Ex-NRL ace to play for USA in Vegas, 72 hours after wrestling in Tokyo

Former NRL star-turned pro wrestler Daniel Vidot will play for USA’s national rugby league side on Friday in Las Vegas having started his week by wrestling in Tokyo on Monday.

Vidot, 36, who is known as Xyon in the squared circle, has become an established name in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he recently held the company’s prestigious tag team titles for 101 days with stable mate Oddyssey.

The ex-Brisbane Broncos wing competed in an eight-man tag team match on Monday in front of 2,237 fans at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium.

Now he’s preparing to return to the field for the USA Hawks who host Scotland in a special challenge match at Cougar Stadium in Henderson, Nevada.

Queensland-born Vidot called time on his highly-lucrative league career in 2017 to pursue pro wrestling in North America for the industry-leading WWE and is now a sought-after international heavyweight after becoming a freelancer in 2024.

The 6ft 2in, 17-stone powerhouse played for Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup in 2013 and has represented USA since 2024 having qualified on residency grounds.

“It’s a bit of a crazy week,” Vidot told RugbyJP.com.

“I’ve dropped about 6-7 kilos in the past three weeks, I’ve been working hard trying to get my body ready. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Vidot explained how his approach changes when he switches from pro wrestling back to rugby league.

“With rugby it always becomes more of a team mentality, even though I’m in a team (faction known as HAVOC) over here. There’s a lot of similarities but it’s still different, we’re not out there (wrestling) for 80 minutes so I don’t have to run that many kilometres (laughs)."

The dual athlete is strictly Daniel Xyon when he steps onto the field, where his competitive fire still burns.

“In rugby I have to dial it down a little, but I can still bring personality into a rugby match, I always like to try and hate someone from the other team. It always helps. I try and create little stories in my head.

“Xyon a big, dialled up version of me, it’s me times by 10, but we’re not too different to be honest.” 

Vidot with his stable colleagues post-match on Monday

Vidot’s second chance in the international rugby league arena is an opportunity he’s immensely grateful for at this stage of his career.

“I love rugby league, I always have, I want it to grow and especially in USA. Wearing the jersey and representing USA, for me it’s a win-win situation. I still miss footy every now and then so whenever I get a chance to play, I want to take it if my schedule aligns.

“I love both things, footy and wrestling right now. I want to take on whatever challenges come my way.”

Vidot’s return will take place in Las Vegas ahead of the NRL’s two opening weekend festival games in America’s larger-than-life city on Sunday. He trained with the Newcastle Knights on Wednesday.

For all of Vegas’ attractions, the former NRL standout is focused on the task in hand and managing his conditioning.

“The cool thing about wrestling is that it’s taught me how to block out the crowd, I have confidence out there, I’ll mostly thinking about how to get my breath back (laughs).”

The world-travelled wing admits that some of his fellow pro wrestlers were shocked to hear that he’s still playing.

“They were saying ‘what, you’re still playing?’. I told them, yeah, I still try. For me I think I need to get that fix of playing league still.”

Vidot is the headline name on the USA Hawks squad

Vidot has permission and full support of All Japan Pro Wrestling to keep playing. He may bring some of Xyon’s spirit out in Vegas.

“You never know with me. I’m unpredictable.”

NRL has been making in-roads in USA over the last few seasons since its first round one festival there in 2023 and Vidot thinks there’s huge potential for the sport to grow stateside.

“I think there’s massive potential there. Not taking away from the NFL, but we do 80 minutes without breaks and no pads. I encourage everyone to watch this weekend.”

Vidot will return to Japan in two weeks to compete at AJPW’s Dream Power Series 2026 on 15 March at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo