Tony D’Angelo Discusses the Pressures of Leading WWE NXT

Tony D’Angelo learned firsthand that serving as the face of WWE NXT carries significant responsibilities beyond the ring.

After four years in NXT, D’Angelo captured the NXT Championship earlier this year, marking a major milestone in his WWE career.

During a recent appearance on Battle on Battleground, D’Angelo reflected on his first reign as champion and discussed the unexpected pressures of carrying the brand.

“A lot comes with it. You’re the guy. The brand is on your shoulders. You’re at the forefront of everything: commercials, media, all this stuff. It’s a lot more stressful because, to put it politely, responsibility rolls downhill. If the show isn’t drawing strong numbers, I’m the first person they look at, and that’s fine.”

D’Angelo explained that while the added scrutiny was challenging, he appreciated the confidence WWE officials, including Shawn Michaels, showed in trusting him with the company’s developmental brand.

“I appreciate Shawn and everybody for recognizing that I’m strong enough to carry it, and that’s why I won. I’m okay with that, but certainly, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that you don’t really know until you’re the champ.”

D’Angelo’s first reign as NXT Champion ended when he lost the title to Grayson Waller in a Fatal 4-Way Match at NXT Heatwave.

He will have an opportunity to reclaim the gold when he challenges Waller in a singles match at WWE NXT Halloween Havoc on Saturday, October 31.

Source link