Tag: Tommaso Ciampa

Tommaso Ciampa Makes AEW Debut On Dynamite

The “Psycho Killer” Tommaso Ciampa is officially All Elite.

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite closed with a moment few fans expected so soon, as Ciampa made his surprise debut for the company and immediately set his sights on championship gold. The former WWE standout appeared moments after Mark Briscoe successfully defended the TNT Championship against El Clon, turning what seemed like a routine post-match segment into a major talking point.

After retaining the title, Briscoe grabbed a microphone and announced an open challenge for this weekend’s AEW Collision. That’s when the arena lights dropped. When they came back on, an unknown video graphic and theme music played, then Ciampa appeared on the entrance stage, drawing a loud reaction from the crowd. The two men locked eyes in a tense staredown in the ring, and it didn’t take long before AEW made it official — Ciampa vs. Briscoe for the TNT Championship is set for Saturday night’s AEW Collision.

The debut comes just days after Ciampa’s WWE departure became official. Earlier this week, his profile was quietly moved to WWE’s alumni section, ending an 11-year run with the company that began in 2015. While there had been speculation about where Ciampa might land next, AEW wasted no time positioning him as a serious player.

Ciampa leaves WWE with an impressive résumé. He is a two-time NXT Champion and held tag team gold multiple times alongside longtime rival-turned-partner Johnny Gargano as part of #DIY. Their run together defined an era of NXT, with Ciampa carving out a reputation as one of the brand’s most intense and compelling performers.

Now, Ciampa steps into a new environment with immediate momentum and a title opportunity waiting for him. Whether his AEW run becomes a short-term shockwave or the start of something long-term, his debut has already added another layer of intrigue to AEW’s ever-evolving roster — and Saturday’s Collision just became must-see television.

Report: Tommaso Ciampa Set to Exit WWE as Contract Nears Expiration

Tommaso Ciampa’s run with WWE appears to be nearing its end, as a new report has added important context to his current contract situation.

As previously noted over the weekend, Ciampa’s WWE deal is expected to expire soon and is not believed to be renewed. While initial reports were light on details, the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio has clarified that the decision was likely Ciampa’s to make.

According to the report, Ciampa informed WWE roughly five weeks ago that he would not be renewing his contract. At this time, there’s no indication that WWE pushed him out, with the choice said to have come from Ciampa himself. The specific reasons behind his decision have not been made public.

In recent weeks, WWE programming has subtly reflected Ciampa’s absence. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae have continued appearing on SmackDown without him, including during last week’s episode, signaling a possible creative shift ahead of his reported departure.

Ciampa has yet to comment publicly on the situation, and there is no information regarding where he may land next. If this does mark the end of his WWE tenure, it would close the book on an accomplished run. Ciampa is a former two-time NXT World Champion, a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a former NXT Tag Team Champion, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures of the black-and-gold NXT era.

His most recent WWE appearance came on the December 19 episode of SmackDown. As Ciampa’s contract situation continues to develop, fans will be watching closely to see what the next chapter holds for “The Blackheart.”

#DIY Make Shocking NXT Return, Celebrate 10 Years With WWE

The black-and-gold brand got a huge blast of nostalgia this week as #DIY — the beloved duo of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa — made a surprise return to NXT. The reunion wasn’t just a homecoming, though. It turned into a heated confrontation with none other than TNA World Champion Trick Williams.

Williams, who’s now held the TNA World Title for over 100 days, has been boasting nonstop about being the top star to ever set foot in NXT. Even after coming up short in a recent bid to earn a shot at Je’Von Evans’ NXT Championship, he continued to hype himself as “untouchable” in the brand’s history. During this week’s promo, he even admitted that he didn’t care much about NXT anymore, claiming he’ll have the same mindset once he gets to the main roster.

That’s when the music hit — and out came Gargano and Ciampa to mark their 10-year anniversary with WWE. The two reminded Williams of their own championship accolades, stacking up their resumes against his. Ciampa, a two-time NXT Champion, and Gargano, a record-setting three-time North American Champion, made it clear that Williams still has plenty to prove before he can lay claim to being the best NXT has ever seen.

The war of words quickly broke down into action, and fans got the payoff they were waiting for. #DIY stood tall to close the segment, dropping the TNA World Champion with their signature tandem superkick.

With #DIY back in the mix — at least for now — and Trick Williams continuing to stir the pot, NXT could be on the verge of one of its most intriguing cross-promotional feuds in years.

Johnny Gargano Returns, Reunites With Tommaso Ciampa Against Imperium On WWE Raw

At long last, Tommaso Ciampa has found Johnny Gargano — and all he had to do was catch a group beating from Imperium to make it happen.

After searching high and low for Gargano for months on end to no avail, Ciampa was reunited with his former DIY tag team partner/arch nemesis at the end of Monday’s “WWE Raw.” Gargano hit the ring to fend off Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci from beating Ciampa to a pulp following his unsuccessful Intercontinental Championship challenge against GUNTHER, as the champion casually waltzed away while his minions put the boots to the challenger.

But then Gargano’s music hit, and the former “NXT” Champion saved the day, warding off Kaiser and setting up for Meeting In the Middle, and the reunion was finally complete (though, in a matter of unfortunate timing, “Raw” faded to black before they could hit their finishing move).

Ciampa and Gargano, as DIY, won the “NXT” Tag Team Championships together at “NXT” TakeOver: Toronto in 2016, defeating The Revival (now known as reigning AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR) in a two-out-of-three-falls match. The pair would split less than a year later, when Ciampa attacked Gargano following a loss to The Authors of Pain, and they’d go on to feud for the better part of the next year. They’d reunite to make their debuts on both “Raw” and “Smackdown,” but that was short-lived. It wasn’t until Monday night that the two seemed back together, full time, and ready to shake up the tag team division on the main roster.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tommaso Ciampa Says NXT’s Imminent Revamp Is ‘Exciting’

Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is ready to say goodbye to the black and gold by embracing the upcoming changes to WWE’s developmental brand.

Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is looking forward to the upcoming changes to WWE’s developmental brand and thinks the whole thing is ‘exciting’.

Ciampa was chatting to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp when he revealed that he’s looking forward to seeing what the revamped NXT looks like.

“It’s exciting, man,” Ciampa said. “Change sometimes is for the best, and I don’t know, everyone’s been kind of keeping a tight lid on it, so I really just don’t know what to expect,” he added. The NXT stalwart then provided some details regarding when fans can expect to see the changes take effect. “I think the first live show is gonna be the 14th, I believe, if I’m not incorrect, with whatever this new look and image is,” he revealed.

Ciampa confessed that while he and his colleagues are excited, they’re not necessarily expecting the changes to be too drastic at first because the roster will be the same.

“The overall feeling seems to just be excitement, you know, it’s new, it’s different, it’s fresh. And at the same time, it’s the same. Because NXT is NXT, man, and it’s the same roster, same group of guys and girls in the back, they’re just gonna go out there and give their best,” he said. “It’s the same people behind the scenes, so it’s like, I don’t know. It’s hard to say right now, if it’s just a new paint job or what it is, but it’s exciting at the very least.”

As we previously reported, WWE’s president Nick Khan recently confirmed that revamp of WWE’s developmental system was imminent. Last Friday, the new logo and theme song for the revamped NXT were revealed by rapper Wale on social media.

Source: TheSportster

Tommaso Ciampa Returns To NXT Following Neck Injury

Tommaso Ciampa made his highly-anticipated return to NXT on last night.

The former NXT Champion resurfaced in dramatic fashion this evening following the conclusion of the main event tag team title match – which ended due to interference from Roderick Strong.

Adam Cole hit the stage after the match was over to congratulate his stablemates, when suddenly Ciampa’s music and the Blackheart stared him down as the show came to a close.

Ciampa was forced to relinquish the NXT Championship (a.k.a., Goldie) after undergoing anterior cervical fusion surgery back in March. He was then replaced in main event of NXT TakeOver: New York by Adam Cole, who lost to Johnny Gargano in a two-out-of-three falls match for the vacant title.

Tommaso Ciampa Has Resumed Training Following Neck Surgery

It’s only been a little over a month since Tommaso Ciampa underwent neck surgery, but the former NXT champ has already resumed training.

Ciampa shared footage of his workout on Wednesday and wrote:

Day 48 post op cervical fusion. I am still at a 5 pound max on most lifts. Thanks to @tarahalaby for this burner. Use constant tension squeezing the ball against the wall with a neutral spine. 20 reps overhead, 20 reps lateral raise, 20 reps front raise. Great for recruiting stabilization muscles throughout the traps and neck.

As we previously reported, Tommaso had to undergo anterior cervical fusion surgery in March.

Watch the workout video below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwpwlNmngk4/?utm_source=ig_embed

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Tommaso Ciampa Says He Was Told He’d Be On “Borrowed Time” If He Returns To The Ring

Tommaso Ciampa took to Twitter today and revealed that doctors told him he will be on “borrowed time” if he returns to the ring from his recent neck surgery.

Ciampa revealed the bad news when reflecting on how he will be missing the WWE NXT TakeOver: New York” event next Friday night in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. As noted, the plan was for Ciampa to defend his title against Johnny Gargano in the TakeOver main event, but Ciampa was forced to undergo neck surgery and relinquish the title. Gargano will now face Adam Cole in a 2 of 3 Falls match for the vacant NXT Title at TakeOver.

Ciampa said the match at TakeOver meant more to him than anyone will ever understand. “The opportunity was taken away from me,” he added.

There’s still no official word on when Ciampa will return to the ring but it was noted in the recent NXT TV video package, seen above, that it takes most people up to a full year to recover from the operation he had.

You can read Ciampa’s full statement below:

“In May of 2017 they told me that no one has ever had 3 major surgeries in a 12 week span and returned at a competitive level.I returned to the most successful run of my career.

This week I should be preparing to walk into the main event of TakeOver New York on Wrestlemania weekend as the NXT Champion. This match meant more to me than anyone will ever understand.

The opportunity was taken away from me.

In March of 2019 they told me that if I return then I will be on borrowed time.

To be continued…”

https://twitter.com/ProjectCiampa/status/1112716777392431104

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces Neck Surgery For Tommaso Ciampa, Update On A Possible Recovery Time

WWE has confirmed that WWE NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa will undergo neck surgery on today.

WWE noted that Ciampa was evaluated today and it was determined that he needs an anterior cervical fusion. The typical recovery time for that kind of operation looks to be 3-6 months, but they will have a better idea of his return once the surgery has been completed.

As noted earlier, via Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Ciampa was expected to be out of action for a long time, perhaps as long as 6-14 months.

It’s likely that he will have to vacate the NXT Title at next Wednesday’s NXT TV tapings at Full Sail University. Ciampa has been pulled from all WWE events and signings or appearances. Ciampa originally planned to work through the injury to face Johnny Gargano at “Takeover: New York” during WrestleMania 35 weekend, then take time off, but the situation apparently got much worse in the last week and the surgery must be done now.

Below is WWE’s announcement on the surgery:

NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa to undergo neck surgeryNXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa will undergo neck surgery tomorrow, WWE.com has confirmed.

Following a medical evaluation today, Ciampa has been scheduled for an anterior cervical fusion.

Stick with WWE.com for more details as they become available.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tommaso Ciampa To Undergo Neck Surgery, Set To Be Out Of Action “For A Long, Long Time”

Last month, reports surfaced of NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is currently dealing with a neck injury that has forced him out of some appearances outside of WWE and even caused a re-write for RAW two weeks ago. Along with Johnny Gargano, the duo was initially scheduled to be involved in a Fatal 4-Way tag match, but were instead taken off the show completely.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, it’s being reported that Ciampa is going to have neck surgery in the next couple of days. He’s not going to be in the ring for a “long, long time,” but the exact amount of time wasn’t known at this point. Dave Meltzer speculated – based on the history of neck surgeries – that Ciampa could be out anywhere from 6 to 14 months.

Ciampa will have to vacate the title and the expected TakeOver: New York match between him and Gargano obviously won’t happen either. WWE had originally hoped Ciampa could work through the injury to get by WrestleMania weekend, but things have worsened in the past week to change that plan.

Stories leading to TakeOver: New York most likely will be adjusted on next Wednesday’s NXT TV tapings.

Source: Wrestling Inc.