WWE NXT women’s champion Kelani Jordan explains why her Heatwave bout was ‘one of the best matches’ this year
Kelani Jordan defeated Kendal Grey for the NXT Women’s Championship at Heatwave and on Tuesday she described the title bout as “one of the best matches of the year” or at least the best “women’s match of the day.”
It was truly one of the best women’s matches on WWE programming this year. The match lasted nearly 23 minutes and saw Jordan and Grey go blow-for-blow before Grey fell into an exposed turnbuckle and Jordan hit a split-legged moonsault to help seal the win.
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NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan celebrates her win during NXT Heatwave at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas, on Aug. 30, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)
Jordan explained to OutKick Dropkick why she believed their match was one of the best.
“Well, first off, Kendal and I, we’ve always had great chemistry from very early on. I think what makes that match so different than any other match, not that other girls aren’t competitive, but Kendal and I are perfectionists, so we both want to give our all. We both give 110%. We both want to win. So, I just feel like that match was very competitive. It was a lot of intensity throughout the whole thing,” Jordan said, adding that she believed it was one of the longest NXT women’s singles matches without a stipulation in its history.
“So that just speaks for itself. But yeah, I think Kendal and I, we have similar minds.”
Jordan won the title in her first opportunity. She’s previously held the NXT Women’s North American Championship and the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) Knockouts Championship.
Kendal Grey is in action against Kelani Jordan during NXT Heatwave at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas, on Aug. 30, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)
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But to be the champion in the division she’s risen through meant a lot to her.
“It feels awesome. It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “Three and a half years chasing this title. And of course, I had other titles along the way, but this being the top, top, top, top women’s title, it feels good.
“And also, I went into Heatwave with a chip on my shoulder, knowing that I’ve been working so hard and that I earned it. So, I felt like a champion when I was walking down in Texas before I even won it.”
Jordan will have no shortage of challengers coming after her title. Jaida Parker, who made Nattie tap out during their submission match at Heatwave, stepped up first.
