WWE NXT Championship: Top Raw and SmackDown Contenders Eyeing Grayson Waller’s Title

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Grayson Waller, a former WWE Raw competitor, currently commands the NXT Championship after capturing it in a four-way match at NXT Heatwave.

As Waller continues to thrive since his return to WWE’s developmental brand, speculation has grown regarding other main roster talents potentially making their way to NXT.

Assuming Waller successfully defends his title against Mason Rook, a wave of Raw and SmackDown superstars could soon look to challenge the former WWE Tag Team Champion.

Here are three main roster stars who could potentially face NXT Champion Grayson Waller.

Austin Theory

Given their shared history as A-Town Down Under, a clash between Austin Theory and Grayson Waller would undoubtedly generate significant fan interest.

Both competitors have frequently referenced their former partnership and traded indirect jabs at one another, yet they have not faced off since teaming together in June 2025.

Following Waller’s shade-throwing during Theory’s viral NXT return promo in July, it would make perfect sense for the Vision faction member to visit the Performance Center and confront his former tag partner.

While Theory currently holds the World Tag Team Championship alongside Bron Breakker, the former US Champion could target the NXT Title to bring a singles championship back to his faction.

Kyoki

Kyoki made his WWE debut on the main roster, with the former “Hiromu Takahashi” bypassing NXT to form a tag team with Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown.

Although Kyoki is officially on the blue brand’s roster, an NXT Championship program against Grayson Waller would allow the Japanese star to briefly experience a run at the Performance Center.

With Kyoki’s former Los Ingobernables de Japon teammate Naraku (known as EVIL in NJPW) also competing in NXT, a visit to the developmental division would allow the former IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion to reunite with a former tag partner.

While Kyoki and Nakamura are currently pursuing the WWE Tag Team Championship, the NXT Title could serve as the recent signee’s first championship victory in WWE.

Je’Von Evans

Despite Je’Von Evans’ previous run on NXT and his current popularity on Raw, it is easy to overlook the fact that the 22-year-old has yet to win a single championship in WWE.

Much like Grayson Waller’s current trajectory, Evans could return to NXT in an attempt to capture the brand’s top prize for the first time.

Evans has declared his focus on becoming the youngest Intercontinental and World Champion in WWE history, but while waiting for those divisions to settle, he could gain valuable experience in the NXT Championship scene.

With former Raw star Grayson Waller holding the NXT Championship, the rising star who ultimately defeats him will have proven themselves as a top-tier prospect.

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