Grayson Waller is now three months into his second full-time run in WWE NXT, and it’s safe to say the decision to return to the brand has been a massive success thus far.
Just a month into his return, “The Aussie Icon” dethroned Tony D’Angelo to become NXT Champion for the very first time, and now, two months on from that, he remains NXT Champion heading into this Saturday’s Halloween Havoc premium live event.
With many fans expecting Waller to eventually return to the main roster – hopefully with a ton of momentum behind him after his NXT success – it’s interesting to start looking at the frontrunners to dethrone him for the NXT Title.
Here are three WWE stars that could end Grayson Waller’s NXT Championship run:
Honorable mention: Tony D’Angelo
It would be wrong to not first acknowledge Waller’s challenger for the NXT Championship this Saturday at Halloween Havoc: Tony D’Angelo.
While Tony D obviously has a chance of claiming his second NXT Title, him doing so would also raise a lot of questions from fans.
The 31-year-old has spent the past five years in NXT and has won every title available to him in that time. He is more than ready for a shot at WW Raw or SmackDown, and him reclaiming the NXT Title back would only further delay that happening.
Mason Rook
Mason Rook was lined up to challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship on the September 29 episode of NXT, only to not be medically cleared for that match.
Now, there has not been much update on the exact reason for Rook’s absence, but two weeks ago Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live that the English star could be out of action “for a very long time.”
Obviously Rook’s health is priority and he should be kept away from the ring if he’s not able to compete, but in the event he does return, and Waller is still NXT Champion, it would make sense for NXT GM Robert Stone to book the match that never came to be.
Cruz Montana
Cruz Montana is one of many big new additions to the WWE NXT roster in 2026, and it’s clear that the former TNA World Champion was brought to the brand to be a main event player.
While he is currently engaging in a feud with Dion Lennox, Montana may very well get elevated back to the NXT Title picture if he can get past DarkState’s leader.
Montana vs. Waller certainly has the potential to be a PLE headliner for NXT, but there is another major new arrival that may interrupt those plans.
Zilla Fatu
Zilla Fatu has perhaps the most buzz of anyone in WWE NXT right now after debuting on the brand back in August.
Being the son of Umaga and cousin of Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, Zilla has some big shoes to fill, but it’s evident that he’s destined for big things on the WWE main roster for years to come.
Before he joins up with The Bloodline however, Zilla absolutely has to climb to the very top of NXT first, and he should be considered one of, if not THE biggest threat to Grayson Waller’s NXT Championship reign.
Like Cruz Montana and his rivalry with DarkState, once Zilla’s feud with BirthRight wraps up he will very likely have his sights set on the NXT Championship.
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