Being a WWE superstar isn’t for everyone.
From crashing through tables to constant travel, life as a wrestler can be tough, but Grayson Waller has insisted there is a much more basic reason most people ‘quit’ wrestling training early on.
Speaking alongside his tag partner Austin Theory before Monday Night Raw at The O2 arena tonight, the Aussie Icon exclusively told Metro: ‘As much as we do all the wild things, I don’t think a lot of people realise that the very simple things we do hurt too.
‘But we’re just calloused and stupid!’
Grayson has been helping with WWE tryouts, and he’s seen college athletes in the US and beyond struggle to get used to hitting the ropes or falling in the ring.
‘We have big time college athletes quitting because it hurts too much,’ he revealed.
‘We’ve gone through tables with broken bones, but like for these tryouts, the time that people quit the most.
‘The first is when they run the ropes, because people don’t realise running the ropes hurts. And then the second is when they take their first flat back bump on the ring.’
Austin added: ‘My favourite is seeing people land in the ring for the first time, because they all have this illusion in their mind that it’s soft and it’s bouncy and it’s like a trampoline.
‘And it’s the best when they land and they’re like, “Oh, wow!”‘
Meanwhile, Austin also recalled his fear over being thrown from the top of the Elimination Chamber to the ground below.
‘The Chamber moment was, maybe one of the biggest stunts that I’ve done in WWE,’ he said.
‘And honestly, going through knowing I was going to do that the night before, having to sleep on that, I was like, “Oh man, hopefully I don’t break my legs.” ‘
Despite the grind and tough times, both men love what they do, and remain determined.
Outspoken star Grayson, who appeared on Australian Survivor in 2019 before joining WWE two years later, admitted despite receiving more reality TV offers, he’s focused on his in-ring future.
‘There’s definitely opportunities there, I’ve had people reach out to me,’ he said.
He teased: ‘Maybe down the line, when my body breaks down or something like that, there’ll be opportunities to go run through reality shows and beat all these stupid Americans and these type of things.
‘But for me, right now, like I want to be in the WWE. I want to be at the top, and that’s where my focus is.’
Now, Grayson and Austin are focused on WrestleMania, and doing everything they can to raise their own stock.
‘We always have a bunch of ideas, but we’re also two guys that know exactly how to do our job,’ Austin said. ‘We just make it the best that we can. Whether it’s in our favour or it’s not, we just do the best we can.’
With the huge event in Las Vegas just a fortnight away, A-Town Down Under are trying to find their spot on one of WWE’s most stacked shows in years.
‘It’s hard to fit into the WrestleMania landscape. I think, right now, this is the best roster WWE’s ever had, hands down. I don’t think it’s even close,’Grayson added.
‘So, you know, when you have so many big people, it’s hard to slot your way in, but we’re doing our best.’
WWE brings WrestleMania to Las Vegas on April 19 and 20. Tune in live on Netflix.
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