Dwayne Johnson made an emphatic return to WWE on September 15, 2023. The return on the said episode of SmackDown was Johnson’s first appearance in nearly four years. His previous outing was way back in October 2019, when he helped the company celebrate the 20th anniversary of SmackDown.

As usual, the return meant loads of selfies and Johnson getting mobbed backstage by part of the current roster. There’s no doubt that he’s the biggest star to have a link with the promotion and it was a big deal for many talents, let alone fans, that day. Many, but not all. One current wrestler, who has seen his stocks head north in recent months, had a different view of Johnson’s time in the show.

Did Dwayne Johnson snub a rising WWE star at Ball Arena?

Believe it or not, Grayson Waller wasn’t happy with Dwayne Johnson’s surprise visit at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Aussie star, who has had a past with Johnson, didn’t mince words about his feelings pertaining to The Great One’s arrival and subsequent departure.

Speaking to Peter Rosenberg of the Cheap Heat podcast, the Australian pro wrestler complained that Johnson was gone by the time he wanted to meet the returning icon. Waller said as soon as he learned about Dwayne Johnson’s presence in the building, he ran to find him.

“I checked every door, every room. That brother, as soon as he found out that I was coming back, he got on his tour bus, him and Pat McAfee went back to hang with Deion Sanders,” he said, referencing to Johnson’s previous appearance at The Pat McAfee Show, where The Brahma Bull teamed up with Coach Prime.

Waller’s complaints resonated with the feeling that Johnson purposely boycotted the host of The Grayson Waller Effect. Meanwhile, Waller took a jibe at one of Johnson’s close friends during one of the episodes of the show.

Grayson Waller takes John Cena’s help to diss Sanders

Waller might not have had the meeting with Johnson, but he managed to land another legend in his show. 16-time world champion, John Cena, was also present on the aforementioned SmackDown episode and was a guest on The Grayson Waller Effect.

Cena, who sat down wearing his customary cap, was admonished by the host, who reminded him about lessons his mother taught him as a kid. “When I talk to grown-ups, I take off my hat like my mother taught me,” Waller told Cena as the latter chuckled, breaking character. While many would think this was a jibe at Cena, it was in fact a poke at Sanders. The 2x Super Bowl winner, who now plies his trade as the head football coach at the University of Colorado Boulder, was criticized by a fellow coach, who used a similar line.

Jay Norvell came down hard on Sanders ahead of their teams’ clash on September 16. Waller’s segment with Cena was a take on the issue. He also proved his intention by calling both Sanders and Cena overrated.

Read More: Despite Starting Off on the Wrong Foot With John Cena, Grayson Waller Appears to Be Having a Change of Heart: “Dreams Do Come True”

The insult is likely to anger Johnson, who recently pledged his support to the football coach. Johnson also wore a Jersey with Sanders’ name on the back as a sign of his loyalty.

It looks like Waller is going to go after everyone Johnson holds dear until he gets The Brahma Bull to finally meet him. With Johnson coming back to the promotion, the impending meeting could take place soon.

That said, do you agree with Grayson Waller’s sentiment about Dwayne Johnson boycotting him?

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