{"id":108204,"date":"2022-01-12T11:00:11","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=108204"},"modified":"2022-01-12T02:38:16","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T07:38:16","slug":"the-grayson-waller-effect-a-look-at-nxt-2-0s-unexpected-breakout-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2022\/01\/12\/the-grayson-waller-effect-a-look-at-nxt-2-0s-unexpected-breakout-star\/","title":{"rendered":"The Grayson Waller Effect: A Look at NXT 2.0\u2019s Unexpected Breakout Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Grayson Waller<\/strong> made his debut for WWE, it was on 205 Live as one of the few cruiserweight wrestlers they had left. The first match of his NXT career would see him team with Drake Maverick<\/strong> in a three-minute loss to Marcel Barthel<\/strong> and Drake Maverick<\/strong>. His next time showing up would see Waller challenging Roderick Strong<\/strong> for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, coming up short in six minutes and 22 seconds. The man who claims that NXT 2.0 benefits from \u201cThe Grayson Waller Effect\u201d didn\u2019t get his first major victory until WarGames when he was slotted as one of the new stars of NXT 2.0. Now, he is in a feud with former WWE Champion AJ Styles<\/strong> and looks to be on a fast track to the main roster. <\/span>Waller\u2019s rise from just another name to NXT\u2019s breakout antagonist in a matter of months has been one of the craziest journeys to follow. From just another cruiserweight division body to becoming one of the main characters of WWE\u2019s newest reality show that is NXT 2.0, \u201cThe Grayson Waller Effect\u201d has taken over.<\/span><\/p>\n

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All Photos Credit: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Waller didn\u2019t get into the wrestling business until he was 27 years old, competing in a number of promotions in his home country of Australia under the name Matty Wahlberg. He was a key member of the PWA Black Label promotion where wrestlers like NJPW\u2019s Robbie Eagles<\/strong> made their names better known worldwide. He was also a main performer of International Wrestling Australia (IWA)<\/strong> and Wrestling GO!<\/strong> over the last number of years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waller eventually signed with WWE in 2021 at the age of 31. He was set to be a part of the black and gold version of NXT. Waller\u2019s signing did not make nearly as many waves as his other Performance Center classmates did in early 2021. Sarray<\/strong> (fka Sareee), Persia Pirotta<\/strong> (fka Step De Lander), and the recently released<\/a> Hideki Suzuki<\/strong> (fka Hachiman in WWE) were the headliners. The Aussie star flew under the radar as one of the newest members of the Black and Gold brand, leading to most fans forgetting about him until the NXT rebrand occurred. He made his WWE debut on 205 Live against Sunil Singh<\/strong> and began to pick up a number of wins on the brand before making his debut on NXT as stated previously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the Black and Gold were replaced for a refreshed rainbow-colored splatter of paint, it was time for Waller to shine. It wasn\u2019t inside the squared circle that Waller began to get noticed but what he was doing in every segment he received. Instantaneously, Waller began the \u201csocial media influencer\u201d with knowledge about dating apps and how to appeal to women. It surely wasn\u2019t a character change that many expected but it was one that only got him more and more heat as he began feuding with LA Knight<\/strong>. Knight defeated him in singles action in their lone match, but it allowed Waller to be a part of the Men\u2019s WarGames match that saw the old generation taking on the new one. Waller dazzled in that match, jumping from the top of the WarGames structure and making a moment for him to be remembered by. That wasn\u2019t the moment that put him as a clear breakout star of NXT 2.0, however, as it was the next episode of the weekly show.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnny Gargano<\/strong> took a microphone to give his \u201cgoodbyes\u201d to the NXT fans as it seemed his time in the promotion had come to an end. It was an emotional night for many as \u201cThe Heart of NXT\u201d was likely leaving the company and as we know now, has not made an appearance since. But that \u201cgoodbye\u201d didn\u2019t end the way many expected as Waller attacked Gargano, aiming to use that moment as his launching point. He would destroy Gargano as he laughed off the indescribable act, turning in NXT\u2019s most hated man in a matter of minutes. Waller has used that one moment to become an instant star of sorts, leading to his feud and match with AJ Styles of all people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n