Tatum Paxley didn’t grow up watching WWE, and her path to the ring didn’t start in a wrestling school. Instead, she was stuck managing a supplement store, competing in powerlifting, and questioning her future — until everything changed during a turning point she recently revealed on Going Ringside.
Speaking during her appearance on Going Ringside, Paxley opened up about the frustration she felt working retail while trying to figure out what direction her life was heading. Even though she had success in powerlifting, the daily grind left her feeling disconnected from herself.
“I was sitting at a job. I was working, I was managing a supplement store, and retail was just killing me. It was turning me into something I was not. You know, if you work in retail, you are tough, you know. So years into retail, I’m sitting there, I’m doing powerlifting, and I’m loving it, but I’m missing the performance aspect of what I was doing with cheerleading.”
Paxley explained that while powerlifting satisfied her competitive side, it couldn’t replace the emotional and performance-driven experience she once had as a cheerleader. That missing element left her searching for something more meaningful. Her breakthrough came through a friend connected to the supplement industry who introduced her to professional wrestling. Paxley admitted she didn’t grow up watching the business, but curiosity quickly turned into something much bigger.
“I had a friend that I had met through the sports supplement world who was very involved in pro wrestling. And I knew of it, I didn’t know too much about it, I didn’t grow up on it. But I would say for about two years up until me getting signed to WWE, I would YouTube women’s matches, and Alexa Bliss was somebody that I just — I say she’s the reason I got started.”
Watching Alexa Bliss completely changed Paxley’s perspective on what wrestling could be. She wasn’t just drawn to the athletic side — it was the emotional storytelling that hooked her.
“When you look at her and you see the craziness that she can bring to the ring, like she can tell a story so much with her face and her eyes. To me, she just stood out. She is what helped me realize that there is more to pro wrestling than just what you see in the ring. She’s the one that made me realize there is story. There’s something to connect with.”
That realization gave Paxley clarity. Wrestling offered the perfect mix of athletic competition and performance, giving her the chance to express herself in ways powerlifting and retail never could.
“I think everyone that falls in love with pro wrestling, they’re falling in love with our stories and what we’re going through. And she was that for me. Even just watching her on YouTube, she could tell that story in such a short time. I just think she’s so incredible and so talented.”
Paxley’s appearance on Going Ringside revealed just how unlikely her journey to WWE really was. What started as frustration in a retail job turned into a life-changing discovery that ultimately brought her to NXT. Now, she’s channeling those experiences into her character as she continues carving out her place on WWE’s developmental brand.
What do you think about Tatum Paxley’s story of going from retail worker to WWE NXT star after being inspired by Alexa Bliss? Do you see her becoming a future champion? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
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