Tatum Paxley may look like a natural fit in WWE NXT today, but her rise didn’t come easy.
During an appearance on Going Ringside, Paxley admitted that when she first arrived in WWE, she struggled badly—not because she lacked athletic ability, but because she didn’t yet understand what truly mattered inside the ring.
Coming from a background in cheerleading and powerlifting, Paxley had the physical tools to succeed. However, she quickly realized that WWE demanded more than strength and athleticism. Looking back, she admitted her early run lacked direction and purpose.
“My start here was slow. It was very slow because I didn’t really grasp what, you know, what we’re doing here, like what I didn’t have a purpose. I didn’t have a why. I was just kind of here doing things, right? And it really showed early on in my career.”
Despite being physically capable of performing at a high level, Paxley noticed that something wasn’t clicking. She could execute moves and handle the physical demands, but she wasn’t progressing the way she expected.
“I felt like athletically I could do just about everything. I’m like, ‘Okay, I can run the ropes. I can take all the bumps. I can do these things,’ but my progress still feels slow.”
That realization forced Paxley to reevaluate her approach. She stopped focusing solely on physical performance and started looking inward, trying to understand how to connect with fans emotionally and develop her identity as a performer.
“So that’s the point where I go, ‘Okay, I know I want to be here. I know I can — I have something to show. What is that?’ And that’s when I really just zoomed in on me. How do I get my personality out there? How do I relate to people?”
Paxley explained that storytelling became her primary focus, and she began dedicating herself to building a character fans could emotionally invest in. That shift helped her grow both professionally and personally.
“For like years, I was just thinking that that was like my focus, you know? Of course we’re still training at the Performance Center every day and getting better at our craft. That athletic part was still — I was getting better and better at that. But my focus and my want was personality storytelling. That was my main focus.”
Her efforts have started to pay off, as Paxley has carved out a unique identity in WWE NXT and continues to climb the ranks. What once felt like uncertainty has now become the foundation of her character, proving that emotional connection and storytelling are just as important as athletic ability in WWE.
What do you think about Tatum Paxley admitting she struggled early in WWE and had to learn storytelling to succeed? Do you see her becoming one of NXT’s top stars? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.