WWE NXT Champion Tony D'Angelo Calls Chicago Bears' Indiana Relocation Plan 'Bonkers'

WWE NXT champion Tony D'Angelo, an Oak Park, Illinois native and vocal Chicago Bears supporter, reacted with sharp frustration to the franchise's push to relocate to Hammond, Indiana, calling the prospect "bonkers" and branding the theoretical "Indiana Bears" name "horrible." The Bears took a concrete step toward the Hammond move earlier this month, drawing backlash from fans — and now from one of professional wrestling's most prominent Midwest voices.

A Historic Brand on the Line

D'Angelo told Fox News Digital he understood the financial calculus behind a relocation — taxes, stadium economics, the appeal of a new facility — but said crossing the state line entirely was a step too far. He drew a distinction between moving to Arlington Heights, which he called relatively close to the city, and an outright departure from Illinois. "I get it but I don't," he said, framing the Bears as one of the NFL's oldest and most historically significant franchises. The team's identity, in his view, cannot be separated from its geography.

Bears executives have described a potential Hammond stadium as a "world-class" venue that would connect Northwest Indiana and the South Side of Chicago through the Loop, extending to neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city.

Identity Over Infrastructure

For D'Angelo, the lakefront setting is the product. He pointed to the atmosphere of games on Lake Michigan — the scene, the history, the physical location — as irreplaceable assets the organization would be discarding. Now based in Florida, he acknowledged attending fewer games in person but said the emotional and civic weight of the franchise's Chicago identity remains intact for fans regardless of geography. "The Indiana Bears?" he said. "That is just horrible. It doesn't sound right."

Williams, Johnson, and the 2026 Test

Despite his stadium frustration, D'Angelo expressed measured confidence in the Bears' on-field direction. He called the 2026 season a referendum on the franchise under quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson, citing the team's demonstrated resilience — including winning multiple games in prior-season situations where they trailed in the final two minutes. He acknowledged persistent fan skepticism born from the Bears' history of brief upturns followed by regression, but said Williams' poise and Johnson's coaching had given him genuine faith.

D'Angelo defends the NXT Championship against Naraku at The Great American Bash, airing on the CW Network.

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