Indi Hartwell Discusses Reuniting With Dexter Lumis for Their Viral Video, Why Fans Connected With Their Storyline

As previously reported, Indi Hartwell (aka Sam Shaw) recently reunited with her on-air “husband” Dexter Lumis in a viral video where Hartwell cuts his hair and shaves his beard. During a recent interview with Battleground Podcast, Hartwell discussed the fan response to the InDex reunion.

Indi Hartwell on the Response to the Video

“I kept some of them [Lumis’ dreadlocks] as a memento, but honestly, we didn’t — I personally didn’t expect the reaction to be that good. Like the video got a lot of traction, and I think like we filmed it with this guy here in Orlando called Harry, who’s an amazing photographer and videographer. And Dexter and I, or I should call him Sam [Shaw]. Sam and we were thinking like, should we film this ourselves, or should we get someone to film it? I’m so glad we got Harry to film it because the way that he did it and edited it, it came off so cool. I think it’s like a perfect way to show Sam saying goodbye to that old character and kind of going back to his roots. So yeah, I think the video came out amazing. I’m so proud of it. So proud of him. And I’m just grateful that a lot of people loved it.”

On How Fans Connected To Her Onscreen Pairing With Dexter Lumis in NXT

Honestly, I don’t know. I just feel so grateful that I’m a part of, or was, still am, a part of something that people gravitated towards so much. And I think it’s because in wrestling, there are a lot of things that wrestling fans can’t relate to. Like wrestling fans can’t relate to having a match or winning a title, but they can relate to someone falling in love or chasing someone in pursuit of love. And you know, the story there was Indi was after Dexter, but her family, the way Candace [LeRae] Johnny [Gargano] were keeping her away from that, but it was just like showing perseverance, and then showing that the perseverance pays off. You can get the guy, and then yeah, it was just fun. Tommy Dreamer always tells me that it was very endearing. I think people were drawn to it because I was very endearing as this like lovesick, lovable girl going for this weird, creepy serial killer stalker. I don’t even know what to call it.”

“It was still larger than life because I don’t know. It kind of is weird. Like this young innocent girl going for this creepy guy, but like I said, it’s relatable. So, I think fans just were drawn to it because it’s something that they can experience in their real life rather than winning titles and wrestling at WrestleMania, which is something that, you know, that’s the thing that separates the wrestler from the wrestling fan. But this was able to kind of, you know, bring them into it if that makes sense, right?”

That recent video of Hartwell and Lumis is available HERE. During this week’s edition of TNA iMPACT!, Indi Hartwell made the save for Santino Marella following an attack by Ariana Grace and Stacks. Hartwell then challenged Grace and Stacks to a tag team bout on the show. However, Daria Rae shut that idea down.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit the Battleground Podcast with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.