Grayson Waller has a problem with how the NXT locker room reacted to John Cena’s upcoming visit, and the NXT Champion isn’t keeping it quiet. Speaking on Busted Open After Dark after Tuesday’s NXT, Waller said he was backstage when the graphic announcing Cena hit, and the younger talent around him turned into fans on the spot.
So I was backstage tonight when the graphic came up. You should have heard the kids,” Waller said. “I felt like I was at a fan meet and greet or something.
He was in full heel mode, but he gave the kids a little credit.
They were all excited, and it put a smile on my face, too.
Cena is set to appear live on NXT next Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the WWE Performance Center, two days after his return to Raw in Brooklyn. WWE hasn’t said what he’ll be doing on the show.
Waller quickly turned the moment toward himself.
I’m the only one here who’s been in the ring with John Cena, twice,” he said, adding that he’d been on the mic against Cena and survived, “and not everyone does.
His one request for Cena’s visit is that he wipes his feet, knocks on the door and asks permission to come into Waller’s house.
And if he wants to get in my ring, he needs to ask permission, too.
Waller Wants Cena Under His Learning Tree
Waller also took aim at the John Cena Classic, the tournament Cena announced at Backlash in May. It’s expected to run in December and bring together talent from the main roster and NXT, and Cena has teased that answers are coming on Raw.
I’m sure maybe he’s talking about this John Cena Classic, giving some NXT superstars an opportunity. Well, those opportunities I’ve taken,” Waller said. “So maybe he needs to come and sit down under my learning tree, and I can tell him how things run in NXT now.
When Bully Ray pressed him, Waller admitted he was mostly needling the younger talent. His underlying point was serious, though. He said he “handed in my mark card the day I started at NXT,” and that the roster should carry itself as equals to the legends instead of lining up for photos. He added that he’d talk to anyone he catches asking Cena for pictures or wearing his merch next week.
The Title Comes First
Before Cena ever arrives, Waller has to get through Saturday. He defends the NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc on Oct. 31 in Orlando, a rematch of Heatwave, where Waller pinned D’Angelo for the title on Aug. 30. A loss would take some of the bite out of the “my ring” talk before Cena even walks in.
There’s history behind the bravado. Waller interrupted Cena at Money in the Bank 2023 in London and ate an Attitude Adjustment for it. After Waller’s NXT return promo on July 28, Cena praised him on X, writing that Waller appeared to have “found his WHY.”
WWE is loading up the Nov. 4 show, which moves to Wednesday because of The CW’s election coverage and goes head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts. Cody Rhodes will also be there to present the Dusty Cup, with Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno facing Hank & Tank in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic final.
