WWE SmackDown Star Thankful For 2021 Firing

One WWE star believes their release from the company in 2021 actually helped them.

After spending seven years with the company, Nia Jax was released by WWE in November 2021. Although Jax had initially been a singles star she struck up a partnership with Shayna Baszler in August 2020, and the pair won the Women’s Tag Team Titles twice.

By September 2021, the union came to a spectacular end and Jax was written off television. The star later confirmed she’d requested a break, but she was released two months later.

However, Jax has since returned to the company and is currently enjoying the finest run of her career as Women’s Champion. At Bad Blood, Nia Jax is scheduled to put the title on the line against Bayley, who she beat for the gold at SummerSlam.

Ahead of that match, Jax has now revealed it was her release in 2021, that kick-started the next phase of her career.

WWE Exit Restored The Love Of Wrestling

In a new interview with Cathy Kelley for WWE, Jax reflected on being let go by the company, and how in the long run the break actually helped her. The star explained that being out of the ring helped her restore her passion for wrestling, and create the best version of herself.

“It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. At first, yes, it was difficult to sit there and realize that I won’t be out there entertaining everybody, on the road and enjoying the travels. It actually helped restore my passion and love for wrestling.

I felt like I was starting to lose a little bit of the ‘why?’ I tell people all the time it was one of the best things that happened to me. I felt like I reset Nia Jax. Now, I’m the best Nia Jax ever. I’m only getting better. I needed to take that little bit of time off and find myself again,”

Nia Jax made her return to WWE at the 2023 Royal Rumble, but she wouldn’t be back in the ring full-time until September.

H/t to Fightful