Kelani Jordan has identified Bianca Belair as one of the WWE stars she continues to admire, while also naming Becky Lynch, Rob Van Dam, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels and Eddie Guerrero as major influences on her wrestling outlook.
Jordan, whose athletic background includes gymnastics, explained that professional wrestling was not initially a career she believed was accessible to her. Before entering the industry, her focus was on pursuing Olympic gymnastics, largely because she did not know how someone could realistically begin a path toward becoming a wrestler.
That perspective makes the list of names Jordan cited especially notable. It is not simply a rundown of performers she enjoyed watching; it reflects the different qualities that can resonate with an athlete who has transitioned from high-level physical competition into WWE. Belair stands at the front of that list for Jordan, who made clear that her admiration for the former WWE champion remains present.
“I love Bianca,” Jordan said. “I looked up — I still look up to her.”
For more background on this topic, read JBL Praises Savio Vega and Their Three-Decade Friendship.
Bianca Belair Remains a Key Figure for Jordan
Belair has become one of WWE’s most recognizable modern stars through a combination of elite athleticism, charisma and championship success. Her presentation has consistently emphasized confidence, strength and speed, traits that naturally connect with performers coming from a sports background.
For Jordan, the connection is particularly easy to understand. Both women have athletic foundations that translate into explosive movement and a clear comfort with physically demanding performances. Jordan did not suggest that she is attempting to replicate Belair’s style or career exactly, but she did identify Belair as someone she has loved watching and continues to look up to.
That distinction matters. Every developing wrestler has influences, but the most useful inspirations are often performers who demonstrate that a certain kind of athlete can thrive at the highest level. Belair’s rise in WWE provides a prominent example of an athlete turning remarkable physical ability into a complete main-event presence.
Jordan’s comments also underline Belair’s place as an influential figure for a newer generation of WWE talent. Belair is not merely a name from wrestling history whom younger wrestlers study from afar. She is an active-era standard bearer whose work, success and visibility can directly shape the ambitions of performers entering the system now.
A Broad List of Wrestling Influences
While Belair was the first name Jordan emphasized, she also pointed to a varied group of wrestlers from different eras and styles. Becky Lynch was another major inspiration, alongside Rob Van Dam, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels and Eddie Guerrero.
The range of those choices speaks to the many sides of professional wrestling that Jordan appreciates. Lynch’s career has been defined by personality, resilience and the ability to connect with audiences in major situations. Mysterio is one of the most influential high-flying wrestlers in industry history, while Van Dam brought an unconventional, athletic and striking-heavy approach that made him distinct.
Michaels and Guerrero, meanwhile, are widely celebrated for their adaptability, timing, character work and ability to make matches feel important. Their names regularly emerge when wrestlers discuss the performers they studied, and Jordan’s inclusion of both illustrates an interest in more than just spectacular athletic displays.
Jordan did not break down specific elements she has taken from each wrestler. Still, her selections reveal an appreciation for performers who combined distinctive athletic skill with memorable identity. That is a valuable balance for any WWE talent, especially someone making the transition from another sport.
Gymnastics can provide a strong foundation for body control, balance, agility and confidence in motion. Professional wrestling, however, requires an additional set of skills: learning match structure, developing character, connecting with live audiences and working within the rhythm of a television environment. Jordan’s list of inspirations includes wrestlers recognized for excelling across those wider demands.
From Olympic Gymnastics Dreams to WWE
Jordan said she did not grow up with wrestling as a clearly defined career goal, not because she lacked interest in athletic achievement, but because she did not understand how a person could enter the industry.
“I didn’t know how to become a wrestler, so I didn’t even think I could do it,” Jordan said.
Instead, her childhood ambition centered on the Olympics. “When I grow up,” she recalled thinking, “I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. That was like my goal.”
That answer offers a useful reminder that not every wrestler arrives after years of planning for a career between the ropes. Some performers are lifelong fans who pursue wrestling from an early age. Others find the industry later, after succeeding in another athletic discipline or discovering that their existing abilities can translate to a new environment.
Jordan’s route belongs to the latter category. Her gymnastics background gave her a foundation in physical discipline and performance, but wrestling had to become visible as a possible destination before she could pursue it. Once that possibility opened up, she was able to enter an industry where athleticism can be an advantage but is never the only requirement.
Her comments also reflect why representation and visibility can have a meaningful effect on aspiring talent. Seeing people succeed does not automatically create a career path, but it can make an ambition feel tangible. Belair’s influence on Jordan is an example of that principle: a current WWE star can help demonstrate what is possible for athletes who may not have previously viewed wrestling as an attainable profession.
The Importance of Finding a Complete Wrestling Identity
Jordan’s gymnastic experience is an important part of her story, but the names she highlighted suggest that her wrestling education is broader than one athletic template. Belair, Lynch, Van Dam, Mysterio, Michaels and Guerrero all brought very different strengths to their work. Their common thread is not a single move set or body type; it is the ability to stand out.
For a rising WWE performer, that is an important lesson. Athletic credentials can attract attention, and spectacular offense can create memorable moments, but sustained success depends on building an identity that audiences recognize. The ability to communicate confidence, adapt to opponents, tell stories in matches and respond to the crowd separates a skilled athlete from a fully formed wrestling star.
Jordan’s praise for Belair carries particular weight in that regard. Belair’s WWE accomplishments have been supported by far more than her strength and athletic power. She has developed a clear persona and a connection with fans while regularly performing in high-pressure situations. Jordan’s acknowledgment that she still looks up to Belair suggests she sees the full picture rather than only the physical side of Belair’s game.
Likewise, the inclusion of Lynch points to the importance of voice and personality, while Michaels and Guerrero represent lasting examples of ring psychology and emotional investment. Mysterio and Van Dam show how unique movement and originality can establish an unmistakable presence.
Jordan’s Potential Continues to Draw Attention
Jordan’s future has been a subject of optimism within WWE circles. NXT general manager Robert Stone recently discussed the possibility of Jordan one day reaching the WrestleMania main-event level, an indication of the potential others see in her.
There is, of course, a considerable distance between being viewed as a prospect with major upside and becoming a WrestleMania headliner. WWE’s biggest stage has historically demanded sustained momentum, audience investment and the ability to deliver when expectations are at their highest. Still, the fact that such a possibility has been raised speaks to the impression Jordan has made.
Her own comments show that she understands the value of learning from established names. Jordan is drawing inspiration from current stars such as Belair and Lynch, as well as influential figures whose work continues to be studied long after defining their respective eras. That combination can be significant for a developing talent: respect for the past, awareness of the present and a willingness to create something personal.
Jordan did not grow up believing wrestling was an obvious option. Her original dream was Olympic gymnastics, and she had to discover that a route into professional wrestling existed before she could begin pursuing it. Now, she is part of WWE’s talent landscape and openly discussing the stars who helped inspire her journey.
Belair remains the name Jordan spoke about most personally. As Jordan continues to develop, the challenge will be to turn the lessons she has taken from Belair, Lynch, Mysterio, Van Dam, Michaels and Guerrero into a style and presence that are unmistakably her own.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.