
The phone conversation took an unexpected turn when the WWE representative attempted to deliver the standard corporate script. Nox’s reaction was anything but standard.
After confirming her identity and playing along with the pleasantries, the executive informed her about exercising her 90-day non-compete clause. That’s when Nox completely derailed the conversation.
“I just started laughing. I don’t think he appreciated me laughing. He’s like, ‘What’s so funny?’ and I told him, ‘I knew this was coming.'”
Reading the Writing on the Wall
Nox’s laughter wasn’t born from bitterness but rather from a sense of vindication. She had been watching the signs accumulate for months leading up to the call.
Her absence from television programming had stretched on indefinitely. Creative pitches she submitted weekly were consistently rejected or ignored. The pattern became impossible to ignore for someone with her industry experience.
“Big f***** yes—I’ve been off TV for God knows how long, nothing’s happening, I’ve been pitching stuff every week and getting nowhere. It’s pretty obvious I’m getting fired.”
Turning Termination Into Liberation
What happened next likely wasn’t covered in any WWE corporate training manual. Instead of accepting condolences, Nox thanked the executive for her release.
Her genuine gratitude for being let go caught the WWE representative completely off guard. The conversation shifted from a routine termination call to an uncomfortable reality check about talent satisfaction.
“I told him, ‘Oh no, thank you so much, I appreciate that. I appreciate you firing me, I’m glad to be gone.’ He’s like, ‘What?!’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m just happy to be gone. My mental health was ruined.'”
The Mental Health Factor
Nox’s candid admission about her mental health struggles adds crucial context to her reaction. The release represented freedom from a toxic situation rather than career devastation.
Her honesty about wanting out of WWE likely made the corporate representative uncomfortable. The company rarely encounters talent who openly express relief at being terminated.
A Fresh Start on the Independent Scene
Following her WWE departure, Nox has embraced the independent wrestling circuit with renewed enthusiasm. Her previous criticisms of WWE’s unfulfilled promises now seem like distant memories as she focuses on controlling her own destiny.
The wrestling community has rallied around Nox, with many fans believing WWE never properly utilized her talents during either of her two runs with the company.
Her story serves as a reminder that sometimes the best career moves happen when companies make decisions for you. With her mental health improving and creative freedom restored, will Tegan Nox’s post-WWE chapter prove that laughter really was the best response to that fateful phone call?
