Grayson Waller has dismissed the idea that WWE “demoted” him to NXT, explaining that his return to the developmental brand actually came after a request.
Waller recently returned to NXT after spending several years on WWE’s main roster. The Australian star originally debuted in NXT in 2021 before moving to SmackDown in 2023. After returning to the brand, he immediately captured the NXT Championship and became the main target of the men’s division.
However, his move back to NXT led some fans to see it as a step backward in his career. During an appearance on the Busted Open Podcast, Waller made it clear that he disagreed.
Grayson Waller explains why his WWE NXT return was not a demotion
Waller directly addressed the online talk about his return, saying that he was not sent back to NXT as punishment or because WWE had lost faith in him.
“I didn’t get sent back to NXT. There’s a narrative online that Grayson Waller got demoted. ‘Oh, I have to be on national television every Tuesday. That’s so tough.’ But there’s a narrative online that I got demoted. That’s not true,” Waller said.
According to Waller, his return came after NXT’s men’s division had become thin. The brand needed an established star who could bring attention to the NXT Championship right away.
“There was a phone call from someone who asked to meet with me. I spoke with them, and this is a person I respect more than anyone. His opinion means more than anyone. And he asked me to come back here. He asked me because the men’s division wasn’t ready. He didn’t have anyone. No one was causing havoc. Actually, everyone wanted the title. No one needed it,” Waller revealed.
That person was NXT’s executive producer, Shawn Michaels.
For Waller, accepting the opportunity was an easy decision because of his connection to NXT and the importance of finally winning its top championship.
“He knows how much I love this place; he knows how much I love wrestling. He knows how much this title meant to me because I never had it. So he asked me to come back and I said, ‘Hell yeah,’” Waller said.
Read More: NXT’s Grayson Waller Thinks He Can Go Toe-To-Toe With CM Punk on the Mic
[ad_1
