Ex-WWE star opens up about personal fear; confirms multi-year contract
WWE Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Triple H have been instrumental in the continued success of the Stamford-based promotion's developmental brand WWE NXT. The show has now become a weekly attraction of its own on Tuesday nights.
An extension of the brand was introduced in December 2016, dubbed NXT UK. The show ran successfully until September 2022, after which it went on hiatus as the company intends to relaunch it as NXT Europe. One of the names who was released at the time was Xia Brookside.
During a recent conversation Xia had with Sean Ross Sapp at Wrestlecon, she candidly spoke about her fear of heights while confirming that her new deal with TNA is a multi-year contract. Brookside was one among the few ex-WWE stars who joined the company as part of the rebranding which kicked off at TNA Hard To Kill on January 13, 2024:
"It is a multi-year. Honestly, I’m just very grateful for the opportunity. I signed right after Hard to Kill in January. So it was Hard to Kill Ultimate X Match that was terrifying because, I didn’t think we speak about it last time, but I’m scared of heights," she said. "I’m scared of heights and it’s getting worse. I don’t know why. I don’t know why, it’s become a thing recently. But I’ve hidden it for my whole career. Nine years, I’ve hid the fact that I couldn’t stand on the top rope. Ultimate X, I didn’t have a choice. I had to get up there." [H/T: Fightful]
Other names who resurfaced in the ring after their WWE departure at the event were Nic Nemeth, Ash by Elegance and A.J. Francis, who were previously known as Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke and Top Dolla, respectively.
The ex-WWE star articulates her experience at TNA Hard To Kill 2024
Xia Brookside competed in the Knockouts Ultimate X match to determine the new number-one contender for the TNA Knockouts World Championship at TNA Hard To Kill. The bout kicked off the main show.
This particular match type involves an item suspended from where two cables cross. The cables are connected to metal structures rising from the four corners of the ring. It is similar to the Ladder match produced by WWE.
"Even when I was stood on the top rope, I couldn’t reach the rope. So I had to climb the silver thing and you’re looking out in the ring. So it’s a bigger drop when you’re looking outside of it and I had to climb up there. I was shaking. I was sweating. I felt so sick. Like I walked into the venue the day before and I was literally freaking out. So I don’t know how I made it through that match, but I did and I came out with a contract. So it was worth it."
After competing in the bout, Xia Brookside signed a multi-year contract with TNA. She then made her TV debut on the January 18 episode of TNA Impact! in a one-on-one match. Brookside defeated Tasha Steelz.