Grayson Waller Reveals How His Iconic Shoey Celebration Came About

Grayson Waller is known for his bold remarks and outrageous character and there’s no doubt loves the fact that he’s from Australia, which is why he does a shoey from time to time. He has now revealed how a shoey came about from him.

Waller is proud of his Australian heritage and that includes the shoey – where one drinks alcohol from a shoe. Waller has done this in the past, especially when he was called up to the main roster.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Grayson Waller talked about how his famous shoey celebration started. He sees the shoey as a fun and light-hearted part of Australian culture. The first time he saw it was when Tai Tuivasa did it in the UFC. Tuivasa would climb on the cage and drink beer from a shoe, which seemed silly but also fun. Later, Daniel Ricciardo did it in F1, and it became a way for Australians to celebrate on big stages.

When Waller did his first shoey in NXT, he had to ask Shawn Michaels if it was okay. He wasn’t sure how to explain what a shoey was to Michaels because it sounded so crazy. However, Shawn Michaels liked the idea and didn’t need much explaining.

“In my eyes, a shoey is just the perfect example of an Australian being a fun, light-hearted kind of guy. It’s a celebration. The first time I saw it was Tai Tuivasa in the UFC. He’d get up on the cage and do the shoey, and it’s just so ridiculous and silly, but I think that’s part of the Australian fun. Then, obviously, Daniel Ricciardo does it in F1, so it became a thing where Australians, when they’re on big stages, celebrate like this.

The first one I did in NXT, I had to ask Shawn Michaels to do a shoey. I thought, ‘How am I going to explain what a shoey is to Shawn Michaels of all people?’ Because it just sounds ridiculous. But surprisingly, he thought it was a great idea. I don’t really know how, but I didn’t have to explain it that much. He was in.“

For Waller, the shoey shows what Australian culture is like. Even during big celebrations, Australians do something silly, like drinking beer from a shoe. Waller said it’s not serious—just part of the fun.

“I think it’s a great example of what our culture is. Even in our biggest moments of celebration, we’re doing something ridiculous, like drinking beer from a shoe. We’re not taking it seriously. You’re drinking beer from a smelly shoe! And the funny thing is, it doesn’t even faze me one bit. I don’t even think twice. It’s my shoe, you know? It is what it is.

The other question I get is, ‘Do you wear the shoe afterward?’ And if it’s a night out or something, yeah, I do. But the first one I did in NXT was just out of the boot I wore after the 25-minute deadline match. But I think that’s part of the tradition. You’re earning the beer. You’re dealing with something disgusting. And in my head, it’s a very Australian thing. You drink it so quick, you don’t even realize what you’re doing.”

Grayson Waller will continue to show off his Australian heritage by celebrating his biggest moments with a shoey and fans have accepted that part about him, as it truly makes him more unique than anyone else on the WWE roster.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.