WWE NXT star EK Prosper went above and beyond to try to capture the NXT Championship from Grayson Waller as he answered the open challenge on Tuesday.

Prosper showed off his high-flying abilities during the match. He had Waller propped on the announce table and was looking to pull off something attention-worthy. He did that and then some.

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EK Prosper looks on during NXT at the WWE Performance Center.

EK Prosper looks on during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 4, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

Prosper bounced up to the middle rope, parallel to a sprawled out Waller, and backflipped onto his opponent. The crowd at the WWE Performance Center went wild.

But Waller would show why he’s the savvy veteran of the NXT roster and why he’s the champion. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps, brushed himself off and got back in the ring.

Waller hit the Waller Effect and pinned Prosper to retain the title. Even as Prosper’s moment went viral across social media, all Waller could do was lock in and retain the title.

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Grayson Waller looks on during NXT at the WWE Performance Center.

Grayson Waller looks on during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 22, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

Waller has held the title for about a month since he won it in a fatal four-way match at Heatwave back in August. He outlasted Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana and Zilla Fatu in that match.

The Australian superstar was initially set to take on Mason Rook for the title. Rook said earlier Tuesday he wasn’t medically cleared for the match and took his name out of the hat.

Shawm Michaels, the senior vice president of talent development and creative for NXT, announced there would be an open challenge for the NXT Championship. In a video posted to social media, Michaels had initially hoped A.J. Styles or CM Punk would answer the call.

 
EK Prosper makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center.

EK Prosper makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on June 30, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

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Regardless, it was Prosper who answered the challenge and put up a fight against Waller.