WWE NXT Champion Grayson Waller recently appeared on Busted Open Radio to discuss various topics, including the reason he confronted Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk backstage at a recent NXT live event in Petersburg, Virginia.
Waller said, “When I was a wrestling fan, before I checked in my ‘mark card,’ I was a big fan of CM Punk. I loved what he said and when he talked because he spoke from the heart and was real. He didn’t care what anyone thought. He wanted to piss people off. If you had a problem with him, do something. No one did anything. When he came to NXT for that show, the kids were so excited. It was so sad. They’re all like, ‘Mr. Punk, what did you think of my match?’ The amount of guys taking photos with him was sad. You’re in the same company as him, ‘What are you doing, lad? You’re taking photos with him like a meet and greet.’ It embarrassed me. It embarrassed me that I was part of NXT and the kids are doing that. Personally, I think the best way to show respect to CM Punk is to go at him and tell him what you think. That’s what I did. I think he appreciated that. I know he loves getting all the NXT kids telling him how good he is. It probably makes him feel good, but I think he also secretly respects what I did because that’s what he would do. 100% that’s what he would’ve done. That’s what he did to guys back in the day. He went up to guys and said what he thought about them. I did exactly that, and I’m going to get him one day. He’s going to be there standing across from me, and I’ll tell him what I really think.”
On potentially engaging in a promo battle with Punk:
“100%. That doesn’t scare me a bit. It’s not because he’s not talented. He’s the best in the world, but what’s the point of being in this company and being NXT Champion and talking all this if you don’t feel the same? That is my wrestling dream. I don’t think about main eventing WrestleMania. I don’t think about these other things. I want to stand across from the best talker of all time, and I want to test myself. That’s what wakes me up every morning. I know that’s going to come and it’s going to be fun. It’s going to open a lot of people’s eyes. Keep doubting Grayson and keep sleeping on me. I’ll wake every one of you lads up. This is just the beginning. You guys have no idea how dangerous I am. This is going to get fun and bring fun back because you have no idea what I’m going to do or say.”
On why he thinks Punk has gotten soft:
“Punk is very good, very sharp, and very intelligent, but he’s softened a bit. He’s got a wife, a nice family, and a bunch of NXT kids telling him how good he is. He’s the champion, mainevented WrestleMania. What makes him hungry now? What makes him fired up and angry? A guy like me, coming for his throat, I think that would bring him back. I want the old CM Punk. I thought he was going to choke me out because I said some mean things on Twitter about him, and he didn’t. I was like, ‘Oh, where did you go, Punk?’ That’s okay, I’ll bring him back. That’s my goal. None of these other kids who get in the ring with him… Roman is great; all the big names against him are crazy, but then you see the news guys get next to him on Raw, and it’s like bringing a knife to a gunfight. It’s embarrassing when I see them stand across from him. They’re terrified of him. I ain’t scared of no one.”
You can check out the complete podcast below.
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)
