Summary

Tony D’Angelo said Shawn Michaels, Matt Bloom, Terry Taylor, and Fit Finlay were key supporters during his time away from NXT television in 2025.

D’Angelo returned at NXT Deadline 2025 after being off TV since that summer. Ahead of Stand & Deliver 2026, he reflected on that period during an appearance on TMZ’s *Inside The Ring* podcast.

He is now set for a Fatal 4-Way NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver against champion Joe Hendry, Ethan Page, and Ricky Saints. The four are also scheduled for a contract signing on the March 31 episode of NXT at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Quote from Tony D’Angelo

"The list of people that helped me through that time, it’s a long list. But, Shawn Michaels was a big component in that. Matt Bloom, Terry Taylor, Fit Finlay. All of those dudes are in my corner… It feels good when you have those type of people rooting for you and making sure you’re good and getting in your ear saying the right things, making sure that you’re on the right path and you know, I am who I am and they helped me remember who I was."

Tony D’Angelo’s Stand & Deliver Position

D’Angelo entering Stand & Deliver with public backing from top NXT decision-makers reinforces that he remains a featured name in the NXT title picture, and not just a one-off return story.

With a contract signing set for March 31 before the Fatal 4-Way, NXT has a built-in segment to escalate D’Angelo’s rivalry with Joe Hendry, Ethan Page, and Ricky Saints heading into the championship match.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.