‘If You Don’t Think Kendal Grey Is The Future, You’re Wrong’ – WWE Hall Of Famer Heaps Praise On NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey

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WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has heaped praise on Kendal Grey following her first successful NXT Women’s Championship defense.

The July 7 episode of NXT saw, not only Kendal Grey’s first WWE NXT Women’s Title defense since she won the gold from Lola Vice at NXT Great American Bash, but also perhaps the sternest test of her in-ring career thus far, when she took on Nattie in the main event of the show.

With thanks to a Shades of Grey, it was Kendal who came out on top in the match, ensuring that her first run with NXT’s top prize wasn’t over as soon as it began.

Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, Bully Ray discussed the match, hailing Grey’s performance, the importance of the win, and her future in the business:

“As many Guinness Book of World Records (she has), championships she has, as many accolades as she has, she’s got a book, she’s got her own segment here on Busted Open. She lost tonight. She lost to the future of women’s wrestling. And if you don’t think Kendal Grey is the future, you’re wrong.

“I liked the match. I thought it was a good match. I thought it was what it needed to be for TV tonight. I know that Kendal is a former Evolve Champion. I know that she’s currently the NXT Women’s Champion, but I would venture to say that tonight was the biggest win of Kendal grey’s career.

“She beat Nattie Neidhart. She beat Nattie, she didn’t beat Natalya. She beat Nattie. She beat the version of Nattie that Nattie is most proud of these days. She beat the version of Nattie that’s been kicking chicks’ ass left and right. She beat the Nattie that defeated Jaida Parker. She beat the Nattie that prides herself on humbling women.

“It’s a big win for Kendal, something that she can pound her chest and stand proud about… I see tremendous potential in this woman.”

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After the win, Grey found herself surrounded by her next potential challengers: Kali Armstrong, Kelani Jordan and former NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice, who all kicked off the show vying to be next in line for a title opportunity.

The Praise Keeps On Coming For WWE’s Future Top Female Star

Whether it be WWE Hall of Famers like Bully Ray and Kurt Angle, or prominent wrestling media names like the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, Kendal Grey has been receiving praise from all directions since emerging on the scene in WWE last year.

With little over two years experience competing in the ring, Grey has justifiably been compared to greats like Angle for how quickly she’s adapted to pro wrestling, and at 25 years old, it’s evident that her skillset is only going to grow as time passes.

While her age suggests there’s little rush to move her up to Raw or SmackDown, WWE also shouldn’t wait too long either. As soon as her time as NXT Women’s Champion comes to an end, she should have either Adam Pearce or Nick Aldis calling her phone.

2026 has been a year of WWE NXT call-up success stories, with Je’Von Evans, Oba Femi, Sol Ruca and Oba Femi making a splash, and Kendal Grey could certainly be added to that list by the time 2027 comes around.

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