It was a night of mischief, mayhem, and a touch of la famiglia pride as Tony D’Angelo successfully defended his North American Championship against former ECW star Nunzio at WWE NXT’s throwback event at the legendary 2300 Arena. This wasn’t just any title defense—this was a classic NXT blend of old-school comedy, underhanded tactics, and a heartfelt salute to wrestling’s Italian heritage.
The night began with Nunzio and his partner in Italian pride, Tony Mamaluke, backstage stirring up a little friendly rivalry. D’Angelo, naturally, was ready for anything—especially if “anything” included a crowbar. Once in the ring, the Italian Stallions treated the crowd to a good-natured brawl with enough shenanigans to fill a pasta bowl. Nunzio took full advantage of D’Angelo’s family distractions outside the ring, even landing some solid hits and attempting a pin. But D’Angelo had a clever backup plan: Luca Crusifino caused a convenient referee distraction, allowing Stacks Lorenzo to “accidentally” toss D’Angelo a crowbar.
In a perfect setup, D’Angelo tossed the weapon toward Nunzio just in time for the referee to spot it. After a bit of comedic timing worthy of an old mob film, the referee took the crowbar from Nunzio, who looked hilariously guilty. D’Angelo then used the moment to hoist Nunzio for a dramatic, “prayerful” delayed chokeslam, followed by a pinfall victory.
Post-match, D’Angelo offered Nunzio a respectful embrace, saluting the man who’d paved the way for Italian wrestlers in the U.S. Joined by Stacks, Luca, and Mamaluke, D’Angelo and Nunzio shared a family moment, proving that in wrestling—and in the family business—it’s always about respect.