ORLANDO, Fla. – This episode of Going Ringside is an episode of champions as we’re joined by NXT Champ Roxanne Perez and NXT North American Champion Kelani Jordan.
Roxanne Perez
At age 13 most teens are just starting to exit the first stage of childhood. Their focus is on homework, friends and, these days, likely their phones. Seldom do you find a person that young who’s also focused on and, in fact, pursuing their career. Roxanne Perez is unique in that respect.
Perez had just entered her teenage years when she started training as a pro wrestler.
“I’ve had this dream since I was 10,” said Perez. “For some reason, I always felt like I was going to make it all possible.”
And like many dedicated teens, Perez was only getting started. By age 16 she had found legendary WWE Hall of Famer Booker T and started training with him.
“I knew I had to work hard enough to make a name for myself on the independent scene, so WWE would notice me,” said Perez. “When you’re in high school, people want to party and they want to have fun and I wanted to do those things, but I also wanted to accomplish my dreams and become so good that I could become undeniable.”
Now six years after becoming Booker T’s “protege,” she is on top of the wrestling world at -- still -- a young age, 22.
“Booker T has been such a big part of my wrestling career and my training growing up,” said Perez, who still has him nearby as he is the color commentator for NXT. “Literally, after every single match that I have, I’ll go up and he’ll give me feedback, tell me what I’m doing wrong, tell me what I’m doing right.”
But the training is only half the story. Perez is dealing with some very big threats inside the ring. Particularly in the form of another wrestler: Giulia.
“This girl wants to walk in here and take my title. There’s a line, but I’ll give it to her that she definitely is one of the best women’s wrestlers from Japan,” but Perez said she’s a step above. “I’m the best woman in the world. You can’t really compete with that.”
Being the best in the wold -- as she claims -- comes with a lot of challenges in the future. We asked Perez about potential matches down the road.
“I can name so many people,” said Perez. “But I think at the top of my list is Bayley.”
She said she grew up watching the WWE star and idolized her.
So now that Perez is at the top of NXT, she feels she’s ready to face her heroines. So Bayley might want to pay attention.
“Bayley, I’m calling you out,” Perez said.
Kelani Jordan
In the world of pro wrestling, stars come with all sorts of athletic backgrounds. There’s football, rugby, UFC, karate and so many more. But Kelani Jordan’s background may have been as useful as any.
“Gymnastics is how I got here,” said Jordan. “I was a gymnast at Michigan State. They reached out to me to go to a tryout at SummerSlam in the year ’22. And that’s when I was offered by Triple H to come down to the Performance Center, and it’s been a dream come true.”
And quickly the dream was a reality as the young woman ascended the ranks in NXT and, over the summer, won gold. She is the North American Champion.
“It means everything to me because it’s one thing to get the title but it’s another thing keeping the title on your shoulder,” said Jordan. “So my defenses with Sol (Ruca), Michin, Tatum (Paxley), Wendy (Choo). They all gave me a run for my money.”
But now after several months, she remains the champ.
“I think that just goes to show NXT is up and coming,” said Jordan.
It started much smaller for the 26-year-old, who grew up in a small Georgia town.
“If you asked me two years ago when I was graduating college,” Jordan said, “I would have never in a billion years thought to say ‘Oh I’m going to be the inaugural champion.’”
Now, she looks forward to her next stop on the way to greatness and who she might want to face in the future.
“There’s a few people. But I would love to face Naomi. Because everybody always calls me her daughter, and I just love Naomi,” said Jordan. “I hope she likes it. I’m honored because she paved the way for girls like me to even hold a title.”
And Jordan, unlike some celebrities, has decided to be public about her personal life. Specifically her relationship with Carmelo Hayes.
“Melo’s great. He’s awesome. We obviously met in wrestling but he’s taught me a lot. He’s helped build me as a person,” said Jordan. “At the end of the day, I’m still human. I have a personal life, and I don’t feel like I should hide that.”