Tony D’Angelo says speech therapy followed NXT ‘Don’ character change

Tony D’Angelo told the Battleground Podcast — as reported by F4WOnline — that he pursued speech therapy after stepping away from his Don Family gimmick on NXT. He said the change required retraining his delivery and toning down an accent to fit a harder-edged, more serious in-ring persona.

D’Angelo described several deliberate changes to his presentation. He said he worked on his speech to avoid slipping back into the previous accent, stopped wearing his signature suits to differentiate from the Don character, and has tried to demonstrate he can be both a character performer and a straight-up tough competitor.

On the podcast, D’Angelo said he spoke with Mark Henry about showing versatility — that he can handle theatrical elements when needed but can also play a more physical role. He added that those adjustments were intended to show officials what he’s capable of and leave booking decisions to management.

The Don Family gimmick was introduced in 2022 with D’Angelo alongside Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan. D’Angelo used the interview to reflect on that era and the subsequent evolution of his character on NXT.

He also commented on the current NXT landscape, noting an influx of experienced talent has raised the level of competition on the brand. The remarks were made on the Battleground Podcast and covered by F4WOnline.