Natalie Holland, better known by her

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons ...

Tatum Paxley, is an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

. , she is signed to

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

where she performs on the NXT

brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

Background

Holland's athletic experience includes cheerleading and powerlifting."Tatum Paxley"
s Profile at CageMatch.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024. She is a former two-time USA Powerlifting (USAPL) champion, winning competitions in 2019 and 2021."Tatum Paxley"
s Profile at USAPL Lifting Database.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.

Professional wrestling career

WWE (2021–present)

Early beginnings (2021–2023)

Holland was hired by WWE in August 2021, after participating in physical tests carried out by the company. To begin her training, she reported to the

WWE Performance Center WWE Performance Center (WWE PC) is a group of professional wrestling schools owned by American company WWE. They serve as tryout and training facilities for WWE, and also contain sports science and medical facilities as well as live events and ...

. Her first speaking role would be in a backstage segment involving

Cora Jade Brianna Coda (born January 14, 2001) is an American professional wrestler. She is performing on the independent circuit under the ring name Elayna Black. She is best known for her tenure in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Cora Jade. ...

Raquel Rodriguez Raquel or Racquel is a variation of the given name Rachel. Notable people with the name include: Raquel *Raquel (wrestler), Brazilian professional wrestler *Raquel Alessi (born 1983), American former actress and model * Raquel Naa Ayorkor Ammah ( ...

, on the January 25, 2022 episode of '' NXT''. She made her in-ring debut as a

face The face is the front of the head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affect th ...

under the ring name Tatum Paxley on the debut episode of ''

NXT Level Up ''WWE NXT Level Up'', also known as ''NXT Level Up'' (stylized as '' NXT LVL UP''), is an American professional wrestling streaming television program that was produced by the American promotion WWE, running from February 18, 2022, to December 27 ...

'' teaming with Ivy Nile of

Diamond Mine There are a limited number of commercially available diamond mines currently operating in the world, with the 50 largest mines accounting for approximately 90% of global supply. Diamonds are also mined alluvially over disperse areas, where dia ...

, and scoring a victory over

Fallon Henley Theresa Schuessler (born September 25, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Fallon Henley, and is a member of the Fatal Influence stable. She is a former one ...

and Kayla Inlay. On the February 22 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley and Nile participated in the first round of the women's

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is an annual professional wrestling tag team tournament held by the American promotion WWE, and is featured on its NXT brand, having first been established in 2015. In subsequent years, wrestlers from the NXT U ...

against

Kacy Catanzaro Kacy Esther Catanzaro (born January 14, 1990) is an American professional wrestler and a former gymnast and obstacle racer. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Katana Chance. Alongside Kayden Carter, ...

and Kayden Carter, in which they were defeated. Now a formalized tag team, Paxley and Nile engaged in a fatal four-way tag team match against Katana Chance (formerly Kacy Catanzaro) and Carter, Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon, and Toxic Attraction (

Gigi Dolin Priscilla Lee Kelly (born June 5, 1997) is an American professional wrestler and former reality television personality. She is best known for her tenure in WWE where she performed under the ring name Gigi Dolin. She is a former record-tying two- ...

and

Jacy Jayne Taylor Grado (born June 2, 1996) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Jacy Jayne, and is the current NXT Women's Champion in he ...

) on the August 2 episode of ''NXT'' for the vacant

NXT Women's Tag Team Championship The NXT Women's Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It was defended on the company's developmental brand, NXT, and was briefly featured on the ...

, which they failed to win. After feeling morally abandoned by Nile, on the March 14, 2023, episode of ''NXT'', Paxley abandoned Nile during a three-way tag team match, leaving her to suffer the pinfall by

Alba Fyre Kayleigh Kerr (Birth name, née Rae; born 11 August 1992) is a Scottish professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE where she performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Alba Fyre and is a membe ...

and

Isla Dawn Courtney Stewart (born 2 February 1994) is a Scottish professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Isla Dawn. She was one-half of The Unholy Union with Alba Fyre, with whom she was a one ...

, turning

heel The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Structure To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...

in the process. On April 4 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley was defeated by Nile.

Various storylines (2023–present)

Towards the end of 2023 and heading into 2024, Paxley took on the character of a deranged creep and began a storyline where she stalked

NXT Women's Champion The NXT Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling Championship (professional wrestling), championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion, promotion WWE. It is defended on NXT (WWE brand), NXT, th ...

Lyra Valkyria Aoife Cusack (born 23 October 1996) is an Irish professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Lyra Valkyria. She is a former one-time and the inaugural W ...

during backstage interviews and during her matches. Paxley turned

at ''NXT'': New Year's Evil on January 2, 2024, after saving Valkyria from a beatdown by

Lola Vice Valerie Loureda (born July 19, 1998) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Lola Vice. As a mixed martial artist, she competed in the wo ...

and Elektra Lopez, eventually developing an obsession and a crush on Valkyria. Ever since then, Paxley would interfere on Valkyria's matches to the latter's disapproval. At ''NXT'': Roadblock on March 5, Valkyria and Paxley faced The Kabuki Warriors ( Asuka and

Kairi Sane is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress. she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name . From 2012 to 2017, she wrestled for the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom under the ring name . E ...

) for the

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling Women's Tag Team Championship, women's tag team Professional wrestling, championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion, promotion WWE. It is th ...

as a reward from Valkyria to Paxley for the latter not interfering with the former's title matches against

Shotzi Ashley Louise Alfaro (Birth name, née Urbanski; born March 14, 1992), better known by the ring name Shotzi Blackheart, is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Shotzi ...

and The Meta-Four's Lash Legend in the previous week but failed to win the titles after Valkyria inadvertently kicked Paxley. On the April 9 episode of ''NXT'' after NXT Stand & Deliver where Valkyria lost the NXT Women's Championship to

Roxanne Perez Carla Gonzalez (born November 5, 2001) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Roxanne Perez. She is a former two-time NXT Women's Champion, and a former NXT Women' ...

, Paxley turned on Valkyria and reverted back to a heel. On the following week of ''NXT'', Paxley revealed that her obsession with Valkyria was only because she had the NXT Women's Championship. Later that night, Paxley defeated

Chase University Chase University, formally known as Andre Chase University and usually shortened as Chase U, is a professional wrestling stable that performs in WWE on the NXT brand. The stable's gimmick is that of an educational university, with stable founder ...

Thea Hail Madison Knisley (born September 9, 2003) is an American professional wrestler and gymnast. She is signed to WWE where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Thea Hail. Early life Madison Knisley was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...

after interference from

and

Jazmyn Nyx Jade Arianna Gentile (born July 28, 1998) is an American professional wrestler and former soccer player. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Jazmyn Nyx and is a member of the Fatal Influence stable. ...

, and was attacked by Valkyria after the match. NXT general manager

Ava Ava or AVA may refer to: Places Asia and Oceania * Ava Kingdom, in upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 ** Inwa, formerly Ava, the capital of Ava Kingdom ** Earl of Ava, a British colonial earldom in Burma * Ava, Iran, Gilan Province, a village * Iva ...

then announced that Perez will defend the NXT Women's Championship against Paxley and Valkyria in a

triple threat match Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. ...

at Week 1 of ''Spring Breakin on April 23, where Perez retained her title. Valkyria was subsequently promoted to the Raw

in the 2024 WWE Draft the following week, ending the feud between the two. On the May 28 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley took on

The O.C. ''The O.C. '' is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz that originally aired on Fox in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, with a total of four seasons consisting of 92 episodes. The serie ...

member Michin from

SmackDown ''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on USA Network in the United ...

to qualify for a spot in the six-woman

ladder match A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling, most commonly one in which an item (usually a title belt) is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item. The ladder itself become ...

to crown the inaugural

NXT Women's North American Champion The NXT Women's North American Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the secondary women's championship of the company's development brand, NXT. Established on April 6, 20 ...

at NXT Battleground, where she lost. At NXT Battleground on June 9, halfway through the NXT Women's Championship match between Roxanne Perez and TNA Knockouts World Champion

Jordynne Grace Patricia Forrest Gresham (née Parker, born March 5, 1996), better known by her ring name Jordynne Grace, is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and powerlifter. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand. She is best ...

, Paxley appeared from the crowd and attempted to steal the TNA Knockouts World Championship but was stopped by Ash by Elegance (who previously wrestled in WWE as Dana Brooke) and Grace, who lost the title match as a result of the interference. In July, Paxley formed a short-lived alliance with

Wendy Choo Karen Yu (born January 18, 1992) is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT and Evolve (WWE brand), Evolve WWE brand extension, brands under the ring name Wendy Choo. She is also kno ...

, who turned on Paxley at Week 2 of ''NXT'': The Great American Bash on August 6 after Paxley failed to defeat NXT Women's North American Champion

Kelani Jordan Lea Mitchell (born October 22, 1998) is an American professional wrestler and former artistic gymnast. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Kelani Jordan. She is a former one-time and inaugural NXT Wome ...

for the title. On the September 3 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley defeated TNA's

Rosemary ''Salvia rosmarinus'' (), commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers. It is a member of the sage family, Lamiaceae. The species is native to the Mediterranean r ...

, who had aligned with Choo. After the match, Paxley was attacked by Choo and Rosemary. Lyra Valkyria returned to NXT to save Paxley and the pair reunited, turning Paxley face once more. On the October 22 episode of ''NXT'', after losing a match against Jaida Parker, Paxley was stuffed into a loading box by Choo. At NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27, Paxley spun the

Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. ...

wheel, and the first ever women's

casket match Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. ...

in WWE was scheduled between herself and Choo, which was won by Paxley two days later to end their feud. On the November 26 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley challenged Fatal Influence's

for the

NXT Women's North American Championship The NXT Women's North American Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the secondary women's championship of the company's development brand, NXT. Established on April 6, 20 ...

but failed to win the title. After the match, she was attacked by Henley and her stablemates Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx. Paxley was then saved by a returning

and formed an alliance with her. On the following week, Paxley and Dolin lost to Jayne and Nyx in a tag team match. After the match,

saved the pair from a beatdown by Fatal Influence. The two teams would face off at ''NXT'': New Year's Evil on January 7, 2025, where Paxley, Dolin and Shotzi emerged victorious. At the NXT Stand & Deliver pre-show on April 19, Paxley and Dolin (with Shotzi) won a Fatal four-way tag team

elimination match Much like the Singles match (professional wrestling), singles match, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, Hardcore wrestling, ha ...

to become the #1 contenders for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship but failed to defeat

Liv Morgan Gionna Jene Daddio (born June 8, 1994) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Liv Morgan. She is one-half of the current WWE Women's Tag Team Champions wi ...

and And or AND may refer to: Logic, grammar and computing * Conjunction, connecting two words, phrases, or clauses * Logical conjunction in mathematical logic, notated as "∧", "⋅", "&", or simple juxtaposition * Bitwise AND, a Boolean oper ...

for the titles on the April 22 episode of ''NXT''. The alliance of Paxley, Dolin and Shotzi effectively ended in early May when Dolin was released from her WWE contract and Shotzi departed the company upon the expiry of her contract. On the May 13 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley had a breakdown backstage, after which

tried to console her, but to no avail, thus resulting in a match between Paxley and Hail, which Paxley lost due to disqualification for gouging Hail's eye while escaping a

kimura lock An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock is very useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock tha ...

, and continued to attack her after the match had ended, turning heel for the first time since April 2024. Paxley then entered into a storyline with

Izzi Dame Franki Carissa Strefling (born July 13, 1999) is an American professional wrestler and former professional volleyball player. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Izzi Dame and is a member of The Culling ...

, where Dame attempts to recruit Paxley into The Culling

stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...

. On the July 1 episode of ''NXT'', Paxley and Dame defeated

Zaria Zaria is a List of Nigerian cities by population, metropolitan city in Nigeria, located at present time within four local government areas in Kaduna State. It serves as the capital of the Zazzau Emirate Council and is one of the original sev ...

and NXT Women's North American and Speed Women's Champion Sol Ruca in a tag team match, aligning herself with The Culling.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2024; 2025)

After failing to steal the

TNA Knockouts World Championship The TNA Knockouts World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). The championship debuted on October 14, 2007, at the Bound for Glory pay-per-view (PPV) event and the ina ...

at NXT Battleground on June 9, 2024, Paxley made her surprise debut appearance in

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (abbreviated as TNA Wrestling or TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by busines ...

(TNA) at Against All Odds on June 14 where she answered

's open challenge for the TNA Knockouts World Championship but failed to win the title. On the March 15, 2025 taping of '' Impact!'', Paxley returned to TNA with

and demanded a title match against TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions Ash by Elegance and Heather by Elegance but failed to win the titles the following week. On the April 17 episode of ''Impact!'', Paxley and Dolin won their first TNA match by defeating Heather By Elegance and Maggie Lee in a tag team match.

Personal life

On September 17, 2023, it was revealed that Holland was engaged to fellow professional wrestler Randy José Beidelschies, better known as Javier Bernal in NXT. They got married on September 28, 2024.

Championships and accomplishments

* ''

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...

'' ** Ranked No. 141 of the top 250 female wrestlers in the '' PWI Women's 250'' in 2024

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paxley, Tatum American female professional wrestlers LGBTQ characters in professional wrestling Living people 21st-century female professional wrestlers 21st-century American professional wrestlers 21st-century American sportswomen Professional wrestlers from Dallas