The development of WWE talent has become more dynamic, with wrestling legends like The Undertaker, John Cena, and CM Punk now offering mentorship to the “NXT” roster. Tony D’Angelo, the current NXT North American Champion, recently discussed the valuable advice he received from Cena and Punk during an interview with MuscleManMalcolm.
D’Angelo mentioned that Cena addressed the entire roster, offering guidance based on his years of experience at the top of the industry. “Cena came in and talked to everyone, sharing some good advice,” D’Angelo recalled.
He also shared how CM Punk, when available, spends time at NXT watching matches and offering feedback. D’Angelo highlighted Punk’s advice on handling the pressures of social media.
“Punk told me, ‘Don’t look at social media. When you’re in the spotlight, people will say a lot of nasty stuff — in comments, DMs, wherever,'” D’Angelo explained.
Many wrestlers opt to limit their presence on social media due to its toxic environment. While D’Angelo admitted he hasn’t faced the same level of negativity as Punk, he stressed the importance of not letting online criticism affect one’s focus.
“I think at some point, I might get annoyed with it,” D’Angelo said. “But the big takeaway is that social media is just noise from people you’ll never meet, and their opinions don’t matter. They’re not paying your bills. What really matters is what your boss thinks.”
D’Angelo’s reflections highlight the mental challenges that come with fame in professional wrestling and emphasize the importance of focusing on the opinions that truly matter.
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