Tony D’Angelo said Shawn Michaels, Matt Bloom and Johnny Russo have assured him that his continued stay in WWE NXT has nothing to do with a lack of readiness or the quality of his work.
D’Angelo told Busted Open After Dark that WWE has yet to find the right opportunity for him on Raw or SmackDown.
Asked by Bully Ray whether it was difficult to see talent with less time in NXT get main roster opportunities before him, D’Angelo acknowledged that it bothers him.
“I feel like that’s a natural human reaction to see somebody kind of bypass you.”
D’Angelo said he will keep giving everything he has and working to improve, even though WWE’s decisions are out of his hands. He also said he understands that other wrestlers may fit specific needs of the creative team even if they have less experience. According to D’Angelo, this is how officials have summed up the situation.
“It’s just a timing thing.”
That explanation lines up with comments Michaels made in August, also on Busted Open Radio. As Fightful reported, Michaels said at the time that D’Angelo was instrumental in carrying the NXT men’s division while the roster was rebuilt after several wrestlers were called up to Raw and SmackDown.
D’Angelo made it clear he has no intention of giving up on earning a spot on the main roster. Walking away from that goal, he said, would be disrespectful to his family, his coaches and his son.
In March, D’Angelo said he considered himself ready for an immediate main roster call-up. He has since won the NXT Championship and remained among the brand’s top names.
His next match is set for Halloween Havoc on Oct. 31, where he will face Grayson Waller for the title.