Just days after his WWE contract ended, Tommaso Ciampa has officially joined All Elite Wrestling and is set to make his in-ring debut on AEW Collision this Saturday. The former NXT Champion revealed that his decision to leave WWE had been developing over time, motivated by AEW’s creative environment and the enthusiasm surrounding the company.
Ciampa explained to SI’s Takedown that as his contract was nearing its end, conversations about his future naturally took place. Reflecting on wrestling history, he noted how different eras favored certain promotions—ECW in the ’90s, Ring of Honor in the early 2000s, and for him personally, NXT in the 2010s. Looking at the current landscape in the 2020s, AEW stood out as the promotion he wanted to join.
Supported by his wife and daughter, Ciampa made his AEW debut announcement on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, declaring himself as Mark Briscoe’s next opponent for the TNT Championship while embracing his “Psycho Killer” persona. He credited AEW CEO Tony Khan and the team for their warm welcome, noting how music producer Mikey Lucas created his new theme song in just 36 hours. This collaborative atmosphere and AEW’s passionate fanbase convinced Ciampa that AEW was the perfect place for the next chapter in his career.
Fan Take: This signing is a huge boost for AEW fans, as Ciampa’s unique style and star power add fresh excitement to the promotion’s roster. It also signals AEW’s growing appeal as a creative haven for top talent, potentially shaping the future of professional wrestling.
