Nia Jax, a former WWE star, has previously stated that she wanted additional time off for her mental health before WWE released her in November of 2021.
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Lina Fanene, formerly known as Nia Jax in the WWE, was the next guest on Renee Paquette’s The Sessions podcast. It’s the first time the former Raw Women’s champion has spoken publicly about her dismissal from the company in November.
The hour-long conversation between friends covers a lot of material, starting with the basics of Fanene’s situation three months after quitting her job. That also gives them an idea of how she was doing at the conclusion of her WWE career.
“It’s scary to say it, but I feel really good. Like happy. It’s almost like Stockholm Syndrome, right? I was in this crazy, almost like slightly abusive relationship with a company — but also good.
“There’s good parts to it. But now it’s done, and I kind of get to be myself again, which I haven’t been in a long time. And so I feel good, but it’s also a scary part of, ‘Okay, so who is Lina now that she’s not Nia Jax?”
She acknowledges her family for assisting her in coping with the loss of her job, which she had had since 2014 and was plainly dissatisfied with. Her brother, in particular, assisted her in seeing that leaving WWE would be beneficial to her.
“Before I got the call [about her release], a year before that, I was like, ‘Gosh, it doesn’t feel the same to me anymore. I’m not as super excited about it.’ I would get butterflies before traveling – just like excitement. And he was like, ‘Maybe it’s time to start worrying about yourself. Maybe it’s time for you to think about Lina.’
“It was just a weird concept. You’re a cog in the wheel, and you’re just going, and you’re like ‘No, I have to be so loyal to this company.’ Then finally when the call came, which caught me by surprise, He was like, ‘This is good.’”
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“I remember I walked into Johnny [John Laurinaitis]’s office, just after a crazy couple weeks in wrestling, and I was like, ‘I need a break. Something’s off. I don’t feel right. I need a break.’ And he gave it to me, he was like, ‘Yeah, of course, take a break.’
“And when I was on the break — I shit you not, I did not miss it… I hit Johnny up and was like, ‘I know that my break’s coming up, but I just don’t feel right right now. Is there any way we could kind of extend it to [Royal] Rumble? Then I know I’ll be in a better place.’
“That was like on a Wednesday, I hit him up about that. And Thursday he called me, and of course I see his name and I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s calling to talk about this. So cool!’ Then I pick up the phone and he’s like, ‘Hey kid, I hate to do this.’ Instantly, when he said that I was like, ‘Oh, am I getting released?’
“And he said, ‘Yeah. I’m so sorry. Due to budget cuts.’ The whole spiel. ‘Okay, well, I’ll take a paycut, if that’s what’s needed,’ just because I knew it was a whole script. And he was like, ‘Oh, that’s not it.’
“‘So you just want a total different change?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s it. We’re just gonna put you on your 90-days.’ I hung up the phone and I was relieved.”
Her 90 days are done now, but WWE contacted her about returning for the Royal Rumble before that. When she got the call from someone in Talent Relations about it, what did she say?
“‘Oh, f*** no, I’m not coming back.’ And he was like, ‘We’d like to offer you this.’ And I said, ‘First of all, I’m still under my 90 days. You’re still gonna be paying me anyway, so you’re not offering me anything. No, I’m not f******* coming back. Absolutely f******* not. Is this all it was?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Okay, bye.”
It felt like a smack in the face to Fanene, who later found it was merely a call to check whether she wanted to return.
