Tony D’Angelo expects mind games from Naraku ahead of NXT title match

Tony D’Angelo has held the WWE NXT Championship for a few months. His next title defense at The Great American Bash could be his toughest yet.

Naraku arrived in NXT in May and said he planned to win the title. He earned the No. 1 contender spot by beating fellow newcomer Mason Rook. D’Angelo and Naraku will meet for the championship on June 28.

D’Angelo told Fox News Digital that Naraku handed him the match contract unsigned. D’Angelo signed it but was told he would have to wait for Naraku to sign.

“I mean, kinda. But I also took it as he might be second-guessing himself,” D’Angelo said. “He might be a little afraid of Tony D. He doesn’t know himself if he wants to step in the ring with me, yet. Yeah, that’s a possibility.”

D’Angelo said he expected Naraku to come after him right away. Naraku previously wrestled in New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the name Evil. He was the IWGP heavyweight champion, IWGP intercontinental champion and a four-time Never openweight champion.

“I’ll just say I’m not surprised. He came in from Japan. I don’t think he would make that long trek just to hang out. Of course, he’s gonna come for the big dog,” D’Angelo said. “I get it. To be expected, but the thing that threw me off, I’ll be honest, is the whole, oh he was trying to protect me and my title. I didn’t quite understand it but after going home and thinking about it, I was like, OK, this is just mind games.”

D’Angelo said the unsigned contract raised more questions. “I’m not quite sold on that yet, especially this past Tuesday where he brought me to his place of business and went to sign a contract and he hadn’t even signed it himself, which … sketch,” he said. “We’ll see. He said next week, in due time. So, I got my head on a swivel, to say the least.”

D’Angelo said he expects interference because Naraku was part of the House of Torture stable. D’Angelo said he once led a group in NXT and knows how such tactics work. He challenged Naraku to prove he can win without help.

“Absolutely,” D’Angelo said when asked about possible interference. “I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that happens. Like I said, this isn’t new to me. I have a past life. I used to be the boss of a family and maybe, I was a part of some shenanigans like that a time or two. I’d be a fool not to expect that. I’m fully aware of his little minions that he had in his past life. I’m expecting the unexpected.”

Other matches set for The Great American Bash include Lola Vice defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Kendal Grey, Myles Borne defending the NXT North American Championship against Tavion Heights, Wren Sinclair defending the WWE Women’s Speed Championship and Saquon Shugars facing Dion Lennox.

The event will be the first NXT premium live event shown exclusively on the CW Network at 8 p.m. ET. D’Angelo said the move will help NXT reach more viewers.

“I think it’s great. Like you said, it’s the first ever PLE on the CW Network,” D’Angelo said. “We’ll be reaching a larger audience. I think that kind of stuff is very important for WWE but also NXT – us being the ‘third brand’ in my opinion, ‘developmental’ in others. I think it’s good to get the up and coming talent in front of as many faces as we possibly can.”