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Last Friday marked a momentous occasion for emerging WWE star Grayson Waller, as his in-ring debut on the main roster coincided with his inaugural appearance at the iconic Madison Square Garden (MSG). The recent addition from "NXT" was featured in a special episode of "WWE SmackDown" on July 7, where he hosted another edition of "The Grayson Waller Effect," joined by the distinguished WWE Hall of Famer, Edge.
Despite suffering a defeat against "The Rated R Superstar" in the night's match, Waller's commendable performance earned him praise and a nod of approval from the veteran wrestler. Edge's words to Waller, "You swam," were a testament to the newcomer's promising debut.
Capitalizing on this momentum, Waller subsequently made a striking statement. He boldly compared his MSG debut to the introduction of the legendary Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to the same ring. His tweet, "This biggest debut in Madison Square Garden since that bloke who wore the cringe tassels," was an unmistakable reference to Johnson's former in-ring persona, Rocky Maivia.
Johnson's initial MSG debut in 1996 came under high-pressure circumstances. Shortly after his induction into WWE, he was allowed to participate in that year's Survivor Series pay-per-view, held at the esteemed New York venue.
The Rock shared the ring with other notable wrestlers like Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Marc Mero, and The Stalker, better known as Barry Windham, in an intense eight-person elimination-style Survivor Series match. Even as a rookie, Johnson made a striking impression by being the last man standing, securing victory for his team by eliminating Crush and Goldust.
Waller's Promising MSG Debut
Waller's Friday debut was a significant milestone and a golden opportunity to elevate his standing in the wrestling world. Sharing the ring with a widely recognized figure like Edge, his stature in the eyes of the WWE universe is expected to be significantly enhanced.
While it remains to be seen if Waller can match the unparalleled success of "The Rock," his confident and impressive debut suggests a bright future in the wrestling world.