When asked if dying her hair immediately boosted her self-confidence to its full extent, Paxley indicated that it brought it up a notch. Overall, though, she still had some inner work to do at the time.

“That was like a segue,” Paxley said. “That was kind of one step of going forget what everyone else is saying about me. But obviously even when I dyed my hair black, then I had a very long very long relationship with Lyra Valkyria, that was a whole big thing in finding myself. My hair was dyed black, but I still haven’t really found the confidence yet. I was very, very reliant on Lyra and everything she was doing. And then I was very reliant on Izzi [Dame]. So I can’t say I dye my hair black and my confidence was just where it needed to be, but it definitely [helped].”

As part of her personal growth process, Paxley noted that she physically stares at herself in the mirror so she can study her appearance, including her face. Upon her hair transformation, Paxley recalled feeling satisfied with the result, especially as it gave her “a little lick” of the self-belief she had long been yearning for. Thanks to her television programs with former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and former Culling stablemate Izzi Dame, Paxley’s confidence then skyrocketed.

Most recently, Dame and Paxley met in a Steel Cage Match on “NXT,” with Paxley’s NXT Women’s North American Championship on the line.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open After Dark” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.