Former National Rugby League (NRL) player Daniel Vidot has opened up about his departure from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and his subsequent success in Japanese professional wrestling. Vidot, who now wrestles under the ring name Xyon, also expressed his desire to return to WWE.

Vidot, 36, played 125 top-level rugby league matches for clubs including the Brisbane Broncos before transitioning to wrestling at age 27. He cited a desire for new challenges and a feeling of complacency as motivators for his career change. "I love new challenges. If I start to feel like it's a bit complacent, I'll try and get myself into another position where I feel like I'm living again," Vidot stated. He described his approach as "zero or a hundred."

His interest in wrestling was influenced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Vidot secured a developmental contract with WWE in 2018 after being scouted by the company in earlier years.

Challenges in WWE

Vidot described his time in WWE as restrictive, feeling that his on-screen persona was manipulated by management and he was unable to fully express himself. "I felt like I was kind of in a box and I wasn't allowed to spread my wings as much," he said. He recalled attempts by Shawn Michaels to alter scripts, which Vidot felt led him to portray a character he was not. This experience contributed to his decision to leave.

Move to Japan and Personal Tragedy

Following his exit from WWE, Vidot relocated to Japan to compete in Japanese Pro Wrestling. He sought to reinvent his character and gain more creative freedom, which he found in the Japanese scene. "Japan is where you become very good at wrestling. Sometimes it's good to go to a smaller pond and be a bigger fish… and my value's gone up," Vidot explained.

During his time in Japan, Vidot formed a close friendship with rookie wrestler Taishin Nagao. Tragically, Nagao died in a car accident which Vidot witnessed. Vidot now wears a green armband with Nagao's name in his honor. "An unfortunate tragedy happened. He died before my eyes kind of thing," Vidot said.

Future Aspirations

Despite the challenges, Vidot remains hopeful about a return to WWE. He has been in communication with WWE chief content officer Triple H. "The dream of going to WWE isn't finished. I definitely want to come back," Vidot stated. "I felt like I didn't really get to finish my story over there in the States."