When NXT started rolling out introductory videos for Tony D’Angelo, an Italian-American from Chicago whose family has interests in the waste management business, many an eye was rolled. Some probably even exclaimed, “oof, Madon’!” But when the amateur wrestler from the University of Buffalo debuted with a win over Malik Blade on the Oct. 5 episode, Tony welcomed quite a few people into his fan family.

It wasn’t just his co-workers, either. Tony D had folks all over the wrestle web using the pinched fingers emoji. Some of the appreciation is ironic, I’m sure. Part of it is tied to a wave of Sopranos hype, with people discovering or revisiting the iconic series during the pandemic just before HBO dropped a prequel movie last week.