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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.
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