Like so many other pro wrestlers full of optimism and drive at the beginning of the year, 2020 was supposed to be Jordan Blade’s year. “The Anklebreaker” ended 2019 on the highest of highs after marrying her wife and returning to the ring after nine months on the shelf due to, ironically, a broken ankle.
Blade cashed in on those goals early in the year with a collection of historic and personally valuable moments. She and Kings of the District partner Eel O’Neal became the first and only tag team champions for the now defunct Prime Time Pro Wrestling in January. Blade followed that up at March’s Butch vs. Gore with the lasting image of her proudly brandishing the bisexual Pride flag on her way to the ring.
Then, much like how her leg injury ended her 2019 prematurely, a promising year came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The sudden stop and circumstances presented by the pandemic sent Blade into an admittedly despondent period during the summer, but Blade also found solace in having more time with her wife and child.
“Covid, like my ankle injury, allowed me and my family to slow down and spend time together,” Blade said on the Outsports podcast LGBT In The Ring. “I try to look at the bright side of everything … I really enjoyed that aspect of it.
And that familial bond runs strong even in Blade’s in-ring interests. The entire Blade family is engaged in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training together and Blade’s family regularly attends her wrestling matches.
That connection kept Blade passionate and focused on when she did get the chance to re-enter the ring, and she picked up her historic streak when opportunities presented themselves. Blade and O’Neal competed in F1ght Club Pro Wrestling first ever tag team match against Joshua Wavra and Xavier Faraday at FCPW’s Summer Jam.
She added to that list in December by competing against Janai Kai in the first women’s UWFI rules match in Paradigm Pro Wrestling history and standing across the ring from Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora champion Trish Adora at Synergy Wrestling’s first annual Women’s Garden State Invitational tournament.
What could have been a year defined by interrupted momentum for Blade instead resulted in an accomplished year full of firsts and, just as important, family. But that doesn’t mean she is taking the new year lightly.
“You have to [call your shot] sometimes,” Blade said. “If you don’t invest in yourself and believe in yourself then who else is going to? At the end of the day, the wrestling business is a very selfish business … it is what it is.”
Listen to the full interview with Jordan Blade on the Outsports podcast LGBT In The Ring, available here:
New episodes drop every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and every podcast platform where you find Outsports.
