Grayson Waller has revealed he feared being released by WWE following the departure of The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who had been aligned with him, in early May. Speaking on the Insight Podcast, Waller said that period left him uncertain about his place in the company, but he has since refocused his career with the WWE Championship now firmly in his sights.
According to Wrestling Headlines, Waller found himself in an uncertain position after Kingston and Woods departed from his storyline alignment, prompting his move back to NXT earlier this year. That shift came at a moment when Waller was unsure whether WWE still saw a long-term role for him on the main roster.
Rather than that uncertainty derailing his career, Waller told the Insight Podcast, as reported by F4W Online, that it became a turning point. He credited a revamping of his on-screen persona and a conscious effort to be taken seriously as a competitor with changing how he is now perceived within WWE. Waller affirmed that he is ready, more than ever, to pursue the WWE Championship, framing his current run as part of a longer-term ambition to become a world champion.
From Uncertainty to NXT Return
The timeline laid out across both reports shows a clear sequence: Kingston and Woods’ exit in early May left Waller without his prior alignment, he returned to NXT, and he has since used that stretch to reshape how he is viewed in WWE. Neither report details what specifically triggered the New Day pairing’s departure from Waller’s storyline, nor do the sources specify the exact date of his NXT return beyond “earlier this year.”
Waller’s comments suggest that his renewed championship ambitions are tied directly to the personal and professional recalibration that followed that uncertain period. By his own account, the fear of release served as motivation rather than a setback, and he now presents himself as a serious long-term player in WWE’s championship picture.
Neither F4W Online nor Wrestling Headlines indicates any current program or match booking tying Waller directly to the WWE Championship. His remarks reflect stated personal ambition rather than a confirmed title opportunity.
