When Tommaso Ciampa became a free agent, he quickly decided that AEW was the promotion he wanted to join. The 40-year-old wrestler made his AEW debut just last week and seized the TNT Championship by defeating Mark Briscoe. His switch from WWE to AEW happened swiftly, but Ciampa emphasized the importance of handling his contract and negotiations properly. Only after officially becoming a free agent did he start discussions with AEW the Tuesday before his Dynamite appearance.
The Importance of Timing and Transparency in Negotiations
Ciampa explained his careful approach:
“AEW was head and shoulders where I wanted to be,”
he stated.
“I take everything pretty seriously when it comes to doing it by the book. And with my contract coming up the way it was, I was like, ‘Well, I can’t really have a conversation right now, so let me just wait this out.’”
Further, he chose to release a statement a week early to gauge reactions and validate previous rumors about his status. He said,
“I did put the statement out a week early because I wanted, one, to see what the response was online and in the industry, and two, I wanted people to go, ‘Oh, so that weird report that came out a month ago, there’s some truth to that.’ So that was definitely on purpose. When my wife and I had the conversation about what’s next, and obviously we’re done here with WWE and we’re going to move on and bet on ourselves and figure out this next chapter. A big conversation was AEW and how do I get there.”
Strategic Family Vacation Aligned with AEW Timing
Ciampa and his wife planned a family trip to Blue Hill Ranch in Texas during the week his WWE contract expired. This was no coincidence, as AEW is based in Texas, and if negotiations succeeded, he could quickly attend the AEW show nearby. Ciampa described the reasoning behind this plan:
“We started to look at where they are after my contract is up and we saw Texas. Long story short, my wife for five years now has been eyeing up Blue Hill Ranch in Texas,”
he said. “It’s like this giraffe safari where you get to have all these awesome animal experiences. And we just never had the time to come out there.
“So I was like, ‘Why don’t we just book a family vacation, and if things happen to work out and we can shock the world and show up two days later, we’re a two-hour drive away. And if it doesn’t work out, we still have this awesome family vacation.’”
Rapid Negotiations and Meeting Key Figures at AEW
The deal came together faster than Ciampa anticipated. On Tuesday, he held brief talks with QT Marshall and RD Evans, his former colleagues from ROH now working behind the scenes in AEW. Reflecting on these conversations, Ciampa said,
Image of: Tommaso Ciampa
“And sure enough, it worked out fast. Tuesday I had a couple of quick conversations with QT Marshall and RD Evans, who used to work with me in ROH. We always had great chemistry and he’s a writer now. This thing worked out extremely fast. Faster than I would have ever guessed. I met Tony [Khan] for the first time Wednesday. His passion is contagious. His love for his roster, his fanbase, for AEW is just beaming off him. So we had a very quick conversation and it just felt really right.”
Preparing for His Future in AEW as TNT Champion
Now holding the TNT Championship, Ciampa is focused on demonstrating that his current form is the best he has ever been. He is slated to defend his title on AEW Collision this Saturday in a three-way match against Claudio Castagnoli and Roderick Strong. This upcoming match will be a decisive moment to establish his status within AEW.
What Ciampa’s Transition Means for His Career and AEW’s Growth
Tommaso Ciampa’s entry into AEW marks a significant development both for him and the promotion. Coming from WWE with established name recognition, his rapid acquisition of the TNT Championship signals AEW’s intent to strengthen its roster with proven talent. His strategic planning, involving family considerations and precise timing, underscores his determination and careful approach to this career move. As Ciampa defends his title and continues to compete, fans and industry insiders alike will watch closely to see how his presence influences AEW’s competitive landscape and narrative direction.
Kevin Jewell is a journalist at CynicalTimes.org, covering the WWE SmackDown Men’s Division.
With two years of experience, he reports on headline matches, major rivalries, and superstar developments from WWE’s blue brand.
Kevin brings sharp analysis, accurate updates, and a deep passion for storytelling to his coverage.
His work highlights the key figures, championship pursuits, and weekly action that define the SmackDown men’s roster.
From rising talents to veteran icons, Kevin delivers content that keeps fans informed and engaged with every twist in the ring.
