Grayson Waller has revealed that Roman Reigns played a role in one of the most notable changes to his in-ring presentation, telling him that wearing traditional wrestling tights made him “look like a champion.” Waller shared the story during an appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s “Insight” podcast.
The comments shed new light on a transformation that coincided with a significant career shift for Waller. When he returned to NXT earlier this year, he abandoned the boxing shorts that had long been part of his look in favor of more traditional tights. According to Waller, that cosmetic change went hand in hand with a more serious approach to his on-screen character, a shift that ultimately led to his first NXT Championship victory.
Speaking to Van Vliet, Waller explained the thinking behind the switch, recalling the advice he received along the way. While the full context of when the conversation with Reigns took place was not detailed, Waller made clear that the suggestion stuck with him as he reworked his presentation ahead of capturing the title.
A Reinvention That Paid Off
Waller’s run in NXT this year has been defined by that pivot toward a more polished, title-focused persona. The wardrobe change was not presented as a cosmetic detail alone but as part of a broader effort to be taken seriously as a championship-caliber performer, one that culminated in him winning the NXT Title for the first time in his career.
Reigns, who has held multiple world championships across his WWE tenure and is widely regarded as one of the promotion’s defining stars of the last decade, is someone Waller clearly viewed as a credible source on how a champion should look and carry himself. The exchange, as recounted by Waller, framed the tights not simply as a costume update but as a deliberate signal to audiences that he belonged among WWE’s elite titleholders.
Neither Fightful nor eWrestlingNews indicated that Reigns has publicly commented further on the exchange, and no additional detail was provided about where or when the conversation occurred. The reporting from both outlets centers on Waller’s own account of the advice and its influence on his transformation into NXT Champion.
