Australian WWE superstar Grayson Waller has taken a massive swipe at AFL fans, declaring he has no interest in ‘a participation game’ and only watches ‘real sport.’
The 34-year-old wrestling provocateur, known for his blunt commentary and brash confidence, was back in Australia this week to help announce WWE’s major return to Perth later this year.
But it was his views on Australian rules football that caused the biggest stir.
‘No, I watch real sport … I’m a [Sydney] Roosters fan,’ Waller told News Corp during his media rounds.
‘You know, the thing with AFL, it’s like 47 blokes fumbling over a ball for a couple of hours.’
Waller didn’t hold back, mocking the AFL’s scoring system and likening it to a children’s game.
Australian WWE wrestler Grayson Waller has taken a massive shot at the AFL on a return trip down under
Waller was born in Sydney and is a big fans of the NRL and the Roosters, but not so much a fan of Aussie Rules
Waller is back in Australia along with fellow local product Rhea Ripley to promote the WWE’s return to Perth
‘This is a sport where if you miss, they go, ‘Oh, you tried, we’ll give you a point. You tried really hard.’
‘Can you imagine that in any other sport? You fail. You do the wrong thing. You’re not good enough to do it. And they’re like, oh, here you go. Here’s a point for trying.’
He compared the system to primary school participation ribbons.
‘That’s what the AFL is. It’s like a participation game.’
Waller, born Matthew Farrelly in Sydney, was a high school teacher and Golden Gloves boxer before turning to professional wrestling.
He made his WWE debut in 2021 and now performs on Raw, currently teaming with Austin Theory as A-Town Down Under.
The duo held the WWE Tag Team Championship earlier this year, adding to Waller’s growing resume.
He’s also known for his outspoken personality, which he first showcased during his time on Australian Survivor in 2019.
A young fans gets the chance to meet a couple of his wrestling heroes while wearing a Melbourne Demons shirt
Rhea Ripley has become one of the biggest names in the WWE and has a following of over 5 million on Instagram
Her husband is a mad Carlton fan but Ripley admitted she still goes for her home town side Port Adelaide
This isn’t the first time Waller has sparked backlash during a trip home – he previously clashed live on-air with Sunrise hosts.
But while he may have alienated AFL supporters, his fellow Aussie wrestler Rhea Ripley embraced the national rivalry.
The Adelaide-born WWE Women’s Champion took the chance to rib her husband, AEW star Buddy Matthews, after her hometown Crows defeated his beloved Carlton.
‘He was like, well, if they beat the Crows, then they have to be your team. I’m like, you don’t want to make that bet. And then they lost,’ she laughed.
‘So it made me a little bit happy, but it definitely did not make him happy … he woke up to a nice little score text in the morning.’
Ripley and Matthews married in 2024 and remain one of wrestling’s power couples, despite working in rival promotions.
Both will return to Perth in October as part of WWE’s massive three-day event series, including Raw, SmackDown, and Crown Jewel: Perth.
Their last event at Optus Stadium drew more than 50,000 fans, marking it as WWE’s biggest Australian show in history.
Waller, despite being left off the WrestleMania 41 card, says he’s more motivated than ever.
‘You’ve got to look at things in a better way,’ he told Wide World of Sports.
‘Watching Rhea in that incredible triple threat match was motivating … I want to get there again.’
Waller is hoping for a dream showdown with John Cena during the Perth tour.
‘I think I held my own [on the mic] and I wasn’t scared one bit about John Cena,’ he said.
‘There’s no bigger name in the industry … that would be a great opportunity.’
