Grayson Waller has not softened his opinion of Austin Theory since returning to WWE NXT, and the current NXT Champion has now identified exactly what he wants from a possible future collision with his former tag team partner.
Speaking on Cheap Heat, Waller said he wants the chance to slap Theory across the face. The statement continues the pointed verbal campaign Waller launched against Theory following his return to NXT from the WWE main roster.
“I would love to slap Austin Theory. There’s nothing I want more in life than to slap Austin Theory across the face. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time so that’s sitting there.”
Waller’s comments, transcribed from Cheap Heat, make clear that the history between the two men remains a major thread in his current character direction. Even while holding NXT’s top championship, Waller has made Theory a personal target rather than treating their shared past as a closed chapter.
For more background on this topic, read Angelo Dawkins and Grace Russo Welcome Third Child, Daughter Keziah.
Waller’s Return Put Theory Directly in His Crosshairs
When Waller came back to NXT after time on the main roster, he did not take long to mention Theory. Rather than offering praise for a former partner, Waller portrayed himself as the person responsible for making Theory matter. He referred to the time spent alongside Theory as making “240 pounds of idiot” relevant, setting a confrontational tone from the outset.
Waller also accused Theory of still being “allergic to the microphone,” a criticism designed to underline one of Waller’s defining strengths. Waller has consistently presented himself as somebody who can command attention verbally, and his remarks framed Theory as a wrestler who benefited from proximity to that ability.
His sharpest assessment was the claim that Theory was the Marty Jannetty of their pairing. In wrestling language, that comparison is a deliberate attempt to diminish a former teammate by casting him as the less successful half of a memorable duo. It is the kind of line that does more than create a single night of tension; it establishes a clear hierarchy in Waller’s mind and gives Theory a direct reason to respond.
The newest comments raise that hostility from insults to the prospect of physicality. Waller did not outline a timetable, a match type, or a specific WWE event where he expects to encounter Theory. Still, his answer leaves no doubt that he sees a confrontation as unfinished business waiting beyond his present NXT responsibilities.
The NXT Champion Has No Shortage of Confidence
Waller enters this situation with added authority because he is the reigning NXT Champion. He won the title in a Fatal 4-Way match at the Heatwave Premium Live Event, placing him at the center of the brand at a time when he is also openly revisiting one of his most volatile relationships.
A championship often changes the context of every rivalry around its holder. Waller’s issues with Theory are personal, rooted in their former alliance and Waller’s belief that he carried the partnership. But his status as champion means any appearance, response, or challenge involving Theory could immediately attract greater scrutiny. Theory would not simply be confronting an old associate; he would be confronting the wrestler presently holding NXT’s premier prize.
That does not mean Waller has declared a title defense against Theory, and there is no confirmation that a match has been scheduled. His remarks were focused on the desire to slap Theory rather than on formal championship plans. Yet the tension naturally creates room for a confrontation to develop, whether it begins with another verbal exchange or escalates into a sanctioned match.
For Waller, the appeal is easy to understand within his own framing. He believes Theory owes much of his relevance to their association, and he believes Theory has failed to match him when the microphone is involved. A slap would be symbolic as much as physical: Waller wants to embarrass the man he has repeatedly described as the inferior member of their former unit.
A Former Partnership With Plenty Left Unsaid
Former partners are often difficult opponents because they know each other’s tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. In this case, Waller’s public comments suggest he views the issue through an even more personal lens. He is not merely discussing competition or measuring accomplishments. He is challenging Theory’s standing, his speaking ability, and his significance within the partnership they once shared.
That approach gives Theory several possible points of rebuttal if he chooses to answer. Waller has made himself the loudest voice in the dispute, repeatedly insisting that he elevated Theory. Theory could challenge that version of events, reject the Marty Jannetty label, or focus on the fact that Waller is using their history to generate attention during his NXT Championship reign.
At present, though, the clearest public message belongs to Waller. His words on Cheap Heat were uncomplicated: he wants Theory in front of him, and he wants a chance to strike him. It is a statement built to provoke a response and keep the possibility of a reunion—or a reckoning—alive.
What a Theory-Waller Collision Could Mean
There is an important distinction between a champion mentioning a rival and WWE confirming a program. Waller’s quote does not establish that Theory is heading to NXT, that Waller is leaving NXT, or that the championship will be involved in a future match. None of those details have been announced here.
What has been established is the foundation for a compelling WWE story. The two wrestlers have shared history. Waller has returned to NXT with a championship around his waist. He has publicly criticized Theory in terms that are impossible to mistake for friendly banter. And he has now named a specific act of retaliation that he says he has wanted for a long time.
That combination gives any future interaction immediate stakes. The audience would not need a long explanation for why the two men are at odds: Waller has already provided it himself. He believes he was the driving force in their partnership and has no interest in giving Theory credit. Theory, should he respond, would have an opportunity to challenge both Waller’s account of their past and the champion’s confidence in the present.
The possibility also fits Waller’s current portrayal. His championship win at Heatwave gave him a platform, but Waller’s personality remains central to how he uses it. He is willing to speak bluntly, to antagonize opponents, and to turn old connections into new conflicts. Theory is not being discussed as a distant memory; Waller has placed him squarely on a list of people he wants to deal with once his NXT business allows it.
Waller Is Looking Beyond His Current NXT Run
Waller specifically framed his desired slap as something he would like to do after his NXT run. That wording is notable because it acknowledges his present focus while leaving Theory positioned as a potential next chapter. As NXT Champion, Waller’s immediate attention will naturally remain on the challengers and demands connected to that role. Even so, Theory remains in his thoughts as a future target.
It also ensures that their unresolved issues can continue to simmer without requiring an immediate resolution. Waller has put the idea into the conversation, and every new development in either man’s WWE path can now be viewed through the lens of whether it brings them closer to crossing paths.
For now, Waller’s position is as direct as it gets. He is NXT Champion, he remains deeply dismissive of the former partner he says he helped make relevant, and he wants the opportunity to put his hand across Austin Theory’s face. Whether Theory answers the provocation—and whether that answer ultimately leads to a WWE match—remains to be seen.
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.