Tony D’Angelo Eyeing Up WWE Main Roster Call-Up After Recent NXT Character Evolution: ‘I Need To Continue My Growth, Continue My Progression, So When That Time Comes I’m Prepared For That’

WWE

Tony D’Angelo is aiming to continue growing and evolving in WWE NXT in preparation for a call-up to Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown in the future.

Standing atop the brand as NXT Champion and one of the show’s longest servants, Tony D’Angelo finally achieved his ultimate goal on Tuesday nights when he won the NXT Championship at WWE Stand & Deliver 2026 in April.

The win came following a WWE career resurgence for “The Don” as he ditched his mafioso character that he’d been synonymous with since debuting in 2021, and instead took on a more serious and grounded role upon returning to TV in December following a five month hiatus last year.

During an appearance on Busted Open, Tony D identified this hiatus and the impending birth of he and his wife’s first child as the catalysts for the growth he’s underwent on WWE TV and in his personal life:

“I think going on my little hiatus is really what did it. I had a lot of time to myself, time to think about what I want out of life, what I want out of this business. And personally, I mentioned this last time I was on the show, but I had some maturing to do because my wife is pregnant and she’s actually due in under a month now. So I kind of had to get my stuff together if I’m gonna be taking care of a little guy.”

D’Angelo would also mention the breakup of his WWE NXT “Family” last year, with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo’s betrayal helping him refocus on himself, an approach that has proved fruitful thus far:

“So I think all that combined with Stacks kicking me in the nuts definitely helped and it kind of made me see what’s important and obviously I had been taking care of another family who didn’t care about all the things that I had done for them and I think it’s time to focus on me now and you’ve seen the outcome.

“I’m now NXT Champion I’m now running the brand, and I’m sure I seem a little bit more mature and comfortable in being who Tony D is.”

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As well as having the added pressure of a family to feed at home, Tony D explained how having goals is an important tool for his own growth, and now he’s ticked becoming NXT Champion off the list, he’s got one eye on “the next step” which is being called up to Raw or SmackDown.

D’Angelo continued:

“I think on top of that, having goals is super important. When I didn’t have the championship, that was the goal, get there, take it off of the man who I will not name so he will not show up unexpectedly (Joe Hendry). But now that I am champ, to be expected everybody’s nipping at my heels and they’re trying to get what they don’t have.

“But I’m just trying to uphold the standard of being the NXT Champion, as well as taking the next step, which is getting called up. So I need to continue my growth, continue my progression, so when that time comes I’m also prepared for that.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Tony D’Angelo will defend his WWE NXT Championship against former NJPW star Naraku (fka EVIL), at the Great American Bash on Sunday, June 28.

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