Tommaso Ciampa, a former WWE star who joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in late January, faced intense backlash regarding the way his character was booked following a swift loss of the TNT Championship. Ciampa debuted by defeating Mark Briscoe to win the TNT title but lost it after only one successful defense on a recent episode of AEW Dynamite, where Kyle Fletcher defeated him. The quick turnaround of Ciampa’s title reign sparked strong criticism from wrestling veteran Jim Cornette.
Jim Cornette Questions the Rationale Behind Ciampa’s Booking
Jim Cornette expressed his disbelief at the booking decision during an episode of The Experience on his YouTube channel. Highlighting how the match quality itself was strong, Cornette remained baffled by the logic behind Ciampa’s push and sudden title loss. He said,
“This was, especially by AEW standards, one of the better matches they have presented on, well, I say on television or almost anywhere in quite a while, with an exception or two. But I still don’t know what the f*ck he’s thinking. They bring Tommaso Ciampa in with great fanfare. Surprise entrance from the WWE. He confronts Mark Briscoe. He has a match with Mark Briscoe and wins the title. Was that a week ago or two weeks ago?”
Cornette Voices Frustration Over the Short-Lived Title Reign
Further condemning AEW’s approach, Cornette questioned how the decision makers presented this plan to Ciampa himself. He ridiculed the rapid shift from victory to loss, emphasizing it undermined the momentum Ciampa had built. Cornette remarked,
“How did they present that to Tommaso? Okay. Okay. We’re going to sign you to this deal. Great. We’re going to bring you in, have you challenge Mark Briscoe. Great. We’re going to have you wrestle Mark Briscoe and beat him for the title. Great. And in the very next match you have, you’re going to lose it to another guy. What? They had something with Ciampa and people were talking about him. And with his first three weeks in the company, he’s won and won. He’s won a belt and lost a belt already. How can they justify this in their little pea brains?”
Implications of Ciampa’s Booking for AEW and Tony Khan
The swift loss significantly dented Ciampa’s momentum, raising questions about AEW’s long-term plans for the former WWE standout. Fans and critics alike are now left wondering if Tony Khan’s booking decisions will hinder or help Ciampa’s trajectory within the company. The handling of Ciampa’s character under AEW’s leadership has become a focal point amid increasing scrutiny of Tony Khan AEW booking criticism.
While Ciampa showed promise with an impactful debut and competitive matches, the rapid title change has brought his role in AEW into question. How Tony Khan and AEW choose to proceed with Ciampa’s storyline and positioning will be closely watched by the wrestling community in the coming weeks.
