WWE’s WALTER addresses possible move to US: NXT TakeOver 36 will decide future

The Ring General seems more open to whatever the future holds (Picture: WWE)

WWE superstar WALTER has suggested nothing is set in stone when it comes to his future in NXT UK and beyond.

The current United Kingdom Champion – who has held the gold for over 865 days – is defending his title against bitter rival Ilja Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 tonight (August 22) and the Austrian star admitted while he’s proud to represented European wrestling, a lot could happen this evening.

He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘At the moment, I’m still NXT UK Champion and I’m the only European champion. I gotta be a European resident to do that, I can’t live in the United States.

‘Regarding the future, I’m focusing on my next task. My next task is Ilja, and then I’ll focus on the next thing. I don’t have any plans ahead of this Sunday.

‘So, whatever will happen will change the course of my future. We’ll see what happens after.’

This is a real departure from WALTER’s comments in the past, and it’s long been reported he didn’t want a move to the United States.

Indeed, last January he told us: ‘I don’t mind going to America for a little bit,’ he shrugged. ‘I don’t want to live there, but as a visitor it’s good enough… [But] I was never a big fan of the United States in that sense.

‘I always felt, in the ’90s when I grew up, America got glorified in movies and on TV. Then you’d go there the first time and you’d be like, “What’s going on?” I think it would be more helpful if I brought some of my culture there!’

On thing’s for certain, which is WALTER has no desire to work for another company, as he made it clear he feels at home, fulfilled and optimistic for the future with WWE.

‘I gotta be honest, I don’t care about any outside possibilities if WWE were to work with anyone in a business relationship,’ he told us this week, addressing comments Triple H has made in the past about working with other promotions.

‘I actively made a decision that I want to be here and I want to work for this company. For me, it is the biggest company that there is in wrestling.

‘I never worked in a better work environment than here, when it comes to how professional everything is ran and how good the wrestlers get taken care of. I’ve never been anywhere else when it was anywhere close to that.’

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The Ring General has seen great progress in his skills as a performer since joining Vince McMahon’s company and working under NXT boss Triple H, and he’s keen to see that continue well into the future.

‘As a wrestler, I could really make big steps in the last year since I signed with WWE and get better, and develop into a better wrestler. That’s what I want to do,’ he smiled.

‘That’s what I want to keep doing in the future. Just, focus on that and make the most out of the environment have and become the best wrestler I can possibly be!’

*NXT TakeOver 36 airs Sunday night (August 22) at 1am on the WWE Network.

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