One figure standing amidst a storm of controversy and disdain in WWE is Nia Jax. Wrestling fans, notorious for their passionate alliances and fervent opinions, directed a considerable amount of animosity towards Nax when she returned to WWE. The reasons behind this hatred, however, delve beyond the scripted narratives of the squared circle. As we explore the multifaceted layers of Nia Jax’s persona, both on and off the screen, a compelling tapestry of real-life incidents, contrasting character portrayals, and personal opinions emerges. A very unique situation comes out as the overarching reason why WWE fans harbor such strong sentiments against Nia Jax..
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UPDATE: 2025/03/14 17:00 EST BY ANDREW KELLY
The WWE career of Nia Jax has been full of ups and downs, and during her spell in WWE, only Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin could probably claim to have recieved as much as hate as Nia Jax. She has been the subject of a lot of scorn, hate, and abuse, both in a real life context and within the world of kayfabe. However, things have took a change in the discourse regarding Nia Jax, with fans now more at a level 50/50 when it comes to whether they love her or hate her. This comes since her return in 2023, and it is important to assess her WWE career from that moment on.
Nia Jax’s Hated On-Screen WWE Persona
Nia Jax Has Been A Great Heel On Raw & SmackDown
- Nia Jax has been a heel for most of her WWE run.
- Jax garnered some love as a babyface for a few months after turning on Alexa Bliss.
- Overall, Nia Jax is one of WWE’s most hated heels.
Nia Jax’s on-screen persona within the WWE universe has been meticulously crafted to position her as a formidable and imposing heel. From the early stages of her career, it became apparent that Nia’s physicality set her apart from the majority of the women’s division. Standing significantly taller and more robust than her counterparts, she became a symbol of dominance in the ring. Her character’s mean streak and unrelenting aggression further solidified her role as a villain. However, her in-ring work didn’t always live up to the hype. These characteristics made her an ideal antagonist, drawing the ire of fans who naturally gravitated towards supporting the underdog in her opponents.
Despite WWE’s occasional attempts to transition Nia Jax into a babyface, those efforts were met with limited success. One notable instance was the short-lived babyface turn against Alexa Bliss, which saw Nia capturing the RAW Women’s Championship. However, the fans’ response remained lukewarm at best, with persistent boos and a general lack of enthusiasm. The disconnect between the perceived heroic persona and Nia’s inherent characteristics made it challenging for fans to embrace her as a babyface. Moreover, Nia’s previous attempt at portraying a sympathetic character during a feud with Alexa Bliss, marked by her sobbing displays and vulnerability, failed to resonate positively. Instead of garnering sympathy, the portrayal made her appear weak, further cementing her position as a natural heel, a persona that is tailor-made for disdain, effectively contributing to her role as one of WWE’s most hated figures.
WWE Fans Didn’t Like Nia Jax
Nia Jax Has Been Deemed An Unsafe Wrestler
- Nia Jax has had a history of injuring some wrestlers.
- Becky Lynch and Kairi Sane are among those who have been hurt.
- Jax has felt the scorn of fans from these moments.
Fans these days are very smart, and with the death of kayfabe, they can easily distinguish between on screen personas and the real-life personalities of WWE stars. Many heels in WWE today are actually beloved by fans in real life. But, unfortunately, Nia isn’t one of them. Nia Jax’s reputation as an unsafe worker has significantly contributed to the animosity she faces from WWE fans. The wrestling industry places a premium on the safety of its performers, and any perceived lapses in this regard tend to draw intense scrutiny. Nia’s track record includes several alleged instances where her in-ring actions led to injuries or close calls for her colleagues. Accusations of injuring fellow stars, including Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Kairi Sane, Mandy Rose, and Ember Moon have fueled fan resentment.
However, the incident that exacerbated Nia Jax’s notoriety occurred in 2018 during the buildup to Survivor Series. In a moment that would go down in WWE history, Nia accidentally delivered a legitimate punch to Becky Lynch’s face, breaking her nose and causing a concussion. This incident was particularly impactful due to the timing, as Becky Lynch was experiencing an unparalleled surge in popularity. The image of Becky with a bloody face became iconic, but it also magnified the negative attention on Nia. The collective power of Becky Lynch’s fan base amplified the impact of Nia’s actions, making her one of the most disliked figures in WWE history. Messing with the beloved Becky Lynch, even by accident, it seems, isn’t good for the reputation of any wrestler.
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How The Hate From WWE Fans Impacted Nia Jax
WWE Fans Need To Realize There Is A Person Behind The Character
- Fans forget that professional wrestlers are real people.
- Online hate can be overwhelming for anyone.
- Nia Jax has been impacted by the overwhelming hate.
Nia Jax’s controversial views towards COVID vaccines drew attention and, in some cases, condemnation from fans. In an era where public figures are under scrutiny for their views on health matters, her outspoken opposition became a point of contention. Nia Jax candidly discussed the toll the online hate took on her well-being on an episode of the After the Bell podcast with Corey Graves. She said:
“I obviously can’t deny that I get a lot of hatred online. In the beginning, I was like, ‘Oh, this will be good. This would be good for, you know, like, the character will keep going on’, but at the end of the day, like, when you’re by yourself, and you’re on your phone, and you’re looking at the constant hate, hate, hate, you’re like, okay, then you’re second guessing yourself. I’m second guessing everything I’ve done… Like, I need to improve, and I need to do this, and I need to impress them, like the internet is really hating what I’m doing right now, and it really, really messed me up. It got me into such a sad place of like, when I got released, I’m like, ‘yeah, of course, why not? I suck. Everybody hates me. Like, there’s no need for me to be here anymore.”
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After doing therapy, she realized the hate was for Nia Jax not for Savelina Fanene, Nia’s real name. Moreover, in a more recent interview with Q1057, Nia Jax conveyed a shift in her perspective. She expressed a newfound resilience, stating that she no longer cares about who hates her and has chosen to use the negativity as fuel for her journey. This transformation from being affected by the hate to using it as motivation reflects a personal growth and coping mechanism. While fans have the right to voice their opinions and criticize performers, it’s essential to recognize the human aspect behind the character.
Nia Jax Has Improved Since Her WWE Return
Nia Jax Rose To A New Level In Her Talent
- Nia Jax made her WWE comeback in 2023.
- She has won Queen of the Ring tournament and the WWE Women’s Championship.
- Jax has put in the best work of her career since returning to the ring.
Due to the distaste fans have for Nia Jax, collective groans were let out when she returned to WWE in 2023. Nia Jax set her sights on proving everyone wrong. It must be said that not everything has been perfect about Nia Jax’s WWE run since 2023, with a few noticeably bad performances and matches, such as in WarGames and against Liv Morgan at Crown Jewel 2024, but for the most part Nia Jax has channeled that very real hate from fans and become one of the best heels in the women’s division, and in turn doing some of the best work of her entire professional wrestling career.
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Nia Jax’s work on the mic has been far better than what it was previously, and this has helped her feuds with the likes of Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley work so well. Jax’s in-ring work has seen an upturn in quality too, proving fans wrong who claimed she couldn’t wrestle. She has very much done what others of a similar stature in Earthquake and Yokozuna accomplished, using her size as a focusing point to stand out as being different from everyone on the roster, and making herself a dominant heel in the process. Some of the fan perception has begun to swing for Jax, but there is still a very divisive opinion when it comes to her talents, even after standout performances against names like Bayley, Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria, Rhea Ripley, Michin, and Bianca Belair over the last couple of years.
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