Tony D’Angelo just revealed that being WWE NXT Champion comes with a pretty uncomfortable responsibility — when the show’s television ratings aren’t doing well, he’s the first person WWE looks at. And according to D’Angelo, that’s part of the pressure nobody really tells you about until you’re holding the championship.
During an appearance on the Battleground Podcast, D’Angelo was asked what he learned about being NXT Champion after winning the title at Stand & Deliver. That’s when he explained that the job involves a lot more than defending the championship. The person holding the title is expected to carry the brand, and that apparently includes answering for the show’s television numbers. D’Angelo admitted that being champion was far more stressful than he expected because everything eventually comes back to the person at the top.
“Uh, you know, well a lot comes with it. Um you’re you’re the guy you know what I mean? The brand is on your shoulders. You know you’re the at the forefront of everything at commercials, media, uh you know all this stuff. And it it’s a lot more stressful because, you know, I’m trying to be PC here, but um crap rolls downhill.”
He then got straight to the issue of television ratings, explaining that when NXT isn’t delivering the numbers WWE wants, he’s the person who gets looked at first.
“So, uh you know, if the show’s not, you know, doing numbers or whatever, who’s the first person they look at? It’s me.”
That’s a pretty revealing admission from someone who actually held the championship. D’Angelo didn’t say WWE executives directly blamed him for every disappointing rating, but he certainly made it clear that the responsibility landed on his shoulders whenever the show’s numbers weren’t where they needed to be. Despite that pressure, D’Angelo said he understood why WWE expected so much from him. He specifically mentioned Shawn Michaels and the confidence NXT management had in his ability to handle the position.
“So, which is fine, you know, and I appreciate Sean and everybody, you know, telling me that, you know, my shoulders are strong enough to to carry it and that’s why they did that and that’s why I won. So, I’m okay with that. But, for sure, there’s a lot that goes on uh that you don’t really know until you’re champion.”
The revelation raises an interesting question about how much responsibility WWE puts on the wrestlers at the top of NXT. Television ratings are influenced by everything from creative decisions and storylines to the overall presentation of the show, yet D’Angelo says the champion is the first person under scrutiny when those numbers aren’t performing. D’Angelo might have accepted that responsibility, but his comments make it clear that carrying the NXT Championship isn’t just about being the top wrestler on Tuesday nights. When WWE’s television numbers aren’t meeting expectations, the person wearing the title can find themselves answering for a problem that’s much bigger than any single wrestler.
Do you think WWE is putting too much pressure on its NXT Champion when television ratings are low, or should the top star be held responsible for the show’s performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
