Grayson Waller just held onto his NXT Championship at Halloween Havoc, beating Tony D’Angelo, but before the confetti could even settle, *boom*! CM Punk, yes, THAT CM Punk, laid down the challenge for the NXT Title. They’re going at it next Wednesday. Seriously, this is gonna be wild.
The Don’s Reign Ends, The Aussie’s Return
Remember Tony D’Angelo’s first run with the NXT title? He earned that gold back in April at Stand & Deliver, winning a Fatal 4-Way match. That was his first time holding the championship, and it felt like the start of something big for “The Don.” But that reign? Less than five months, man. Waller ended it with a decisive victory. Waller’s return to NXT in July was already a shocker, coming back after years on the main roster. He didn’t waste any time, cutting a promo that called out the entire NXT men’s division, making his intentions crystal clear: he wanted that NXT Championship. He accomplished that goal in August, just one month later, when he beat D’Angelo, Cruz Montana, and Zilla Fatu in another Fatal 4-Way match at Heatwave. What a comeback story for the Aussie superstar.
The Rematch Road Was WILD
Tony D wasn’t just going to let that title slip away. He immediately went to work trying to earn a rematch, but the road back to Waller was anything but smooth. He hit an initial stumbling block when he lost a No. 1 contender’s Triple Threat, which was won by Mason Rook. Then, things got even weirder: Rook wasn’t medically cleared to compete against Waller. So Waller successfully defended his title against EK Prosper, who stepped in for Rook. But Tony D’Angelo wasn’t out of the mix for long. Both D’Angelo and Myles Borne confronted Waller, each trying to get him to put the NXT Championship on the line. The Aussie Superstar, never one to back down, decided he’d defend against the winner of a No. 1 contender’s match between D’Angelo and Borne. Tony D was victorious in that bout on the October 13 episode of NXT, officially setting up the highly anticipated Waller vs. D’Angelo showdown for Halloween Havoc.
Next Up: Waller vs. Punk. You Serious?
So at Halloween Havoc, defending the NXT Championship for the first time at an NXT premium live event, Waller prevailed. He denied Tony D’Angelo the chance to become a two-time NXT champion, securing his reign. But honestly, the win is almost a footnote now. The real talk right now? It’s CM Punk. Next Wednesday, Waller vs. Punk for the NXT Title. You can’t miss that, right? This is gonna be absolutely bananas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply