Tony D’Angelo Retains NXT Championship Against Naraku at Great American Bash

Tony D’Angelo walked into Great American Bash as NXT Champion and walked out the same way, successfully defending his title against Naraku in the opening match of the event on Sunday.

The match got off to a wild start, with D’Angelo sending Naraku crashing through a wall on the outside early in the contest. From there, the two traded momentum in a back-and-forth affair before D’Angelo ultimately secured a clean victory to hold onto the gold.

Opening a major NXT event with a championship match is a statement move, and D’Angelo delivered. The Don of NXT has been one of the brand’s most compelling figures, blending his old-school mob boss character work with increasingly polished in-ring performances. Using him as the curtain-jerker for a premium live event signals the confidence WWE has in him to set the tone for the night.

Naraku, meanwhile, had positioned himself as a credible challenger heading in, and the competitive nature of the match suggests his stock hasn’t taken a significant hit from the loss. A hard-hitting, wall-breaking opener that goes the distance tends to leave both performers looking strong regardless of the result.

With the title defense now in the books, attention will turn to who steps up next to challenge D’Angelo. The NXT landscape is packed with hungry contenders, and whoever emerges as the next challenger will have their work cut out for them against a champion who just proved he can go.