Grayson Waller revealed on Sam Roberts’ podcast that WWE blocked a controversial T-shirt design featuring Stephanie Vaquer’s revealing photo shoot.
Grayson Waller has built a reputation on WWE programming for sporting provocative and controversial T-shirts designed to needle opponents and internet fandoms alike. However, one of his most audacious design concepts was quietly blocked from ever making it to television.
Waller’s Unused Shawn Michaels-Inspired Design
Speaking during a recent appearance on Not Sam Wrestling with Sam Roberts, Waller discussed his custom wardrobe choices, noting that he frequently pushes creative boundaries to provoke a reaction. When asked if any of his gear has ever been outright rejected, Waller admitted that a design riffing on former Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer failed to clear television standards.
Following her title victory, Vaquer shared an internet-breaking Instagram story recreating Shawn Michaels’ iconic, belt-only championship photo shoot. Seizing the opportunity to antagonize Vaquer’s real-life partner, Myles Borne, Waller had a custom T-shirt printed featuring the image.
As Waller explained, the shirt was ultimately deemed a step too far for weekly programming:
There are some that haven’t ended up on TV. Stephanie Vaquer kind of broke the internet recently. She did an Instagram story posing like Shawn Michaels. There was a t-shirt with that on it. That didn’t end up on television.
Though the apparel never made it past backstage censors, Waller joked that the rare merchandise still holds high collector value, teasing a hefty payday for any fan willing to meet his asking price:
If anyone wants it, bribe me with some money. There is some fan who would pay some crazy money for it.
Knowing Where To Draw The Line
Despite his penchant for online trolling and locker room mischief, Waller emphasized that his provocative antics have strict boundaries. He explained that stirring up real-life controversy is only worthwhile if it serves a functional purpose on-screen:
I love to cause chaos, but if we can’t fight about this, there is the line. Stephanie Vaquer doesn’t feel like I should be doing that, are we going to have a match? That’s not going to happen. That’s where my line is.
While the Vaquer shirt remains locked in the vault, Waller has plenty of active business to focus on. The outspoken star is currently gearing up to defend the NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo at the upcoming WWE NXT Halloween Havoc special.
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