Former WWE star Ricochet compares NXT Heatwave match to famous fight with top AEW star

Although Kelani Jordan has been very active since becoming the first NXT Women’s North American Champion last month, successfully defending her title against Michin, she had yet to defend her title on the PLE stage. That changed on Sunday at NXT Heatwave in Toronto, Canada, where Jordan defended her title against Sol Ruca. The match was a success for the duo, who received praise for several sequences in which they showcased their athleticism.

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One such sequence caught the eye of former WWE star Ricochet. In X, Ricochet responded to a fan who praised Ruca and Jordan for their skill despite their lack of experience, noting that the two reminded him of himself and AEW’s Will Ospreay. Ricochet, himself a former NXT North American Champion, even went so far as to call the sequence of Ruca and Jordan a female version of himself and his longtime rival.

Looks like a female version of me vs @WillOspreay hahaha https://t.co/D5lhGSTFMd

— Ricochet (@KingRicochet) July 8, 2024

The Ruca-Jordan sequence bears a striking resemblance to some of the matches Ospreay and Ricochet had against each other many years ago in New Japan Pro Wrestling. While the matches were controversial for many in wrestling at the time, with Hall of Famer Vader being among the most critical, they also helped Ricochet and Ospreay rise to stardom in WWE and New Japan respectively, and hopefully serve as a sign that the same could happen with Roca and Jordan in the future.

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It might not be long before fans see sequences between Roca and Jordan and Ospreay and Ricochet on two different channels. With Ricochet’s WWE contract now up, the free agent is expected to land in AEW, likely setting up an eventual rematch for Ospreay, who is currently the AEW International Champion.