Grayson Waller has acknowledged that he believed a WWE release could have been a real possibility before his return to NXT this summer.
Waller had been connected with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of New Day on WWE television, though the trio was not consistently placed in a major week-to-week storyline. When Kingston and Woods announced their WWE departures at the beginning of May, Waller’s own direction became increasingly uncertain. The situation followed a significant loss for Waller on the April 21 edition of WWE Raw, where Oba Femi defeated him.
After that defeat, Waller was absent from television for roughly another month. He ultimately resurfaced at the end of July on NXT, confronting the roster and voicing his frustrations. That return has since led to a dramatic turnaround: Waller is now the NXT Champion after winning the title at NXT Heatwave, and he is scheduled to defend the championship against Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc.
In reflecting on the period between his Raw loss and his NXT re-emergence, Waller made clear that he did not view the inactivity as a harmless pause. He felt the circumstances placed him in a vulnerable position within the company.
For more background on this topic, read Grayson Waller Says Roman Reigns Helped Validate His Champion’s Look.
Waller saw the warning signs after New Day’s departure
Asked whether he felt close to being released before returning to NXT, Waller’s answer was unequivocal: “100%.”
For Waller, the timing mattered. His alliance with New Day had given him a visible association on WWE programming, even if it was not a featured act every week. Once Kingston and Woods left, that connection was no longer available. Around the same time, Waller was decisively beaten by Femi on Raw, a result that he viewed as part of the broader change in his standing.
Waller noted Femi’s physical advantages and momentum heading into their match. He described Femi as a particularly large and powerful opponent, adding that Femi had just defeated Brock Lesnar and was likely entering the bout with considerable confidence. Waller also took some responsibility for his own preparation, saying he may not have been ready enough for the challenge Femi represented.
The defeat itself was one issue. The lack of a follow-up direction was another.
“When I didn’t do anything for like another month, was not a great position to be in,” Waller said.
That assessment reflects the difficult reality of WWE’s crowded roster. A performer can possess clear strengths and still find himself without a regular television role when creative priorities shift, partnerships end, or new talent rises into prominent programs. Waller did not suggest that he lacked value to WWE. Instead, he recognized that others can offer similar value when there is limited space and only a certain number of stories receiving television focus.
“I know I have a lot of value to the company,” Waller said, while also conceding that there are “other people who could also add that value.”
From uncertainty to a self-driven NXT reset
Waller’s response to that uncertainty was not to quietly accept a prolonged absence. He said he felt he had to do something to change the situation, stressing that he was unwilling to simply watch his dream slip away.
That mentality became apparent when he arrived in NXT at the end of July. Rather than returning in a low-profile role, Waller called out the NXT roster and aired his grievances. The appearance immediately positioned his return as a statement rather than a routine cameo. He was not presented as someone content merely to be back on television; his message centered on his belief that he deserved a stronger place in the WWE landscape.
It was a fitting approach for Waller, whose on-screen persona has long been built around confidence, confrontation, and an insistence on being heard. In this instance, however, the attitude also reflected a genuine concern about his professional future. Waller said he would have been upset with himself if he had not taken steps to fight for his opportunity.
“I had to do something because I’m not going to sit back and let my dream disappear,” Waller said.
The outcome has been significant. Waller went from an extended television absence following the April 21 Raw loss to holding one of WWE’s most important developmental championships. Winning the NXT Championship at Heatwave reshaped his immediate standing and gave his NXT return a clear purpose. He is no longer speaking from the position of a wrestler searching for a role. He is now the champion, with the responsibility of defining the title reign and proving that the turnaround can be sustained.
Oba Femi loss marked a pivotal point
Waller’s comments also put his match with Oba Femi in sharper context. Femi’s victory over Waller on Raw was not simply another result in isolation. For Waller, it became part of the sequence that made him question where he stood after New Day’s exit.
He did not dismiss Femi’s accomplishments or make excuses for the loss. Instead, Waller directly acknowledged the challenge presented by his opponent’s size and strength, as well as the confidence Femi carried after beating Lesnar. By admitting that he may not have been adequately prepared, Waller framed the match as a lesson as much as a setback.
That is important as Waller continues his current championship run. WWE careers often hinge on what happens after a difficult stretch rather than the stretch itself. Losing a high-profile match and then disappearing from television can create the impression that a performer is being left behind. Returning with a different level of urgency, finding a renewed platform, and eventually winning the NXT Championship offers a very different narrative.
Waller’s journey over the last several months has been defined by that contrast. In the spring, he was dealing with the loss of his television allies, a defeat to Femi, and no immediate direction. By late summer, he was back in NXT and openly challenging the landscape around him. At Heatwave, he captured the championship. Now, his focus turns toward the first major challenge of his reign.
Tony D’Angelo awaits at Halloween Havoc
Waller is set to defend the NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc. The match represents the next test for a champion who has made his recent resurgence about refusing to be overlooked.
D’Angelo will have the opportunity to stop Waller’s momentum and claim the NXT Championship, while Waller enters the event with a chance to reinforce the transformation he has undergone since his return. A successful defense would not erase the uncertainty Waller felt earlier in the year, but it would further validate the decision to push for a new opportunity rather than remain on the sidelines.
Waller’s remarks do not suggest that his release was inevitable or that any specific decision had been made. Rather, they reveal how seriously he interpreted the signals around him at the time. The combination of New Day leaving WWE, his loss to Femi, and a month without television activity convinced him that he could not afford to be passive.
That sense of urgency has been central to his current chapter. Waller recognized that confidence alone was not enough; he needed to create movement when his trajectory had stalled. His NXT return gave him that opening, and his title win at Heatwave gave him a tangible result.
As NXT Halloween Havoc approaches, Waller’s position is considerably stronger than it was during that uncertain post-Raw period. Still, the champion’s own comments underline how quickly fortunes can change in WWE. His next defense against D’Angelo will be another opportunity to show that his comeback was not just a temporary escape from an uneasy moment, but the beginning of a lasting run at the top of NXT.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.