The hidden gem of NXT Heatwave: Why Kelani Jordan's brutal match is “One of the best of the year”
With an almost perfect rating from a 23-minute battle, the new champion was crowned in Texas.
"The world of professional wrestling woke up today with only one topic of conversation: what happened at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas during the NXT Heatwave event has gone beyond the screen.
The match for the NXT Women’s Championship was between Kelani Jordan , famous for her past as a high-level collegiate artistic gymnast, and thanks to this discipline she has a unique wrestling style, and on the other side Kendal Grey , a true legend of college sports in the United States, a three-time amateur Olympic wrestling champion.
The reasons that make this fight the most viral match of the year.
The contest, which stretched for nearly 23 minutes, saw an inspired Kelani Jordan crowned after defeating Kendal Grey in a true display of endurance and aerial agility. Jordan, who already had the NXT Women's North American Championship and the TNA Knockouts title on her résumé, finally reached the top of her division after three and a half years of relentless pursuit.
Beyond the historic result and the emotional celebration, what has set digital platforms ablaze is the sheer brutality and the extremely high physical level with which both competitors pushed their rivalry to the limit. The audience described the competitors as two "kindred spirits of the ring" because of the fluidity they maintained. According to Jordan, both are perfectionists, highly competitive, and came into the showdown determined to give their all, which produced a highly intense match from start to finish.
The spectacular nature of the clash reached its peak when Grey executed an impressive reverse Spanish Fly from the top rope that left everyone in shock. Despite the devastating impact, Jordan’s resilience in kicking out at the count of three became the narrative engine that ultimately enshrined the match in the eyes of the audience.
The specialized press has not held back in its praise, unanimously backing the popular outcry. The main news outlets have described the matchup as " fantastic", applauding the magnificent contrast between Jordan's gymnastics background and Grey's Olympic wrestling base.
The title has a special meaning for Jordan . She stated that she had been chasing it for three and a half years and that, although she had already won other championships —including the NXT Women"s North American Championship and the TNA Knockouts Championship—, this one represented the pinnacle of NXT’s women’s division.
