WWE NXT champ reflects on tremendous accolades 4 years into pro wrestling career: 'Force to be reckoned with'
She was the first NXT women’s North American champion, she won the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) Knockouts Championship and, on Sunday at Heatwave, she defeated Kendal Grey to win the NXT Women’s Championship for the first time in her first opportunity.COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON OUTKICKNXT Women's Champion Kelani Jordan is in the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Sept.1, 2026.
(WWE via Getty Images)OutKick Dropkick asked Jordan in a recent interview what the accolades meant to her."It feels great.Also, it's a good reminder to, like, whenever there's moments where I'm like maybe down or feel like, oh no, I'm like kind of like plateauing or shoot, like what's happening, I think it's a good reminder to like, hey, you were the first ever North American champion, you were a TNA Knockouts champion, now you're the NXT women's champion."It just allows me to take a moment to reflect and be like, hey, like you're very talented and you're good.
Like you don't have these titles for no reason or had those titles for no reason.So, I think it's a great reminder that Kelani Jordan is a force to be reckoned with."Over the course of the year, Jordan has demanded respect from fans and the rest of the women’s locker room.
She said in May she was better than all the women that were called up to Raw and SmackDown after WrestleMania 42.Now, Jordan has the belt to prove it.SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWSKelani Jordan looks over Tatum Paxley during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on June 30, 2026.(WWE via Getty Images)"Yes, absolutely," she said when asked about whether she’s earned the respect of her peers.
"I mean, of course, I know there's a target on my back, an even bigger one if there wasn't one already because I am the champion.But I think people know when they're in the ring with me that they're in for a tough, tough fight."But definitely when you have the title, you automatically get a little bit...