Kendal Grey heads into this Sunday’s WWE NXT Heatwave on August 30, 2026, far from full health. The reigning NXT Women’s Champion revealed she is still dealing with the effects of an ear injury from earlier this month.
Grey was hurt on the August 4 episode of NXT during an Underground Match against Lola Vice. She was thrown into the steel steps and suffered a cut to her right ear, requiring medical attention during the match.
During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Grey said she is still experiencing ringing in her ear and has not fully recovered.
“I definitely wouldn’t say it’s 100%, for sure. I mean, I still have ringing of the ear. I still feel like I’m not 100% balanced, but we’ve been doing a lot of rehab for it. We’ve been doing a lot of stuff to try to get everything back to normal, but it is a slower process.
“But I think, in my mindset, like I said, I’m crazy. My No. 1 priority isn’t fully recovering, it’s defending this championship. So I’m gonna do whatever it takes, whether I’m not 100%, whether I’m 100%, going into Sunday, going into Heatwave. I’m gonna defend this no matter what.”
Adding to the concern, Kelani Jordan has already made it clear on NXT that she intends to target the injured ear.
“I definitely try to [block it out]. I feel like there’s been times, even in amateur wrestling, I go in being injured and I know that that might be a target that people try to attack. And I know that Kelani likes to play dirty, and I know she probably will be coming for my ear, and I’m gonna have to do everything in my power to avoid that.
“But at the end of the day, when I’m in that ring, it’s a fight. I’m not worrying about my ear. I’m not worrying about not being 100%. I’m worrying about doing what I gotta do, and that’s retaining the NXT Women’s Championship.”
Grey captured the NXT Women’s Championship on June 28, 2026, when she defeated Lola Vice at the Great American Bash.