Daniel Vidot is not your everyday retired rugby league player.

The 31-year-old played 124 games for the Raiders, Broncos, Dragons and Titans before hanging up the boots in 2017 and deciding to pursue a professional wrestling career with WWE.

Vidot, who is known in the ring as his alter ego Xyon Quinn, signed a development contract with WWE in 2018 and has quickly become a fan favourite for his creative moves.

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After making his on-screen debut in 2020, Vidot took the WWE by storm with a hot streak of victories on one of the promotion’s leading brands NXT.

He has gone from strength to strength in his regular appearances on NXT and has developed his Xyon Quinn character so well the WWE trademarked its nickname, ‘The Samoan Ghost’, which Vidot adopted in honour of his Samoan heritage.

But as is often the case in the world of wrestling, everything doesn’t always go to plan, which was clear for all to see when Vidot copped a painful low blow during an NXT match last month.

After a flirtatious storyline emerged between Vidot’s Xyon Quinn and Elektra Lopez, Vidot faced off against her Legado Del Fantasma stablemate Santo Escobar, with the winner to earn Lopez’s allegiance.

Vidot was dominating the contest against Escobar until Lopez caught his attention outside the ring with a lingering gaze. Thinking he’d won her over, Vidot turned his back, only for Lopez to show her true colours by unleashing lethal a kick to his nether regions.

In excruciating pain, Vidot slumped over on his haunches and from that point on was no match for Escobar, who seized his opportunity to defeat his wounded opponent.

Vidot said the low blow was just as painful as you’d imagine but hoped it was a move that resonated with everyday fans.

“It felt exactly how it looked mate,” Vidot told news.com.au.

“I feel like that was something that could connect with a lot of people around the world. A lot of guys have been in this situation where that’s kind of what happens.

“I thought that was a cool moment for Xyon Quinn where he kind of got himself in a predicament, thought he was in love but yeah; she took the house, she took the car. That’s what that moment was.

“I think it was really cool to show that side from the guy’s point of view as well to try and display that you know, it goes both ways.

“There’s times where things happen in a positive manner for the girl and things happen in a positive manner for the guy and also vice versa. So that was something I wanted to display in that storyline. I feel like I projected that.”

Vidot is a deep thinker and has been working to unpack more of his Xyon Quinn character, who he describes as a “gentleman” that “everyone wants their daughter to have”.

Now he’s made his mark on NXT, his next goal is to be picked for WWE’s main roster, which would complete his incredible path from NRL player to WWE superstar.

“I think my next main goal is to hit main roster,” Vidot said.

“That’s where my focus is at, my energy is towards. Obviously being here for three years now, I’ve learned a lot more about the craft.

“At the moment, I’m just working on my craft, getting myself right and getting myself ready and hopefully I get that call up very soon.

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster but I’m getting there. I’m still loving this, it’s still my passion. I’m real happy, glad I made this move. Hopefully I get back onto the screens soon and you guys will see me soon on the main roster.”

Vidot, who ventured into wrestling after he fell out of love with rugby league, admits he pinches himself when he thinks about living two separate identities — Daniel Vidot the former NRL player and Xyon Quinn the wrestler.

“It’s crazy being at work and being called ‘Xyon’ all the time,” he said.

“Sometimes that identity can take over reality. I come home and it’s like, ‘Daniel’ and it’s like, ‘Whoa. Oh yeah that’s me’.

“It’s kind of crazy having that kind of concept of leaving the character at work and becoming your real life character when you get home. It’s been fun though.”

Vidot is far from satisfied and has some lofty goals for his WWE career, one of which is for his character to become “an icon around the world”.

“My goals here are long term and I haven’t come this far to give up,” he said.

“It’s been a long journey, it’s been a crazy journey too. In my mindset, I didn’t leave my family on the other side of the world to come here and muck around.

“I came here to make an impact and to not only represent Australia and Samoa but to represent what Xyon Quinn is all about.”

Vidot said Xyon Quinn is “the dude I wished I had” during his childhood and is proud he has managed to transform that idea into a real life character.

“At the age of 13 I had a gamer tag on Xbox — ‘Samoan Ghost’ — and now WWE trademarked it and that’s pretty cool in itself,” he said.

“That’s something that I’m always going to be proud of. I manifested it and I made it something real and it turned into Xyon Quinn. That’s who the Samoan Ghost is, it’s someone that’s kind of always there but he’s not.

“That’s where the whole idea of him came from. I’m just adding layers and layers at a time and hopefully it just keeps developing and becomes an icon around the world.”

As for which current NRL player could follow in his footsteps and crack the big time, Vidot nominated mischievous Melbourne Storm hooker Brandon Smith.

“It’s probably going to have to be ‘The Cheese’ (Smith),” Vidot said.

“I feel like his personality, it’s definitely there. He’s a magnet to the cameras, you can’t keep your eyes off him. He’s a very entertaining dude. So I feel like The Cheese could.”

WWE NXT airs each Wednesday at 12pm (AEDT) on Kayo and Foxtel’s FOX8.