Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Tony D’Angelo Says His WWE Main-Roster Move Is a Matter of Timing
Tony D’Angelo is still in WWE’s NXT brand after five years, while some of his peers have moved to the main roster.
WWE’s main roster includes its RAW and SmackDown shows, and D’Angelo has not been called up to either.
He says watching others move ahead can be frustrating, especially when they have less experience.
NXT officials Shawn Michaels, Johnny Russo and Matt Bloom have told him his work and readiness are not the reason he has stayed in NXT.
D’Angelo says WWE chooses wrestlers based on the characters and performers its current stories need.
He plans to keep performing and improving, and he has not given a date for a possible move.
Tony D’Angelo says his WWE main-roster call-up has not happened because of timing, not poor performance or lack of readiness.
He said NXT officials Shawn Michaels, Johnny Russo and Matt Bloom reassured him about the reason.
D’Angelo said he understands that WWE looks for wrestlers who fit its creative plans at a particular moment.
He said he will keep working hard and improving while focusing on what he can control.
D’Angelo earned an NXT Championship match against Grayson Waller at Halloween Havoc after defeating Myles Borne.
- Who
- Tony D’Angelo, an NXT wrestler.
- What
- He said his main-roster call-up is a matter of timing rather than performance or readiness.
- When
- He discussed the issue during a recent appearance on Busted Open After Dark.
- Where
- WWE NXT; the interview was on Busted Open After Dark.
- Why
- WWE is looking for a particular type of performer for its current plans, D’Angelo said.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
D’Angelo debuted on NXT programming.
D’Angelo lost the NXT Championship to Grayson Waller in a fatal four-way match at NXT Heatwave.
D’Angelo defeated Myles Borne to earn an NXT Championship match against Waller at Halloween Havoc.
D’Angelo is scheduled to challenge Waller for the NXT Championship at Halloween Havoc.
- NXT debut
- October 2021
- Officials who reassured D’Angelo
- Shawn Michaels, Johnny Russo and Matt Bloom
- Previous NXT title loss
- August 30, 2026, at NXT Heatwave
- Halloween Havoc title match
- D’Angelo vs. Grayson Waller on October 31, 2026
- Busted Open After Dark appearance
- D’Angelo discussed his potential main-roster call-up
2 sources
What people are saying
It’s just a timing thing.
I’m always gonna go out there and give 150 percent. I’m never gonna half-ass anything.
But this business is unlike any other business. Some people have what they’re looking for right now, and it’s just like a circumstance thing.
So I can’t really be upset at that.