Tommaso Ciampa is now a member of the AEW roster, making his shock debut on Dynamite to confront a reigning champion.

During the January 28 episode of the flagship show, TNT Champion Mark Briscoe successfully defended his title against El Clon. After the match, Briscoe got on the mic and stated that he would once again defend the championship on the next episode of Collision against anyone not in the Don Callis Family.

Ciampa then interrupted Briscoe and received to a huge reception from the fans when his name showed up on the big screen. Ciampa told Briscoe that he accepted the challenge, and would see him on the January 31 episode of Collision to challenge for the title in what will also be his in-ring debut for the promotion.

Following the segment, AEW confirmed that Ciampa had signed to the promotion with the traditional “All Elite” graphic being posted to social media.

Tommaso Ciampa Now In AEW Following WWE Departure

After it was initially reported that Ciampa looked set to leave WWE in 2026, the former NXT and Tag Team Champion confirmed the news on January 21 with a post on social media. A few days later, Ciampa was moved to the alumni section on WWE’s website, and The Blackheart released new merchandise independently to signal the start of the next stage of his career.

One of the most despised heels from his time in NXT, Ciampa was best known for his alliance/rivalry with best friend Johnny Gargano.

Featured image: AEW