Even with NXT’s growth, many fans still see it as WWE’s developmental brand. This infuriates a current NXT star. Tony D’Angelo is tired of hearing this particular talking point.
One reason is the idea of call-ups. For years, NXT stars have worked toward moving to RAW or SmackDown. Because of that, many fans view NXT as a stepping stone rather than the final destination. Moreover, NXT is also closely connected to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, where wrestlers train and hone their skills before reaching bigger stages.
Over the years, even some WWE personalities have referred to NXT as a developmental system. This has reinforced that image among fans.
Tony D’Angelo calls out inconsistent fan narratives about NXT
D’Angelo believes NXT deserves to be viewed alongside RAW and SmackDown as WWE’s third major brand.
Speaking with Complex Graps, D’Angelo shared how proud he and the rest of the NXT roster are to represent the brand. He said fans often change their opinion depending on the situation. When NXT delivers a great show, it’s called the third brand. But when something doesn’t land, people quickly go back to calling it developmental.
“I take a lot of pride in it and I know the rest of my co-workers take a lot of pride in… It’s annoying sometimes because people pick and choose when to call it developmental and when to call it the third brand,” D’Angelo said.
D’Angelo said he fully believes NXT is WWE’s third brand. Moreover, he feels many people within the company see it the same way.
“I see it, the rest of my co-workers, I know Shawn Michaels sees it as a third brand because that’s just what it is. ‘Oh, we had an off week or there was a bad match, see that’s why it’s developmental,’ it’s just all BS and it’s all just noise,” he said.
Instead of worrying about that criticism, Tony D’Angelo says the roster stays focused on putting on the best show possible and helping NXT continue to grow.
“We’re gonna keep doing our thing. We’re gonna keep continuing to represent WWE and NXT as a whole in a positive way. Just keep chugging along. All the people that say negative stuff, it’s just noise. Who cares. We have a goal in mind and we’re gonna continue to do that,” he added.
Technically, NXT remains part of WWE’s developmental system. But as Tony D’Angelo pointed out, its reach, presentation, and importance make it feel like much more than just a training ground.
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