Tony D’Angelo has been in NXT for five years, and despite building one of the brand’s longest-running acts, he’s still waiting for the call to RAW or SmackDown. According to a new backstage report, that may not be a coincidence.
Speaking during a Self Made Session, Self Made Pro revealed that the biggest reason Tony D’Angelo hasn’t made the jump to WWE’s main roster is due to the fact that Triple H was never sold on the character.
“The reason why Tony D hasn’t been called up is because Triple H doesn’t think much of him, or he didn’t in the old gimmick. He didn’t care for the mafia gimmick and beyond. He’s been in NXT for five years.”
That report offers a very different perspective from what D’Angelo himself has been saying publicly. Earlier this month, the former NXT Champion made it clear that his goal is still to reach the main roster and eventually become WWE Champion. He also said he’d love to become the first wrestler to complete a Grand Slam across both NXT and WWE’s main roster.
So far, though, that opportunity hasn’t come. D’Angelo has remained one of NXT’s most recognizable stars, but while plenty of names have come and gone over the past five years, he’s continued to stay put.
Whether Triple H’s opinion has changed since D’Angelo evolved beyond the early version of his character remains to be seen. Either way, if this report is accurate, it could explain why one of NXT’s longest-tenured stars is still waiting for the call while others have already made the jump.
Do you think Tony D’Angelo deserves a shot on WWE’s main roster, or is NXT still the right place for him? Let us know 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.
