The Nikki & Brie Show

Episode: Tatum Paxley: Imperfectly Powerful
Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Nikki & Brie Garcia (SiriusXM)
Special Guest: Tatum Paxley – NXT Women’s Champion

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively, heartfelt conversation with Tatum Paxley, the new NXT Women’s Champion, about her winding road to championship gold, her evolution in WWE, and the authenticity she brings to the ring. Nikki and Brie explore Tatum’s background as a powerlifter and cheerleader, her journey of self-discovery, her relatable “imperfect” persona, and her personal life—including her married life with fellow wrestler Randy. The trio also discuss mindset, pressure, rituals, and what it means to be a champion in and out of the ring.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tatum Paxley’s WWE Journey [02:20–05:05]

• Tatum reflects on her rise from signing in 2021 to rapidly becoming champion.
  • “It seemed to have happened so fast, even though…I've been here four years now.” – Tatum [02:33]
• WWE helped her discover and shape who she truly is.
  • “I still wasn’t fully sure of who I was…and I really feel like this company has really allowed me to dive into myself…It’s made me so much mentally stronger being here…” – Tatum [02:56]

2. Realness and Imperfect Power [04:05–05:05, 19:37–21:44]

• Tatum’s character is rooted in her true personality: unpredictable, authentic, deeply human.
  • “Everything that the audience sees me do is exactly me…sometimes I'm high or really low…really anxious, really strong sometimes and really weak at others…that's very human and very relatable…” – Tatum [04:05]
• How her unpredictability as champion breaks the “perfect champion” mold and inspires fans.
  • “Me having this title kind of shows people that you can overcome your own thoughts, because our thoughts are our own worst enemy…I'm still going to try my best to be the best I can be.” – Tatum [19:37]

3. Before Wrestling: Powerlifting & Cheerleading [05:05–07:25]

• Former powerlifter who nearly went to nationals before wrestling opportunity arose.
  • “I had just qualified for nationals…as I was training to go compete…I started seeking out pro wrestling…I get the email [about WWE tryouts in Vegas] and then my life completely changed.” – Tatum [05:15]
• Athletic background in cheerleading and gymnastics informed her wrestling adaptability.
  • “I did cheerleading most of my life, and then the powerlifting part…helped me segue into pro wrestling…but it is way harder than I would have ever imagined it to be.” – Tatum [06:29]

4. Crossover Skills: The Role of Gymnastics [07:25–10:39]

• Discusses how gymnastics develops agility and fearlessness—crucial for wrestlers.
  • “Whenever I have a child, that’s the first thing I’m going to do. Like, let’s go to gymnastics. Let’s learn all this, build our muscles.” – Tatum [08:19]
• Nikki and Brie share their (sometimes hilarious) experiences with gymnastics as kids.

5. Champion’s Mindset [11:14–12:18, 19:15–21:44]

• Emphasizing passion, hunger, determination, and never giving up—not just achievements.
  • “Passion, hunger, determination, goals. I check all those boxes and that’s what makes a champion…I have the ‘never give up’ mentality, too.” – Nikki [11:45]
• Tatum elaborates on bringing relatability, imperfection, and raw emotion to her championship run.
  • “I'm still heavily flawed…I just want to relate to people…We don't win all the time, but we're going to try our best to come out on top.” – Tatum [19:37]

6. Personal Life: Marriage & Support Systems [14:41–18:59]

• Celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her husband Randy (also a wrestler).
  • “We flow so well together. We’re just into the same things and it’s just so smooth…he takes such good care of me…” – Tatum [14:52]
• Randy helped her embrace new experiences, e.g., Halloween Horror Nights.
  • “Without him, you would never see me outside of my house.” – Tatum [17:30]
• On meeting her husband at a WWE tryout: “He was a part of my tryout. That’s how we met…I feel like I could tell him every secret I ever have and it would be safe with him.” – Tatum [15:34]

7. Preparing for Her First Big Title Defense [24:45–28:14]

• Wanting to defend her title against Jacy Jayne at NXT Gold Rush—out of respect and shared underdog stories.
  • “We were both girls that nobody expected us to hold this title…and now we’re right in everybody’s face.” – Tatum [25:47]
• The thrill and nerves of wrestling at Madison Square Garden for the first time.
  • “No, this is my first time at MSG…so many crazy things have happened…it gets crazier and crazier.” – Tatum [26:21]
• Stress and unpredictability make her title run unique.
  • “There’s this anxiety attached to it that I think is really cool…is she on top of her game right now…is she loose screw today? Or is she—perfect, ready to go?” – Tatum [27:03]

8. Quick-Fire Game: “Finish the Sentence” [28:35–34:41]

• First thing in the morning: Skincare, a journey after a major breakout taught her value of self-care. [28:41]
• Teleport anywhere? Costa Rica, memorable honeymoon destination. [30:08]
• Move she’d steal: Jacy Jayne’s “Rolling Encore” (“her finish is so smooth and so incredible…it’s such a perfect, simple move when she does it so well and so deadly…”). [31:53]
• Homebody Alert: “If I’m not in the ring, you’ll probably find me at home. 100. I am at home. I am nowhere else.” – Tatum [33:03]
• Alternative career: Would likely have kept powerlifting. [33:13]
• Secret superstition: Has an OCD-like need for physical balance—has to do the same thing to both sides (e.g., scratching both shoulders). [34:01]

9. Proudest NXT Moment & Affirmations [34:44–37:17]

• Proudest moment: Winning the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc.
  • “It was just such a…beautiful, perfect time moment. So emotional, so out of nowhere…it’s something that I’m absolutely never going to forget.” – Tatum [34:47]
• Life motto:
  • “Trust the wait and enjoy the unexpected.” – Tatum [35:39]
• On setting expectations in life and WWE:
  • “Just relax, trust the process, you know, and just…have fun and enjoy it.” – Tatum [36:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Authenticity:
  “I'm a very unpredictable person, but I feel like that's very human and relatable…just showing real human emotion.” – Tatum [04:05]

• On Mindset as Champion:
  “I'm never going to be 100% or perfect, but I'm still going to try my best to be the best I can be.” – Tatum [21:44]

• On Love & Support:
  “I look forward to many more years with him. I really do.” – Tatum, about her husband [14:52]

• On the Wrestling Journey:
  “This company has really allowed me to dive into myself and really figure out who I am and what I’m about.” – Tatum [02:56]

• On the “Unpredictable Champion”:
  “You don’t know what Tatum you’re going to get…is she on top of her game right now? Is she not? Is she loose screw today? Or is she perfect, ready to go?” – Tatum [27:03]

• On Overcoming Self-Doubt:
  “Our thoughts are our own worst enemy.” – Tatum [19:37]

• On Life Philosophy:
  “Trust the wait and enjoy the unexpected.” – Tatum [35:39]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro of Guest & WWE Journey: [01:31–05:05]
• Character Authenticity: [04:05–05:05]
• Athletic Background: [05:05–07:25]
• Gymnastics & Ring Readiness: [07:25–10:39]
• Champion Mentality: [11:14–12:18, 19:15–21:44]
• Married Life: [14:41–18:59]
• Title Defense at MSG: [24:45–28:14]
• Finish the Sentence Game: [28:35–34:41]
• Proudest Moment & Motto: [34:44–37:17]

Final Words

The episode is a warm, honest look behind the curtain at the “imperfectly powerful” persona of Tatum Paxley. Through her openness about anxieties, struggles, and triumphs, Tatum shows that real strength comes from embracing imperfection—and never quitting, even when your toughest opponent is your own mind.

Catch Tatum Paxley defending the NXT Women’s Championship at Gold Rush, November 18th, Madison Square Garden (CW, 8pm ET). Follow her on Instagram: @tatumpaxley_wwe.

Life lesson takeaway: Trust the wait, enjoy the unexpected, and remember even champion moments are built on real, relatable, messy, and magical humanity.