Jason Jordan has just concluded an arduous training session at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla. Upon finishing his last weight set, Jordan follows his regular routine of heading to the locker room to consume a post-workout protein shake. Drenched in sweat, Jordan takes what has become a daily moment of reflection, looking back on his NXT career thus far and his aspirations for tomorrow and how to get there.
Watch WWE NXT every Wednesday night on the award-winning WWE Network
“My future will contain championships,” Jordan told WWE.com. To be more specific, Jordan’s championship goals have centered on the NXT Tag Team Titles. Following a failed partnership with Tye Dillinger, Jordan began a very public, yet unsuccessful, search for a new permanent tag team partner.
“Tye and I were plagued by unfortunate injuries at the worst times,” Jordan said. “Our in-ring chemistry began to dwindle as we both became frustrated.”
As a result, Jordan’s daily routine now consists of impromptu discussions with fellow NXT Superstars about the possibility of forming a new team destined for success.
“I am a very gifted athlete who is kind of a perfectionist,” he said. “It has been difficult to find the right partner to complement me and not only match my talent, but also my overly competitive nature.”
“I was a four-time letterman in wrestling with many accomplishments and awards, but decided not to play baseball,” Jordan explained. “After my fourth year of wrestling, I stayed at IU to work as a student coach and helped two All-Americans at 197 pounds, and a heavyweight.”
Some of Jason Jordan’s biggest feats include becoming a three-time NCAA Division I national qualifier and going 35-0 during his senior season, earning him the ranking of second best wrestler in the nation. Jordan’s accolades are so legendary at IU that his face was painted onto the wall of the campus’ University Gymnasium in 2010.
Not long after, enter WWE.
“I grew up loving professional wrestling,” Jordan said. “I started amateur wrestling at 7 years old because I thought it was professional wrestling. My success in college is what got me recruited by WWE Hall of Famer Gerry Brisco for a WWE tryout in 2010. Things went well, and I was offered a contract but held off on signing until I finished my college degree. The day I graduated from Indiana University, I called WWE.”
Jordan joined WWE’s developmental system in July 2011 and has since pursued his childhood dream. Yet, he now finds himself at a crossroads. For the first time in his athletic career, Jordan hasn’t reached the elite level that his resume has seemingly prequalified him for. His goal of finding the right partner remains unfulfilled. Granted, one name that has notably lobbied to be Jordan’s partner is NXT newcomer Chad Gable, but Jordan has been quick to dismiss the option.
Chad Gable confronts Jason Jordan (again)
“I haven’t given him a chance for two reasons: One, I want to choose my partner based on my specific set of criteria; two, I want to test how bad he truly wants to be my partner,” Jordan said, before adding, “Oh, and he’s been quite annoying.”
Whether it’s Gable or another partner, will Jordan ever find the right fit to pursue tag team championship gold in NXT? Or is Jordan’s current dilemma only the precursor to a personal implosion of frustration? As the old saying goes, the clock is ticking and only time will tell.
Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter @JasonJordanjj.