aeromech3,
With respect, wheel rotation has nothing to do with tightening or loosening of said axle nut. The nut is torqued up against a keyed washer/spacer which in turn rests up against the outer wheel bearing face. This in turn holds the bevelled shape of the outer bearing against the matching bevelled shape of the outer bearing seat on the outer wheel hub (same for inner bearing and bearing seat assembly on the inner wheel hub), and it is this matching bevelled shape of the bearings and bearing seats that pretty much holds the wheel on the axle.
The wheel nut and washer/spacer are there to keep the whole assembly together and prevent lateral movement of the wheel and bearings on the axle. So, if the wheel nut was installed WITHOUT the wheel nut lock bolts , there is nothing to prevent the wheel nut eventually backing off and the wheel departing.
Rgds McHale.