In the current landscape of professional wrestling, there aren't too many performers cut from the same cloth as NXT's Grayson Waller.
The 33-year-old is a unique personality, with his braggadocious style both on-screen and behind the scenes certainly having an impact on those around him.
Waller has worked with all the top guys from NXT including Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker, as well as tangling with main roster stars including AJ Styles, LA Knight and Apollo Crews, proving himself to be one of the most versatile and reliable fixtures in WWE's developmental brand.
But this weekend at NXT's biggest premium live event, Stand And Deliver, Waller will finally square off with Johnny Gargano and complete a story that has been 16 months in the making.
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Speaking exclusively to The Sporting News prior to the biggest match of his career, the arrogant Aussie explained the importance of putting an end to Gargano's legacy.
“I don’t know if excited is the word – I think last year I was excited, that was my first one, but this year I’m more focused on making a real impact," Waller said.
"There’s a standard that has been set in the past and for me going in against the guy who set that standard, that’s a big test. I plan to pass that test with flying colours and show the world that NXT is my house.
“Just because personally we don’t get along, it doesn’t mean I don’t respect what he’s done. When you think of the three letters NXT, you think of Johnny Gargano hands down – I respect everything he’s done.
"Johnny set up NXT to be this incredible brand with so many eyes on it, he had so many incredible matches and moments – fair play to him. The issue I have is that when it was time to hand it over to me, he wouldn’t do it, so I took it from him personally.
"He had 15 months to do something about it and he didn’t – he ran off to Raw, he ran off to Uncle Hunter [Triple H] – then I started getting all this clout and he wants to come back.
"When Johnny says that he bleeds black and gold, I think he bleeds green and he saw money coming back to fight me right now. It’s great for NXT, it’s great for business, it’s great for ratings and it’s great for Stand And Deliver – but the fairy tale ending isn’t gonna happen.
"I’m going to go in there and fight Johnny Gargano and I’m going to create that moment by doing what no one thinks I can do and stomping out the NXT guy.
"I’m going to do it in front of his fans, his wife, his son – I want to do it in front of everyone he loves and show the world that I’m different, I’m on his level - in fact, I think I’m above his level."
Grayson Waller reflects on Shawn Michaels feud
In recent months, Waller has been embroiled in a heated feud with Hall Of Famer and NXT boss, Shawn Michaels.
Things got so intense between the pair that Waller called out 'The Heartbreak Kid' for a match on WrestleMania weekend - but little did he know, Michaels had an ace up his sleeve in the form of Gargano.
Waller claims that while Michaels is aware of his undeniable talent, he doesn't trust him to be the face of the brand and that's where the issue stemmed from.
“I think he does [trust me] – you can’t argue with what I do...the problem was, I was the wrench in the plans and I wasn’t taking that and that put a chip on my shoulder," he told The Sporting News.
"I wasn’t supposed to be the guy, I was supposed to be just another indy wrestler in there and see where I land and I said no. I know Shawn respects that in a way, because that’s who Shawn was too and that’s why so many of the things I said to him are real.
Scroll to Continue with Content"Vince [McMahon] told Shawn he wasn’t the guy and Shawn said ‘no I am’… and that’s what I kind of did. I know Shawn respects me as a performer – no matter what show it is, I don’t need a championship, people are talking about my match.
“When I was a fan growing up, Shawn Michaels was the guy for me and he was the reason I became a wrestler which made the whole situation kind of sad. He wasn’t who I thought he was…he wasn’t the hero I grew up looking at.
"Getting in the ring with him was cool, but also it was frustrating that’s what I had to do to tell him what I really think about his brand and NXT.
“I had the full intention of wrestling Shawn Michaels – in my head, that’s what was happening and I was going to say whatever I needed to say to make sure that Shawn agreed to it.
"I was this close to having the dream match that everyone has been begging for, and I was going to be the one to get it which would really annoy people.
"Shawn had other plans and now it’s me and Johnny – it’s the biggest mistake he has ever made and I’m going to make him pay for what would have been the biggest moment of my career."
Grayson Waller prepared for WWE main roster call-up
On multiple occasions, Waller has expressed his desire and determination to achieve big things within the land of WWE.
From his humble beginnings in Sydney all the way to the bright lights of Los Angeles, there has always been an undeniable aura surrounding the Aussie star.
And after finally putting the nail in the coffin of NXT's golden goose, Waller is ready to finally make the jump to Raw or SmackDown.
“I think I have been ready to go for months and it’s a situation where I’m just keeping my nose down and working my arse off," he said.
"If the opportunity presents itself, I’m ready to go. There haven’t been any discussions about that and a lot of times, they won’t tell you these things and they will come up last-minute.
"I’m ready to start doing things on a big level and I think people have seen my interactions with Cody – there’s a lot of potential on that main roster that I will deal with that when I get there."
WrestleMania 39 streams live to Australia on Sunday 2nd & Monday 3rd April on BINGE and Kayo Sports.
When is NXT Stand & Deliver 2023?
- Date: Saturday, April 1 | Sunday, April 2
- Start time: 1 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. GMT | 4 a.m. AEDT
NXT Stand & Deliver takes place on April 1. Right before night one of WrestleMania 39, the NXT event starts at 1 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. GMT | 4 a.m. AEDT.
How to watch NXT Stand & Deliver 2023
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, April 1 | Peacock |
| United Kingdom | Saturday, April 1 | WWE Network |
| Australia | Sunday, April 2 | Foxtel/Binge and Kayo Sports |
NXT Stand & Deliver is available via Peacock for fans in the U.S. Outside the U.S., it is available on the WWE Network.
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In Australia, NXT Stand & Deliver is available via Foxtel/Binge, as well as Kayo Sports.
NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 price: How much does WWE event cost?
- A Peacock Premium subscription costs $4.99 a month.
- Subscribing to the WWE Network costs $9.99 a month.
- Subscribing to Binge in Australia costs $10 AUD a month.
Where is NXT Stand & Deliver 2023?
NXT Stand & Deliver will be inside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Home to the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, and Kings, the arena can hold up to 21,000 people.
NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 fight card
- Bron Breakker (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Title
- Zoey Stark vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Indi Hartwell in a ladder match for the NXT Women's Title
- Wes Lee (c) vs. JD McDonaugh vs. Dragon Lee vs. Axion vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT North American Title
- Fallon Henley and Kiana James (c) vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn for the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles
- Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller