Tommaso Ciampa recently shared his thoughts and feelings about his debut on AEW Dynamite. After his departure from WWE was confirmed earlier this week, Ciampa quickly aligned himself with AEW and is set to make his first appearance on this week’s Dynamite episode. During an interview with SHAK Wrestling, he expressed the intense anxiety he experienced before his debut, despite having wrestled many lengthy main events in the past.
Ciampa explained, “I felt a huge sense of relief. The nervousness before this match was unlike anything I’ve experienced, even compared to my 30 to 45-minute main events in the past. I kept thinking, ‘I hope they care.'” He reflected on hearing others say things like, “I wish they remembered me,” or “I wish they cared about me,” and admitted feeling those same thoughts while waiting quietly with his wife and child in a secluded locker room.
He described the moment as surprisingly peaceful, without the usual match-day stress or promotional distractions, allowing him to fully absorb the atmosphere. Ciampa noted that when the Psycho Killer theme played—a persona he hasn’t publicly used in 12 years—he was deeply moved, feeling a powerful connection with about 30% of the crowd who recognized it. The response he received after his debut, both online and from fellow wrestlers and fans, was overwhelmingly positive, which he found almost unbelievable given the typical 50/50 reception wrestlers often get.
Ciampa’s AEW debut is scheduled for tomorrow night at Collision, where he will challenge Mark Brisco for the TNT Championship.
Fan Take:
Tommaso Ciampa’s move to AEW is a significant moment that brings fresh energy and storytelling potential to the promotion. His honest reflection on the emotional weight of starting anew resonates deeply with fans, marking a promising new chapter not only for Ciampa but also for the growth and excitement of professional wrestling as a whole.
