Next WWE NXT Championship Challenger: Who will face the winner of Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook?

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On the September 29 episode of WWE NXT, Grayson Waller will defend the NXT Championship against Mason Rook.

Coming off the heels of this title bout, there might be some new challengers emerging to go after the gold next.

Whether it be a former champion or one of the newer stars on the NXT roster, the next challenger could be any number of names stepping up the plate for their title opportunity.

Here are four potential next WWE NXT Championship challengers for the winner of Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook.

Tony D’Angelo

At WWE NXT Heatwave 2026, Grayson Waller defeated Tony D’Angelo, Zilla Fatu and Cruz Montana to win the NXT Championship.

This ended D’Angelo’s 147 day reign as the NXT Champion, but “The Don of NXT” has remained in title contention.

After coming up short in a triple threat #1 contender’s match on the September 15 WWE NXT, D’Angelo might work his way back into a title shot down the line.

Tony D challenging the winner of Waller vs. Mason Rook on the September 29 NXT would make for an intriguing next title bout.

Keanu Carver

Another WWE NXT star who has been on the hunt for the top prize on the brand is Keanu Carver.

Since making his debut earlier this year, Carver has been showcased as a potential contender for the NXT Championship.

While he failed to win the number one contendership recently, fans have not seen Carver on NXT TV over the past few weeks.

Making his return following the Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook NXT Championship match, Keanu Carver could position himself as the next challenger for the title.

Cruz Montana

Cruz Montana has had his sights on the NXT Championship since officially signing with WWE.

The former Mike Santana was part of the four-way NXT Championship match at Heatwave 2026.

While he did not win this bout, Montana has stayed focus on winning the most prestigious title for the NXT brand.

Montana putting himself at the front of the line for another shot could be his future coming off the heels of the Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook NXT Championship bout.

Zilla Fatu

Another WWE NXT star who has consistently been in the title picture since his arrival is Zilla Fatu.

The son of Umaga has long been a standout on the independent scene and officially signed with WWE in August.

Challenging for the NXT Championship in his first match, Fatu is coming off the heels of his first WWE premium live event headliner.

While he is feuding with Birthright, Zilla Fatu could shift focus on the NXT Championship depending on the result of the Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook match.

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• wwe nxt
• Grayson Waller
• Mason Rook
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