Grayson Waller, recently linked with The New Day faction, has publicly urged WWE to ban the Mexican Destroyer move due to its hazardous nature. This development follows an incident where Xavier Woods, a member of The New Day, was injured after taking the move during a recent WWE RAW event.
Waller’s call to action highlights the rising anxiety over the safety of performers executing or receiving the Mexican Destroyer, emphasizing the risks involved in high-impact wrestling moves.
Waller’s New Alliance and The Incident That Sparked His Campaign
Following Austin Theory‘s injury and subsequent absence since May, Waller transitioned from their former tag team, A-Town Down Under, to working closely with The New Day. After Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods lost their WWE World Tag Team Titles to The Judgment Day in June, Waller supported them backstage and in the ring.
During a RAW episode last week, Xavier Woods was hurt by Penta’s use of the Mexican Destroyer, evident when Woods appeared with a neck brace afterward. This incident drove Waller’s determination to advocate for banning the move, citing its recklessness and the toll it has taken on wrestlers’ health nationwide.
Backing From Peers and Waller’s Personal Experience
To strengthen his campaign, Waller even managed to have WWE commentator Corey Graves endorse the petition live on RAW. He also took to Instagram to share a warning about the move’s potential dangers, underscoring the widespread impact among professional wrestlers.
“Myself and many other professional wrestlers have been victims of the Mexican Destroyer over the past few years. It is an extremely dangerous and careless move that jeopardizes the safety of performers. The toll it has taken on talented athletes across the country cannot be overstated.” —Grayson Waller, WWE Wrestler
Waller himself suffered the move recently when he faced Penta in the ring, which deepened his understanding of the risk involved and motivated his demand for change within WWE protocols.
Implications of Waller’s Petition and Potential Changes in WWE
The push to ban the Mexican Destroyer signals growing concern in the wrestling community about move safety and wrestler welfare. If WWE responds by restricting or modifying the move, it could set a precedent for addressing other risky maneuvers to safeguard athletes.
Grayson Waller’s petition may ignite wider conversations around in-ring safety standards, possibly influencing the future direction of WWE’s approach to performance risks and injury prevention.
