Tommaso Ciampa made his first appearance on AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, marking a significant career move following the conclusion of his long WWE contract. Ciampa immediately issued a challenge to Mark Briscoe, answering the TNT Championship Open Challenge and securing a title match scheduled for Saturday at AEW Collision.
Background on Ciampa’s Wrestling Career
On January 21, Ciampa announced on X that his WWE contract was nearing its end. He initially joined WWE in 2015 and gained prominence as part of the tag team DIY with Johnny Gargano in NXT. Together, they captured the NXT Tag Team Championships, with Ciampa also winning the NXT Championship on two occasions. Upon moving to WWE’s SmackDown, the team continued their success, becoming two-time WWE Tag Team Champions.
Ciampa’s last WWE match took place on December 15, where he teamed with Gargano in a loss to Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov.
Connection Between Ciampa and Mark Briscoe
The 40-year-old Ciampa is no stranger to facing Mark Briscoe, having crossed paths multiple times during their shared period in Ring of Honor before Ciampa’s WWE tenure. Briscoe is currently defending his TNT Championship, having successfully retained the title in a recent match against El Clon.
Upcoming AEW Collision Title Match and Its Importance
With Ciampa’s transition to AEW and his challenge for the TNT Championship, fans can expect a high-stakes encounter at AEW Collision this weekend. This debut not only spotlights Ciampa’s move to a new wrestling promotion but also sets the stage for potential new rivalries and storylines within AEW.
— Tommaso Ciampa (@CiampaWWE) January 21, 2026
