Grayson Waller, a 35-year-old WWE competitor, recently declared his desire to face CM Punk in a high-stakes competition centered on their microphone skills. This announcement comes after CM Punk‘s impactful return to WWE in 2023, which revitalized the promotion and led to a series of major matches. Waller’s interest highlights a growing anticipation to see The Second City Saint tested not just physically but with words in the ring.
Since his comeback, CM Punk has matched up against top WWE stars like Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins. He even took on Dominik Mysterio during a live event. Despite these high-profile confrontations, Waller insists that a confrontation with Punk would elevate his own standing and test his speaking abilities against one of the best MCs in the industry.
“I want to fight CM Punk. I want to fight CM Punk so bad. I want to have the microphone next to CM Punk. He’s just spending too much time with Seth Rollins. You know, we’ve got to try and drag him out of that, and they two got to stop fighting. I want to see what Punk’s really about. That’s one of my dreams because he’s on the mic, man. There’s no one better, and if there’s someone who prides himself on their microphone ability, I want to test myself against CM Punk because I know he’s not going to hold back at all. He’s going to say whatever he thinks,” Waller said.
—Grayson Waller, WWE Star, No Contest Wrestling podcast
Ongoing Rivalries and Championship Drama Shape WWE Storylines
CM Punk’s recent successes and setbacks continue to drive the narrative within WWE. After winning the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Gunther at WWE SummerSlam 2025, Punk’s reign was interrupted when Seth Rollins executed a brilliant Money in the Bank cash-in to claim the title from him. This event intensified the feud between Punk and Rollins, sparking several confrontations in the following weeks.
Becky Lynch, Rollins’ real-life spouse, added further complexity by assisting him in retaining the championship during a Fatal-4-Way match at WWE Clash in Paris 2025. This interference culminated in a heated altercation on Monday Night RAW, where Lynch confronted CM Punk physically, slapping him multiple times in view of the audience.
AJ Lee Returns to WWE, Setting Up Wrestlepalooza Matchups
Adding to the tension, AJ Lee made a surprise comeback on the latest Friday Night SmackDown episode and retaliated against Becky Lynch’s aggressive behavior. Her presence led to the announcement of a mixed tag team match scheduled for WWE Wrestlepalooza, where AJ Lee and her husband will face Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. This match promises to further entangle the personal and professional rivalries among the key WWE figures leading into the event.
Looking Ahead: What Waller vs. Punk Could Mean for WWE
Grayson Waller’s challenge to CM Punk for a microphone battle introduces a fresh dynamic into WWE’s competitive atmosphere, emphasizing verbal prowess alongside physical combat. With Punk already embroiled in title disputes and personal feuds, adding Waller’s challenge raises questions about future storylines and possible matchups. Fans can expect these developments to intensify as the road to Wrestlepalooza unfolds.
