Tony D'Angelo Set For WWE Main Roster? (WWE News)

Former NXT North American Champion is the latest name rumoured for post-WrestleMania shake-up.

by Michael Sidgwick
Tony D'Angelo
WWE

Following yesterday's news, in which it was reported that Trick Williams and Lola Vice are potentially set for main roster call-ups, another name has been discussed within the promotion to make the jump to the WWE roster proper. This is according to Cory Hays of BodySlam and PWN Reports.

That name is Tony D'Angelo, whose crime 'Family' is on the verge of a split in an ongoing NXT storyline. D'Angelo made his NXT debut, after a series of vignettes, on the October 5, 2021 edition of the show formerly known as NXT 2.0.

'Tony D' evolved into one of the most featured acts in developmental, capturing the Heritage Cup, NXT Tag Team and North American championships. He also competed for the NXT title at last year's Stand & Deliver Premium Live Event in a well-received losing effort to then-champion Ilja Dragunov. Much expense has been invested into the push; in addition to his decorated in-ring run, D'Angelo's mob boss character, flanked by a stable, is often presented in cinematic segments with custom sets.

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You'd think, then, that D'Angelo will receive similarly committed booking on either Raw or SmackDown - but there might be a catch...

Opinion - The Tony D'Angelo Character Might Require a Tweak

Tony D'Angelo NXT North American Title
WWE.com

The WWE main roster is very different to the NXT TV show. There, the Tony D'Angelo character is presented in a more heightened setting that operates with significantly less real-world logic. No less than two wrestlers have been killed off by the Family - or at least, that was the heavy implication. Beyond the introduction of the Wyatt Sicks last year, this is something that simply does not happen in the more conventional fictional world booked by Paul Levesque.

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Since it is implausible that WWE will alter that to accommodate a developmental call-up, if the rumour is true, D'Angelo will likely deal more in intimidation tactics and general thuggery than murder - if he isn't repackaged outright.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!