NXT's Kelani Jordan discusses AJ Styles mentorship following women's Royal Rumble appearance
Authored by sportsite777.com, Mar 09, 2026
Kelani Jordan, a professional wrestler signed to WWE's NXT brand, competed in the women's Royal Rumble match as the 27th entrant.[1][2] The event offered the winner a world championship match at WrestleMania 42.
Jordan, a former artistic gymnast who won a national championship in 2018, showcased her aerial skills by executing a Phoenix Splash from the top rope.[3][4] She also used gymnastic maneuvers to take down Bayley, Liv Morgan, Jacy Jayne and Raquel Rodriguez.
Backstage, WWE cameras captured Jordan speaking with AJ Styles, a 12-time world champion and veteran performer on WWE's main roster.[5][6] Styles whispered advice to Jordan following her performance.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jordan described Styles as a mentor from her early days at the WWE Performance Center. "He was someone when I was literally, maybe like two or three months in at the Performance Center, and I was training and I remembered he happened to be there," Jordan said. "He was actually in the ring and worked with me and trained with me."[7]
Jordan recounted Styles' early encouragement: "You have something special, keep going, believe in yourself, and just keep pushing yourself." She noted the significance of his support ahead of her first Royal Rumble appearance.[7]
Post-match, Styles told her he was proud of her persistence and risk-taking with the Phoenix Splash. "Without risk, there’s no reward. You go for it, you shoot for the stars," Jordan quoted him as saying. "Never forget that, never doubt yourself."[7]
Jordan recently challenged Lola Vice in an underground rules match at NXT Vengeance Day but did not win.[1][8]
Sources
- WWE.com, "Kelani Jordan", accessed October 2024, https://www.wwe.com/superstars/kelani-jordan
- WWE.com, "Royal Rumble 2026", accessed October 2024, https://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble
- Wikipedia, "Kelani Jordan", last edited October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelani_Jordan
- WWE.com, "NXT Women's Breakout Tournament", 2024, https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt
- WWE.com, "AJ Styles", accessed October 2024, https://www.wwe.com/superstars/aj-styles
- Wikipedia, "AJ Styles", last edited October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Styles
- Fox News Digital, "WWE NXT star Kelani Jordan talks to Fox News Digital about what AJ Styles told her after the women's Royal Rumble", January 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- WWE.com, "NXT Vengeance Day", accessed October 2024, https://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeanceday