Former NRL star Daniel Vidot on his wrestling switch, why rugby league can succeed in United States

Walking away from the NRL to pursue a career in professional wrestling was the biggest risk of Daniel Vidot’s life. Almost a decade later, the former winger opens up on his career switch and his return to international rugby league.

Walking away from a professional rugby league career was one of the biggest risks of Daniel Vidot’s whirlwind life.

But now, almost a decade later, it’s one he would take again in a heartbeat.

“It was massive, it was a big risk, I had to think about my family,” reflected Vidot.

“That was the biggest thing for me was being homesick and missing my family. I’d already gone to England (to play Super League), but I felt like I would be stupid not to.

“The adaptation from footy to wrestling was a pretty smooth transition.”

Before wrestling, Vidot had notched 114 NRL games across the Raiders, Dragons, Broncos and Titans, as well as 10 with the Salford Red Devils in England’s Super League.

Daniel Vidot playing for the Broncos in 2014. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The winger would sign a development contract with the WWE soon after his move in 2018, and would crack the pinnacle of the sport in the WWE ‘main roster’ by 2023.

“I’ve always been a fan of (wrestling) since I was a little one, I think everyone was,” Vidot said.

“When the opportunity came up … I just took it with two hands and it sent me across the world. I’m always happy, I’m a bit of a shoot from the hip kind of dude.”

Under the ring name Xyon Quinn, Vidot appeared on WWE’s Main Event, Raw and SmackDown, before he was released by the WWE in 2024, later making two appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Xyon.

Daniel Vidot doesn’t regret his pursuit of professional wrestling. Picture: Annette Dew

Vidot is now pursuing the sport in Japan.

“The travelling’s crazy, just non-stop on the go, sometimes it can be a lot,” Vidot said of the wrestling lifestyle.

“That’s the thing that I like, I like being on the go.”

Vidot spoke while representing the Alex Glenn-created Legacy team at the Nines Premier League carnival on the Gold Coast, alongside a plethora of former Broncos, who won the shield division title after finishing in the bottom half of their pool.

Daniel Vidot at the Nines Premier League on the Gold Coast last weekend.

“Getting a break is amazing, right now I’m enjoying being home, filling the cup back up, filling my energy source back up … while I was here the boys got this team together and wanted me to play,” Vidot said.

“I couldn’t say no to running around with the boys again and I’m happy to be playing footy. The whole team’s been so welcoming, it’s good to see a couple of old heads running around.”

While still wrestling, Vidot has also found his way back into international rugby league and is now a dual international after an unlikely appearance for the United States, the country he now calls home.

A one-off domestic USARL game for the Washington DC Cavalry and more than five years of residency ruled Vidot eligible, and he made his debut against South Africa in Pretoria last month after a call from coach Sean Rutgerson asking him to play.

“Why not?” had been Vidot’s reply.

“Get another game and get another cap underneath there, it was more so because I miss (rugby league) and I wanted to help grow it in the States.”

Daniel Vidot playing rugby league for the US. Picture: Instagram

Vidot is set to figure again for the US on February 28, in a Test against Greece in Las Vegas that will serve as prelude to the four-game NRL, Super League and Women’s international extravaganza at Allegiant Stadium the following day.

“I’m going to play in that one and that might be it for me,” Vidot said.

It would see him finish his career as a dual international after earning 10 caps for Samoa over a decade ago.

Vidot’s love for rugby league has never faded despite his time away from the game, and he believes it has all the ingredients to become “massive” in the US.

“I honestly think it’s one of the biggest sports in the world, it’s the strongest sport in the world, I don’t think any other sport compares to it,” he said.

“I still love it and I always will. I think it’s got a really good chance to grow over there, I think the sky’s the limit for rugby league.

“I think it’s the contact and the no stoppage, the same team attacks and defends, I think when (Americans) watch that they’re like ‘woah, damn’.

“Full credit to the sport and I know it’s going to grow.”