Steffanie Newell Makes Her WWE NXT Wrestling Debut

After joining WWE last year, Steffanie “Nixon” Newell made her NXT wrestling debut at Friday’s live event in Venice, Florida.

Introduced as Steffanie Newell — her real name — the 23-year-old Welsh wrestler worked as a babyface alongside Dakota Kai against Vanessa Borne and Reina Gonzalez.

#NXTVenice gets a dose of @nixonnewell and @dakotakai_wwe! #FlyKicks

A post shared by WWE NXT (@wwenxt) on Apr 13, 2018 at 4:51pm PDT

Totally worth the long drive to #NXTVenice to see the in ring debut of @NixonNewell pic.twitter.com/WA2ZKLPu5X

— Wayne Mason (@waynemason) April 14, 2018

Got to see the debut of @NixonNewell at #NXTVenice as she teamed with @DakotaKai_WWE to take on @VanessaBorneWWE and @ReinaGWWE pic.twitter.com/HlLv8m9nAW

— Chris Radley (@PrestigiousGfx) April 14, 2018

Nixon Newell, billed under her real name, makes her #NXT debut teaming with Dakota Kai against Reina Gonzalez and Vanessa Bourne #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/0KXaoYPJvu

— Greg Parks (@gregmparks) April 13, 2018

Stephanie Newell AKA @NixonNewell makes her NXT debut at #NXTVenice while tagging with @DakotaKai_WWE against @VanessaBorneWWE and @ReinaGWWE. pic.twitter.com/KgIxeZdoTP

— I Am The One Who Knocks (@NerdxFerguson) April 13, 2018

I LGOE THEM SO MUCH IM CRYING @DakotaKai_WWE @NixonNewell pic.twitter.com/iwvMS2damG

— Abbi (@ACadabbi) April 13, 2018

Newell and Kai with matching gear. #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/EVsjPzgRho

— Greg Parks (@gregmparks) April 13, 2018

The babyfaces came up short as Gonzalez pinned Newell by using her tights as leverage.

Heels win when Reina rolls up Newell and uses the tights for leverage. The babyfaces are stunned but earn a round of applause from the #NXTVenice crowd for their efforts. pic.twitter.com/Q8TN4Ulo7D

— Greg Parks (@gregmparks) April 13, 2018

Newell, who was standout in the UK indie wrestling scene, was offered a developmental contract following a tryout in November 2016. She reported to the WWE Performance Center in May, but within a few weeks, sustained an ACL tear in her knee. She underwent surgery in June, which prevented her from competing in the Mae Young Classic.