Tony D’Angelo’s Night Ends in Arrest

Posted by admin on January 21st, 2026

Tony D’Angelo’s Night Ends in Arrest – The January 20 episode of NXT continued to focus heavily on the future of the NXT Championship, keeping the vacant title at the center of the show.

The situation began earlier this month when Oba Femi left the championship in the ring after successfully defending it against Leon Slater. Since then, NXT has shifted toward determining a new champion, while also weaving in growing chaos surrounding Tony D’Angelo.

To crown the next NXT Champion, the brand introduced a series of qualifying matches that will determine the six participants in a ladder match. The winner of that match will walk away as the new champion. Ricky Saints was already announced as an automatic entrant due to his status as the final champion before Oba Femi, but two more names were added during the January 20 episode.

The first qualifying match saw Josh Briggs face Shiloh Hill. The bout was competitive and physical, with both men pushing to earn a spot in the ladder match. In the end, Hill, the winner of LFG season two, defeated Briggs to advance. The match itself had a clear winner, but the moment was quickly overshadowed. Tony D’Angelo appeared immediately afterward and attacked both competitors, making his presence felt without explanation.

Later in the show, another qualifier took place as “Super” Sean Legacy went one-on-one with Eli Knight. Both wrestlers were making their first appearances as officially contracted NXT talent after being called up from EVOLVE. The match served as an early test for each man, with Legacy ultimately securing the victory and qualifying for the ladder match.

As with the earlier qualifier, Tony D’Angelo once again inserted himself into the situation. He attacked both Legacy and Knight following the match, continuing his silent campaign of disruption. This time, the situation escalated further. Ava appeared with police officers, and D’Angelo calmly allowed himself to be placed in handcuffs and escorted away without saying a word.

With qualifying matches still to come and Tony D’Angelo’s actions creating uncertainty, the NXT Championship picture remains unpredictable. NXT is clearly placing strong emphasis on the importance of the title, giving the storyline time and attention as it builds toward the eventual ladder match. As more competitors qualify, the question remains not only who will win the championship, but how D’Angelo’s role may continue to impact the outcome.