Grayson Waller’s return to NXT earlier this year was not simply a change of setting. It also marked a deliberate reset in how he wanted audiences to see him.
The reigning NXT Champion has moved away from the boxing shorts, leopard-print shirts, and flashier elements associated with an earlier version of his presentation. In their place are more traditional wrestling tights and a more focused, serious demeanor. For Waller, the adjustment was about more than gear. It was an effort to make his ambitions and his image match.
That approach has already coincided with the biggest championship accomplishment of his NXT career, as Waller won the NXT Title after returning to the brand. Now he is preparing to defend the championship against Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc on Saturday.
While discussing the evolution of his look, Waller acknowledged that his old attire helped him stand out but may also have made it harder for some viewers to consider him a legitimate championship-level threat.
For more background on this topic, read WWE Was Prepared To Delay SmackDown Start Time To Accommodate WNBA Finals Game 6.
“I look back and I kind of understand why people would have perceived me as a joke,” Waller said. “For me, the boxing shorts were always—I was a huge boxing fan. A lot of people think it was basketball shorts, but I thought it was a different look. It made me look unique, but I think it also didn’t make me look like a serious contender for the championship.”
A Change Designed for a Different Perception
Waller’s explanation underlines an important part of professional wrestling presentation: attire can communicate a great deal before a wrestler ever speaks or wrestles a match. A distinctive outfit can establish personality and make a performer instantly recognizable. At the same time, the same visual choices can influence whether audiences see that performer as a comic presence, an antagonist, a star, or a potential champion.
For Waller, the boxing-inspired shorts were rooted in a genuine interest rather than an accidental choice. He wanted a look that separated him from other wrestlers, and the shorts did precisely that. However, he eventually came to believe that being different was no longer enough. If he wanted to be viewed as a credible NXT Title contender, he felt he had to show that he was willing to evolve.
That realization was not presented as a rejection of his past work or the character choices that helped establish him. Instead, Waller framed it as a necessary next step. A wrestler who wants to move upward cannot always rely on the same presentation forever, particularly when that presentation is no longer delivering the response or perception he wants.
“So that was something where I was like, I need to change things up. I can’t just keep giving them the same thing,” Waller said.
The shift to tights became the most visible part of that process. Traditional tights have long been associated with major singles wrestlers and champions, though there is no single required uniform for success in wrestling. Waller’s point was more personal: the new gear made him feel more aligned with the version of himself he wanted to present to the audience.
His confidence in the decision received a notable boost at the Royal Rumble, which Waller identified as the first time he wore the tights in a match. Afterward, Roman Reigns approached him with a direct assessment.
“Roman came up and pulled me aside and said, ‘Hey, that’s the look. You look like a champion now,’” Waller recalled.
Reigns’ words carried obvious weight for Waller. As one of WWE’s defining stars of his era, Reigns has spent years performing at the highest level and has been closely identified with championship status. Waller did not need to overcomplicate the impact of the endorsement.
“Hey, if Roman says that, all right, lad, whatever you need, I’m gonna keep the pants,” Waller said.
Leaving the Old Version Behind
The revised ring gear was only one part of the overhaul. Waller also recognized that other visual and character elements from his previous run did not fit with the tone he wanted upon returning to NXT. The leopard-print shirts, in particular, represented an older identity that he did not believe matched his current position.
“But even coming back to NXT, I was like, I can’t walk out with the leopard shirts and all that. That vibe didn’t work. That’s an old me,” Waller said.
That distinction matters as Waller heads into Halloween Havoc as champion. His present role requires him to carry the NXT Title, set the tone for major matches, and convince viewers that challengers are trying to take something important from him. A more serious visual presentation supports that responsibility, especially when the character himself believes it better reflects who he is now.
Waller has not suggested that he has abandoned his personality. He remains someone capable of speaking with confidence and provoking opponents and audiences. But there is a difference between maintaining charisma and relying on a presentation that can be read as unserious. His goal has been to retain what makes him recognizable while stripping away aspects he felt were holding him back.
“So now, I am more serious. This is me. I feel comfortable now,” Waller said.
Comfort is often an overlooked element in a wrestler’s presentation. Gear must be practical in the ring, but it also must allow the performer to carry themselves with conviction. If a wrestler feels disconnected from the character or look they are presenting, that can affect everything from body language to promos. Waller’s comments suggest that the move to tights was not merely an image-management decision. It helped him feel more authentic in his current role.
The NXT Title Defense Against Tony D’Angelo
Waller’s revised approach will face an immediate test at NXT Halloween Havoc, where Tony D’Angelo challenges for the NXT Title. Championship matches can quickly define whether a new titleholder’s momentum is sustainable, and Waller enters the bout with the added pressure that comes from defending rather than chasing.
His remarks about changing his presentation are especially relevant in that context. Waller made clear that he did not want to repeat patterns simply because they were familiar. In his view, continuing to give audiences the same version of himself when it was not producing the desired perception would have been a mistake.
“I think I had to change things because if you keep throwing the same thing at the wall and it’s not working, then what are you doing?” Waller said.
That philosophy is now tied directly to his championship reign. Waller changed his gear, adjusted his overall vibe, returned to NXT with a more serious focus, and captured the brand’s top prize. None of those elements alone guarantees success in a title defense, but together they show a performer who has consciously evaluated what he wanted his career to become.
For D’Angelo, the task at Halloween Havoc is clear: defeat a champion who believes he has found the version of himself that belongs at the top of NXT. For Waller, the task is equally clear: demonstrate that the new look and new mindset are not simply part of the route to the championship, but the foundation of a reign capable of withstanding serious challengers.
Waller’s comments also provide a reminder that reinvention in WWE is not always built around a dramatic turn or a complete character replacement. Sometimes the most meaningful adjustment is a targeted one. A different pair of tights, a less flamboyant wardrobe, and a firmer sense of purpose can alter the way a performer is received.
With the NXT Title on the line against Tony D’Angelo, Waller will have the opportunity to further establish the champion image that Reigns saw when he first wore the new gear. The shorts may have helped introduce one version of Grayson Waller, but the tights have become the symbol of the version determined to remain at the top.
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.