Nixon Newell, formerly known as Tegan Nox in WWE, has stepped forward to deny recent rumors regarding backstage drama connected to her match with Megan Bayne in AEW, amid swirling reports of a walkout incident. This development comes after a turbulent weekend at AEW Collision, where backstage tensions allegedly culminated in Newell and partner Miranda Alize walking out before their scheduled match.
Background: AEW Collision Walkout Sparks Controversy
The controversy began when Nixon Newell and Miranda Alize, who are real-life partners and a wrestling duo, reportedly refused to take a loss on AEW Collision weekend. According to PWInsider reports, the pair were booked to lose to Tay Melo and Anna Jay for their second AEW appearance, despite having already lost in their debut the previous week. Rather than acquiesce, sources indicate that Newell and Alize left the venue roughly an hour before showtime, prompting AEW to replace them with Maya World and Hyan at the last minute.
This walkout sparked a flurry of speculation about the motivations behind the move, with some insiders linking it to dissatisfaction over creative decisions and booking, and others suggesting tension involving fellow wrestler Megan Bayne—who was reportedly pulled into the backstage drama.
Newell’s Denial of Drama Surrounding Megan Bayne Match
In an exclusive statement to Fightful Select, Nixon Newell directly refuted the notion that the situation involved any backstage confrontations or issues with Megan Bayne. “I want to be clear: there was no drama or tension involving Megan,” Newell stated. She emphasized that the rumors suggesting Bayne was caught in the fallout are unfounded and misleading.
A WWE insider, who has maintained contact with Newell, commented on the matter, “Nixon is frustrated with how the story has shifted away from legitimate creative concerns to a messy narrative dragging other talent into it unfairly. She wants to put that part behind her and focus on her wrestling career going forward.”
Backstage Reactions: AEW’s Handling and Internal Sentiments
From AEW’s perspective, the organization appears to have appreciated the professionalism shown by Maya World and Hyan, who stepped in at short notice and earned backstage praise for their readiness to perform under pressure. Reports indicate that AEW is taking the incident seriously behind the scenes but also recognizes that disputes over booking are not uncommon in professional wrestling.
A source close to AEW’s creative team shared, “While we don’t condone walking out, we understand that talent want credible wins to build their characters. It’s an ongoing conversation, and everyone hopes to move forward positively.”
Social Media and Public Responses
Miranda Alize also weighed in on social media, signaling that she and Newell had much to say about the situation but remained careful in their public comments. She retweeted fans calling for the couple to get credible wins to boost their AEW careers, implicitly confirming dissatisfaction with their recent booking.
Newell herself retweeted these sentiments but has yet to issue a comprehensive public statement beyond her denial of any personal drama with Megan Bayne. The duo’s ambiguous social media response reflects their desire to keep the focus on professional growth rather than backstage controversies.
What This Means for Nixon Newell’s Wrestling Career
Newell’s move to clarify her position on the Coleman Bayne matter appears to be a calculated effort to separate her name from ongoing backstage rumors and to reestablish her professionalism in the wrestling industry. Given her past success in WWE as Tegan Nox and recent AEW appearances, reasserting control over her narrative could be crucial for future opportunities.
Industry observers note that walking out on a show is a serious step and can hamper a wrestler’s standing with a promotion; however, standing firm on creative integrity is also respected by some wrestling peers. How Newell and Alize navigate the next chapters with AEW will likely depend on internal discussions and mutual alignment on creative direction.
Looking Forward: AEW’s Creative Environment Post-Walkout
This incident sheds light on the often complex and sometimes contentious negotiation between talent and promotion over creative control and booking decisions. AEW, known for its open forum with talent input, is not immune to disputes, as this walkout exemplifies.
An industry veteran commented, “AEW is growing fast, and with growth comes growing pains. Wrestlers want to be seen as credible threats and not simply fodder for other stars. Balancing that with storyline needs is a tightrope.”
AEW’s ability to manage these dynamics and retain top talent without ongoing friction will be essential to its long-term success in an increasingly competitive wrestling landscape.
In conclusion, Nixon Newell has firmly denied that her AEW Collision walkout was tied to backstage drama with Megan Bayne, instead emphasizing the professional nature of her actions around creative booking disagreements. Both Newell and Miranda Alize appear focused on wrestling growth while AEW adjusts to the realities of managing talent expectations.
As one backstage source put it, “The wrestling world never sleeps, and stories often have layers beyond what fans see. Nixon’s priority is wrestling, not drama — and that’s what she’s trying to reinforce now.”