A bitter feud between former allies Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo has been made official for WWE NXT Battleground, culminating months of escalating tension within The D’Angelo Family.
The confrontation stems from Stacks’ shocking betrayal of his longtime boss during the NXT Stand & Deliver event on April 19. During a crucial six-man tag team match against DarkState, Lorenzo sabotaged D’Angelo with a low blow, causing The D’Angelo Family to lose the contest and effectively fracturing the once-dominant faction.
In the aftermath, D’Angelo confronted his former right-hand man on NXT programming, expressing disbelief at the betrayal. “You waited for the biggest stage to turn on me,” D’Angelo declared, challenging Stacks to “take the top seat” if he wanted it.
Lorenzo responded through video messages, claiming D’Angelo had grown “soft” and blaming his leadership for the family’s recent struggles. The fallout has left other D’Angelo Family members in disarray, with Luca Crusifino missing and Adriana Rizzo reportedly in hiding.
The singles match at NXT Battleground will determine whether Stacks can back up his claim as the rightful new “Don” or if D’Angelo will extract revenge on his former protégé. The bout represents the climax of one of NXT’s most personal feuds in recent memory, with years of partnership dissolved by ambition and resentment.
NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 25, 2025.