Grayson Waller NXT Championship Win: Shoey Celebration at Heatwave 2026

Grayson Waller NXT Championship victory became one of the standout moments of NXT Heatwave 2026 as the Australian star returned to the brand and immediately delivered on his promise to become champion. Waller defeated Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana and Zilla Fatu in a Fatal 4-Way match to capture the title.

The veteran returned to NXT last month after spending three years on WWE’s main roster. He quickly made his intentions clear, calling out the NXT men’s locker room and claiming that the roster had become too soft.

Grayson Waller wins NXT Championship at Heatwave

Tony D’Angelo entered the main event as the defending NXT Champion and faced a difficult challenge against Cruz Montana, Zilla Fatu and Grayson Waller.

The championship appeared to be within Montana’s grasp after he hit Tony D’Angelo with the Spin the Block. Montana looked set to secure the victory, but Waller dramatically changed the outcome.

Waller shoved Montana out of the ring before covering D’Angelo and securing the three-count. The victory made Waller the new NXT Champion and fulfilled the promise he had made after returning to the brand.

Waller celebrates championship victory with a shoey

Following his title victory, Waller celebrated in typically unconventional fashion. The Australian star drank beer from a shoe inside the ring, performing the famous Australian celebration commonly known as a “shoey.”

The unusual celebration quickly became one of the most memorable scenes from the event and perfectly matched Waller’s outspoken personality. His return to NXT has now immediately resulted in championship gold.

Waller had previously promised to prove himself against the NXT men’s roster. Winning the championship at Heatwave gives him an opportunity to establish himself as one of the brand’s leading stars.

Waller’s WWE career before returning to NXT

Waller spent approximately three years on WWE’s main roster before returning to NXT. During that period, he became particularly known for his partnership with Austin Theory.

The duo formed A-Town Down and eventually captured the WWE Tag Team Championships together. Their partnership later ended, with Waller subsequently becoming involved in an alliance with The New Day.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have since departed WWE and made their AEW debuts at All In 2026, bringing another chapter of Waller’s main-roster career to an end.

Rhea Ripley previously shared a shoey with Waller

Waller’s championship celebration also brought back memories of his previous shoey with fellow Australian WWE star Rhea Ripley.

Before Elimination Chamber 2024 in Perth, Australia, Ripley spoke about performing a shoey with Waller. She explained that she had used a new pair of Converse shoes for the celebration and was disappointed when they subsequently smelled of beer.

The moment highlighted the Australian connection between the two WWE stars and showed that Waller’s unusual celebration style is not new.

Who will challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship?

With Waller now holding the NXT Championship, attention will turn toward his first challenger. The Fatal 4-Way victory leaves several potential contenders in the picture, while Waller’s outspoken comments about the locker room could create new rivalries.

His championship reign also gives NXT a controversial and highly recognizable champion whose personality is likely to generate plenty of attention. The next few weeks should reveal which NXT star will step forward to challenge Waller for the title.