In last week’s AEW Dynamite, TNT Champion Mark Briscoe had just defended his title against EL Kron when he issued an open challenge to the Don Callis family. Suddenly, the arena darkened, and a mysterious figure emerged on the screen accompanied by eerie music labeled “psycho killer.” When the lights returned, it was revealed to be Tommaso Ciampa, surprising fans who didn’t expect the former WWE star to appear so soon. Ciampa then made his way to the ring and kissed Briscoe on the cheek, officially setting himself up as the next TNT title contender. Opinions on this unexpected development may shock you.
At AEW Collision on January 31, multiple title matches took place, including Kazuchika Okada’s successful defense of the International Title against Adam Priest and Babes of Wrath retaining the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship over Sisters of Sin. In the spotlight, Tommaso Ciampa and Mark Briscoe battled fiercely, with Ciampa securing his first AEW win and claiming the TNT Championship. According to Wrestlenomics, January 31’s Collision drew 492,000 viewers—an increase of 94% from the previous week’s 253,000 and 93% higher than the four-week average of 255,000. The show also posted a remarkable 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which is 250% higher than last week’s 0.02 and 133% above the recent four-week average of 0.03. These gains are particularly impressive given that Collision’s ratings, especially among younger viewers, had been down compared to 2025.
As for Tommaso Ciampa’s future on AEW television, it’s hard to attribute the spike in ratings solely to him since the same episode featured stars like Darby Allin, Toni Storm, and Orange Cassidy, all regulars who have been drawing viewers consistently. Nonetheless, the dramatic increase in Collision’s audience following Ciampa’s debut strongly suggests his presence is resonating with fans. His AEW debut on Dynamite was surprising, but his performance at Collision—which followed three days of rigorous preparation—added even more buzz. Supporting this, Ciampa’s arrival has sparked high interest on YouTube, with around 780,000 views at the time of writing.
In WWE, Ciampa was often underused; despite success as a multi-time NXT champion and one of the brand’s top stars, he was relegated largely to the tag team ranks on the main roster. AEW has given him a fresh start as a singles competitor, much to the delight of fans eager to see his full potential unleashed. Given his immediate impact on ratings and fan excitement, it’s likely Ciampa will remain a prominent TV figure for AEW. Whether this momentum continues remains to be seen, but it’s encouraging to witness such an overlooked talent finally receiving the recognition he deserves.
Fan Take: For WWE fans, Tommaso Ciampa’s success in AEW highlights the importance of giving talented wrestlers the opportunities they deserve, showing how underutilization can limit potential. This shakeup matters because it could inspire WWE to better nurture and showcase their own stars, ultimately benefiting the sport with more compelling and competitive storylines.
