Dion Lennox
{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1998)}}
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{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Dion Lennox
|image =
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|birth_name = Andrzej Hughes-Murray
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|1|16}}{{cite web |title=Andrzej Hughes-Murray Height, Weight, Position, Hometown, Bio - NCAA College Football |url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/andrzej-hughes-murray-player-bio |website=FOX Sports}}
|birth_place = Federal Way, Washington, U.S.
|spouse =
|names = Dion Lennox{{cite web |title=Dion Lennox « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=28177 |website=www.cagematch.net}}
Andrzej Hughes-Murray
|billed =
|trainer =
|retired =
}}
Andrzej Hughes-Murray (born January 16, 1998) is an American professional wrestler and former football player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Dion Lennox and is a member of the Darkstate stable.
Hughes-Murray previously played college football for the Oregon State Beavers{{cite web |title=Andrzej Hughes-Murray - Football |url=https://osubeavers.com/sports/football/roster/andrzej-hughes-murray/8502 |website=Oregon State University Athletics |language=en}} and was signed to the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite web |title=player.DisplayName (player.Position): Bio, News, Stats & more |url=https://www.therams.com/team/players-roster/andrzej-hughes-murray/ |website=www.therams.com}}
Football career
Hughes-Murray played college football as a linebacker for the Oregon State Beavers for six seasons, missing the 2019 season due to injury.{{cite web |title=Ex Rams LB Headlines WWE Rookie Class |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/los-angeles-rams-former-linebacker-andrzej-hughes-murray-wwe-rookie#:~:text=Hughes%2DMurray%20signed%20with%20L.A.,a%20game%20with%20the%20team.&text=Before%20that%2C%20the%20linebacker%20spent,in%202019%20due%20to%20injury. |website=Los Angeles Rams On SI |date=4 June 2023}} After being undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, he signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams{{cite web |title=Andrzej Hughes-Murray {{!}} NFL Contracts & Salaries |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/77411/andrzej-hughes-murray |website=spotrac.com |language=en}} as an undrafted free agent, but was released prior to appearing in a game.
Professional wrestling career
=WWE (2023–present)=
Hughes-Murray made his professional wrestling debut on August 19, 2023 at a NXT live event, losing to Joe Coffey.{{cite web |title=Andrzej Hughes-Murray Makes WWE In-Ring Debut |url=https://itrwrestling.com/news/andrzej-hughes-murray-makes-wwe-in-ring-debut/ |website=itrwrestling.com |date=21 August 2023}} He made his NXT on-screen debut as Dion Lennox on the December 5 episode of NXT, where he was announced as a participant of the 2023 NXT Breakout Tournament.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=December 5, 2023 |title=NXT TV results (12/5): Moore's review of Ilja Dragunov and Baron Corbin meet face-to-face on the Deadline go-home show, Iron Survivor Challenge last chance qualifiers |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/12/05/nxt-tv-results-12-5-moores-review-of-ilja-dragunov-and-baron-corbin-meet-face-to-face-on-the-deadline-go-home-show-iron-survivor-challenge-last-chance-qualifiers/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}} Lennox made his in-ring televised debut on the December 8 episode of NXT Level Up where he lost to Brooks Jensen.{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2023 |title=NXT Level Up results: Gulak and Dempsey halt winning streak of Enofé & Blade |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up/nxt-level-up-dec-8-2023 |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=WWE |language=en}} On the December 19 episode of NXT, Lennox lost to Lexis King in the first round of the NXT Breakout Tournament.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=December 19, 2023 |title=NXT TV results (12/19): Moore's review of Dragon Lee defending the NXT North American Title, Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley, NXT Breakout Tournament quarterfinal matches |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/12/19/nxt-tv-results-12-19-moores-review-of-dragon-lee-defending-the-nxt-north-american-title-tiffany-stratton-vs-fallon-henley-nxt-breakout-tournament-quarterfinal-matches/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}} Around October 2024, Lennox and Brinley Reece was involved in a love triangle storyline between Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Karmen Petrovic and Nikkita Lyons, where Adonis and Petrovic defeated Lennox and Reece in a mixed tag team match on the November 19 episode of NXT{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=November 19, 2024 |title=NXT TV results (11/19): Moore's review of Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase for a shot at the NXT Championship at NXT Deadline, Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/11/19/nxt-tv-results-11-19-moores-review-of-ridge-holland-vs-andre-chase-for-a-shot-at-the-nxt-championship-at-nxt-deadline-iron-survivor-challenge-qualifiers/ |access-date=November 20, 2024 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=}} and culminated in a match between Lennox and Adonis on the December 24 episode of NXT won by Adonis after interference from Lyons.{{Cite web |last=Boone |first=Matt |title=WWE NXT Results 12/24/24 |url=https://www.wrestlingheadlines.com/wwe-nxt-results-12-24-24/amp/ |access-date=December 25, 2024 |website=Wrestlingheadlines.com}}
After losing multiple matches and feeling disrespected in late 2024 and early 2025, Lennox began to have a change of attitude on the January 21, 2025 episode of NXT after losing to Wes Lee.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=January 21, 2025 |title=NXT TV results (1/21): Moore's review of Oba Femi vs. Eddy Thorpe for the NXT Championship, Tony D'Angelo vs. Ridge Holland for the NXT North American Championship |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/01/21/nxt-tv-results-1-21-moores-review-of-oba-femi-vs-eddy-thorpe-for-the-nxt-championship-tony-dangelo-vs-ridge-holland-for-the-nxt-north-american-championship/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}} He returned at NXT Vengeance Day on February 15 with Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, and Osiris Griffin,{{Cite web |last=Nash |first=Anthony |date=February 15, 2025 |title=Mysterious Group Debuts At WWE NXT Vengeance Day |url=https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1542383-mysterious-group-debuts-at-wwe-nxt-vengeance-day |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Wrestlezone |language=en-US}} attacking Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura and NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom as well as NXT Champion Oba Femi after their respective matches, turning heel for the first time in his career.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=February 15, 2025 |title=NXT Vengeance Day results: Moore's live review of Oba Femi vs. Grayson Waller vs. Austin Theory for the NXT Championship, Giulia vs. Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade for the NXT Women's Title |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/02/15/nxt-vengeance-day-results-moores-live-review-of-oba-femi-vs-grayson-waller-vs-austin-theory-for-the-nxt-championship-giulia-vs-bayley-vs-roxanne-perez-vs-cora-jade-for-the-nxt-womens-t/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}} The group made their second appearance at NXT: Roadblock on March 11, where they attacked Je'Von Evans after his match.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=March 11, 2025 |title=NXT TV results (3/11): Moore's review of Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer in a title vs. title match, Oba Femi vs. Moose for the NXT Title, The Hardys vs. Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the TNA Tag Team Titles |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/03/11/nxt-tv-results-3-11-moores-review-of-giulia-vs-stephanie-vaquer-in-a-title-vs-title-match-oba-femi-vs-moose-for-the-nxt-title-the-hardys-vs-nathan-frazer-and-axiom-for-the-tna-tag-team-titl/ |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}} On the following week, the group's name was revealed as Darkstate.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=March 18, 2025 |title=Darkstate Revealed As Name Of Rogue NXT Group {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/darkstate-revealed-name-rogue-nxt-group |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=Fightful |language=en}} On the April 8 episode of NXT, Lennox, James and Shugars defeated Trick Williams, Evans and Femi in a six-man tag team match in their first match as a team.{{Cite web |last=Defelice |first=Robert |date=April 8, 2025 |title=Darkstate (Cutler James, Dion Lennox, and Saquon Shugars) Win In NXT TV Debut As Trick Williams And Oba Femi Fight {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/darkstate-cutler-james-dion-lennox-and-saquon-shugars-win-nxt-tv-debut-trick-williams-and-oba-femi |access-date=April 11, 2025 |website=Fightful |language=en}} At NXT Stand & Deliver on April 19, Lennox, Osiris and Shugars faced The D'Angelo Family (Tony D'Angelo, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo, and Luca Crusifino), where DarkState won after Stacks turned on his team.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=April 19, 2025 |title=NXT Stand & Deliver results: Moore's live review of Oba Femi vs. Trick Williams vs. Je'Von Evans for the NXT Title, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker for the NXT Women's Title |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/04/19/nxt-stand-deliver-results-moores-live-review-of-oba-femi-vs-trick-williams-vs-jevon-evans-for-the-nxt-title-stephanie-vaquer-vs-giulia-vs-jordynne-grace-vs-jaida-parker-for-the-nxt-w/ |access-date=April 20, 2025 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Hughes-Murray was born in Federal Way, Washington{{cite web |title=Andrzej Hughes-Murray - Los Angeles Rams Linebacker |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4042821/andrzej-hughes-murray |website=ESPN |language=en}} and graduated from Federal Way High School in 2016.{{cite web |title=Football Recruiting - Andrzej Hughes-Murray - Player Profiles - ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/combine/_/id/201503/andrzej-hughes-murray |website=ESPN.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{WWE personnel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lennox, Dion}}
Category:People from Federal Way, Washington
Category:African-American professional wrestlers
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Sportspeople from Federal Way, Washington
Category:Professional wrestlers from Washington (state)
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers