WWE NXT closed its September 8 episode on The CW with a six-man tag team match and a notable commentary exchange involving NXT Champion Grayson Waller. Waller joined Vic Joseph and the broadcast team at ringside for the bout, creating an opportunity for the champion to speak about his position at the top of the brand.

During the match, Joseph told Waller that it was a “new day” for the NXT Champion before asking how he intended to take things to a “new level.” The wording carried an obvious connection to Waller’s prior association with Kofi and Austin Creed during their time together in WWE.

Kofi and Creed are presently two-thirds of AEW World Trios Champions The New Level. Before that chapter of their careers, the pair performed as part of The New Day in WWE, and Waller was aligned with them during the latter stage of that group’s WWE run. Joseph’s remarks on NXT therefore reached beyond a standard discussion of Waller’s title reign, using two recognizable phrases tied to wrestlers with whom he once shared a major on-screen relationship.

Waller’s Guest Commentary Role Framed the Closing Match

The six-man tag team match was positioned as the final match of the September 8 NXT broadcast, with Waller joining commentary rather than competing. That placement gave the NXT Champion a prominent presence during the closing portion of the show while allowing the commentary team to address his current standing.

For more background on this topic, read Joseph Sawyer Set To Defend GCW World Championship Against Dexter Lumis At No Signal in the Hills Pt. 5.

Joseph’s reference did not require an extended explanation on the broadcast. The “new day” line and the question about taking things to a “new level” were enough to evoke Waller’s history with Kofi and Creed for viewers familiar with their past presentation. It was a concise acknowledgment of a connection that remains part of Waller’s WWE history, even as Kofi and Creed now hold championship gold in AEW as members of The New Level.

The exchange also stood out because it came during WWE programming while discussing an active WWE champion. Waller’s role in the segment was centered on NXT and his championship status, but the language used by Joseph briefly placed that current success alongside a meaningful element of Waller’s earlier on-screen journey.

The Connection Between Waller, Kofi and Austin Creed

Waller’s history with Kofi and Creed dates to the backend of Kofi and Creed’s time as The New Day in WWE. The New Day name carried considerable significance in WWE for years, making any deliberate use of “new day” language immediately recognizable to a substantial portion of the audience.

Waller’s pairing with the group happened in that later period, and it gave him a direct link to Kofi and Creed that is distinct from simply having shared a roster with them. The three were presented together, meaning Waller’s association with them became a defined part of his WWE tenure rather than a passing reference.

That shared history is what made Joseph’s commentary notable. Calling Waller’s current situation a “new day” could be heard as a conventional wrestling phrase in isolation. Following it by asking how Waller would go to a “new level,” however, gave the exchange a much more specific context. The two phrases, delivered together, connected Waller’s present to the identities associated with Kofi and Creed.

The commentary did not change the focus of the NXT main event or suggest a new storyline involving the former allies. Instead, it functioned as a reference rooted in continuity. Waller remains the NXT Champion, while Kofi and Creed are part of a championship act elsewhere in the wrestling landscape. Their past alliance nevertheless provided the background for a line that fans could immediately recognize.

The New Level’s Current Championship Position

Kofi and Austin Creed currently hold the AEW World Trios Championship as two-thirds of The New Level. That status adds another layer to Joseph’s phraseology. “New level” was not merely a generic description of advancement when used in this context; it also mirrored the name of the reigning trios championship group featuring two of Waller’s former WWE allies.

Wrestling commentary frequently uses familiar phrases to enhance a champion’s presentation, particularly during a match-closing segment. In this case, the language had dual meaning. It addressed the expectations surrounding Waller as NXT Champion while also pointing back toward his time with Kofi and Creed. The reference was brief, but its meaning was strengthened by the present-day prominence of The New Level.

Waller has previously spoken about his time with the group, making the association an established subject in discussions of his career. The September 8 NXT broadcast did not revisit those remarks in detail, nor did it require Waller to offer a response specifically about Kofi or Creed. Joseph’s comments were enough to bring that history back into view.

A Small Line With Broader Wrestling Context

For NXT viewers, the immediate subject was Waller’s championship reign and what comes next for him on the brand. Guest commentary appearances often allow a titleholder to assess potential challengers, reinforce their personality, or remain present on a show without wrestling. Waller’s appearance during the six-man tag fit that broader format.

What separated this appearance from a routine champion commentary assignment was the deliberate wording around his past. Waller is in a different place from the version of himself who was paired with Kofi and Creed during The New Day’s final WWE period. He now sits at the top of NXT as champion. Joseph’s “new day” and “new level” phrasing effectively underlined that progression while acknowledging the people connected to an earlier stage of his career.

There is also a natural contrast in where the former associates stand today. Waller’s present is defined by the NXT Championship. Kofi and Creed’s present is defined by their AEW World Trios Championship reign with The New Level. The commentary line placed both realities in the same frame without taking attention away from the WWE match in progress.

That kind of reference can resonate with audiences who follow more than one promotion, but it also works for viewers whose knowledge is limited to Waller’s WWE history. Those fans can recognize the callback to The New Day and understand why the phrasing was directed specifically toward him. For viewers aware of Kofi and Creed’s current group name and championship position, the “new level” portion offers an additional point of recognition.

Waller Remains Focused on NXT’s Present

Despite the callback, the central message of the segment was that Waller is entering a new phase as NXT Champion. Joseph’s question was framed around how Waller would elevate his reign and continue moving forward. The former association with Kofi and Creed provided the language for that question, but Waller’s active role on the show remains tied to NXT’s championship picture.

The September 8 broadcast therefore used a short commentary exchange to connect multiple eras of Waller’s career. It acknowledged the alliance that helped define part of his WWE run, recognized the present identity of Kofi and Creed as members of The New Level, and kept the spotlight on Waller’s responsibilities as NXT Champion.

Nothing further was established on the episode regarding the reference. There was no announced development involving Kofi, Creed, or The New Level, and the moment did not alter the immediate direction of NXT’s closing six-man tag team match. Still, Joseph’s choice of words ensured that Waller’s earlier bond with the two performers was part of the conversation as NXT went off the air.

For Waller, the line served as a reminder that a championship reign is rarely viewed in isolation. His current success carries the context of prior alliances, past character development, and the people who shared important stretches of his career. On September 8, WWE NXT briefly brought that context to the surface through a “new day” and “new level” reference that was far more pointed than it first appeared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.