Former WWE star Tommaso Ciampa is returning to independent wrestling for the first time since 2016. After recently parting ways with WWE, Ciampa made his debut in AEW and quickly solidified his place by winning the TNT Championship with a victory over Mark Brisco on the January 31 episode of AEW Collision.
It has now been announced that Ciampa will be making his first solo appearance in AAW Wrestling since his last match there in 2016. AAW confirmed on Twitter that Ciampa will appear at their 22nd anniversary event, EPIC, on March 20th at the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois. This marks a significant return, as his previous AAW bout was against Pentagon Jr. for the heavyweight title back in 2016.
Ciampa ended his WWE tenure after his contract expired, having had a successful run that included two NXT Championship reigns and tag team gold alongside Johnny Gargano. His move to AEW and subsequent involvement in the independent circuit signals a new chapter in his wrestling career.
Fan Take: Tommaso Ciampa’s shift to AEW and his return to the independents inject fresh excitement into the scene, offering fans thrilling matchups outside mainstream wrestling. His presence boosts AEW’s reputation for attracting top talent and could inspire more former WWE stars to explore alternative promotions, enriching the sport overall.
