Tommaso Ciampa spoke about his AEW in-ring debut match against Mark Briscoe during a recent interview with The Takedown on SI.com.
After the TNT Champion successfully retained his title against El Clon on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Briscoe put out an open challenge for someone to face him on Collision. The debuting Ciampa came out to answer the call.
“I love the Briscoes so much,” Ciampa said. “I have so much respect for them. Mark has always been, to me, the ultimate babyface. He’s impossible to dislike. His fire, his charisma… the second I saw him [Wednesday night on Dynamite] and locked eyes, it was just perfect.”
Saturday’s match will be the first time Briscoe and Ciampa have faced each other since 2013. Their full match from ROH Pursuit night two on November 16 that year was posted to ROH’s YouTube channel earlier this week.
Ciampa also said that he and Briscoe will “just figure it out” as they go on Saturday.
Ciampa continued:
“I think the finest product comes out when it’s organic, and Saturday night, man, it’s gonna be like we’ve touched for the first time ever. And I can’t wait to just figure it out as we go. He hits hard and he can take a licking and I think everyone knows what to expect. It’s gonna be smashmouth.”
“I’m excited ’cause I get to go do what I do with one of my buddies, who I haven’t even seen for over a decade. I know we have chemistry and I just can’t wait to get in there with him and test myself. All Elite Wrestling is where the best professional wrestlers in the world play. Let’s find out.”
For Briscoe, he’ll be looking to defend the TNT title for a fourth time since winning it from Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear. He’s already retained the belt in matches against Daniel Garcia, Hechicero, and El Clon.
Tommaso Ciampa is the latest wrestler in WWE to get their first name back.
During a promo on Monday night’s episode of Raw, Ciampa was back to being identified as “Tommaso Ciampa.” He had been just going by “Ciampa” since having his first name dropped this April.
Matt Riddle and Austin Theory have also gotten their first names back on WWE programming in recent weeks. PWInsider reported that “shortened names were an edict under the Vince McMahon regime that has now been reversed.” Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over WWE creative following McMahon’s retirement this July.
While in NXT, Ciampa held the NXT Championship twice and the NXT Tag Team titles once. He officially joined the WWE main roster on Raw this April.
Ciampa is currently aligned with The Miz on the main roster. Ciampa tried to help Miz win a steel cage match against United States Champion Bobby Lashley in the main event of last night’s Raw, but Miz lost after being scared by Dexter Lumis.
Date: August 8, 2022 Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH
Show Recap —
There was a video recapping recent events involving Bianca Belair, Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky before the announcers ran down tonight’s card. They showed a bracket for the Women’s tag team title tournament. NXT’s Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark are among the teams. (Sasha Banks and Naomi are not.)
Bayley, Sky and Kai entered to start the show. They said the fans needed them and this division needed them. Bayley didn’t think the fans could possibly care about Becky Lynch and said Belair would be nothing without her. Bayley wondered how she was the only one who realized that Sky was a weapon and wondered how she was the only one who saw the benefits of Kai.
The crowd didn’t want to hear more talking and they booed loudly over Bayley until she was interrupted by Alexa Bliss, Asuka and Belair. The crowd chanted for Belair.
Bliss informed Kai and Sky that they were not winning the tag titles because they wouldn’t be able to get through herself and Asuka.
Belair wasn’t through with Bayley’s crew and was ready to fight right now. Bayley didn’t want to wrestle in Cleveland and challenged them to a six-woman tag match at Clash at the Castle.
Belair accepted before she decked Bayley. The six women brawled until Bliss knocked down everyone with a dive off the barricade. Officials tried separating them as they went to commercial break. The crowd was into the brawl.
Corey Graves noted how much training and homework Dawkins did specifically for this match. Dawkins wrestled without a shirt and Graves also mentioned how much he has slimmed down.
Rollins fell to the outside and Ford mocked his selling, which was funny. The distraction allowed Dawkins to tackle Rollins over the announce table which led to break 90 seconds into the match.
Rollins took control after driving Dawkins’ face into the middle rope. Rollins kicked at Ford which enraged Ford to the point that he grabbed a chair and jumped into the ring. The ref had to hold back Ford and eventually ejected him. (The announcers said that Ford’s temper got the best of him and Rollins was smart enough to take advantage.)
Dawkins knocked Rollins out of the ring and followed with a flip dive. Dawkins followed with a suplex, spinning corner splash and Silencer for two. Dawkins twice avoided a stomp before hitting a sit-out spinebuster for a close nearfall. (The crowd wanted the upset there.)
Rollins ducked a charge and Dawkins went shoulder-first into the steel steps. Dawkins avoided a stomp one more time but Rollins yanked him down by the shoulder before hitting a Pedigree for the pinfall win. (The crowd popped for the Pedigree.)
This was a good showing for Dawkins and the crowd was into it.
********
Edge told the Mysterios that he had their backs tonight. Rey believed him but Dominik wasn’t exactly happy to see him. Edge said last week was a mistake and asked Dominik if they were cool.
Dominik shoved Edge so Rey held him back. Rey said he’s known Edge for 20 years and he’s like family. Dominik couldn’t believe Rey was taking Edge’s side so he left. Rey told Edge he’d talk to Dom.
********
Kevin Owens defeated Ezekiel via ref stoppage (approx. 0:45)
(The bell never ran to conclude the match so I don’t know what the official ruling was.)
Ezekiel didn’t get an entrance. Owens received a nice pop on the way out.
Owens was all over Ezekiel as soon as the match started. He powerbombed Ezekiel onto the edge of the ring about 45 seconds into the match and the ref checked on Ezekiel who appeared to be hurt.
Owens laughed as medical staff brought out a stretcher for Ezekiel.
********
The Judgment Day promo
Finn Bálor and Damian Priest entered. Bálor thought it was funny that Edge and Rey thought Judgment Day should fear them but they couldn’t even get on the same page and Dom already left them. He said fear wasn’t real but danger was real, “and I am danger.”
Priest said he’d love to take out Edge tonight but noted that Raw was in Toronto in two weeks. It’s been forever since Edge wrestled on Raw in Toronto so Priest challenged him to a match. If Edge had the balls, Priest and Judgment Day would end him in front of whatever friends and family he had left.
— In the back, Rey told Edge that he couldn’t get a hold of Dominik. Edge offered to go to ringside but Rey knew that Dom would come to his senses.
[SECOND HOUR]
They claimed that SummerSlam had 1.3 billion video views on social media.
Finn Bálor (w/Damian Priest) defeated Rey Mysterio (13:56)
Bálor started doing the three amigo suplexes — including doing the worst Eddie Guerrero shimmy ever — but Rey countered into a suplex of his own and hit a low dropkick for two. Rey went for a 619 but Priest got in the way and took the move instead. That allowed Bálor to pop up and drive Rey into the ring post.
Rey fought back after a break and hit a sliding DDT into the barricade. Priest tripped Rey as the ref was distracted so Edge immediately entered to his music and brawled with Priest through the crowd.
Rey hit Bálor with a Code Red for a close nearfall. Rey went for the 619 but Bálor killed him with a clothesline and a shotgun dropkick.
Rey dodged a Coup de Grace and set up for the 619 but was distracted. Rhea Ripley appeared on the stage with Dominik over her shoulder. She dropped his lifeless, beaten body in front of her.
The distraction allowed Bálor to hit 1916 and a Coup de Grace for the pinfall win.
********
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Tamina and 24/7 champion Dana Brooke. Brooke was excited to become a double champion with her former foe. Bayley and her friends showed up and she mocked Brooke. Tamina stood up for Brooke and warned them that she could take them out right now. The heels left, but not before Sky told Brooke that she didn’t like her.
********
Tag Team Championship Tournament Round 1: IYO SKY & Dakota Kai (w/Bayley) defeated Tamina & 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke (10:04)
(I believe Byron Saxton mentioned that Kai and Sky had a history working together in Japan years ago.)
They went to break 90 seconds into the match after Brooke wiped out her opponents with a dive off the top. Kai and Sky took control during the break after driving Brooke into the barricade. The crowd was quiet until a random “Bayley sucks” chant broke out.
Tamina made a hot tag but she was cut off by Kai and Sky (after Brooke crashed into the barricade when Bayley saved Kai). Sky hit a moonsault for the pinfall win.
Kai and Sky move on in the tournament and will face the winner of Asuka/Bliss vs. Doudrop/Nikki ASH.
********
Patrick ran toward Owens for an interview as he was leaving the arena. Owens warned him not to do that again or he’d drop him harder than he did Ezekiel. Owens knew that there were more eyes on this show now than there have been for a while and he wanted to remind everyone that this was still the Kevin Owens show.
— In the background, Doudrop, Nikki and a few others were checking on a sedan that appeared to crash into a parking lot wall.
Elsewhere, Rey and a trainer checked on Dominik.
********
They re-aired the US title video from last week.
Ciampa entered wearing the red, white and blue Harley Race robe.
Graves (with a completely serious tone) said that Ciampa had experience being “trained by Harley Race, spending time under the tutelage of Killer Kowalski, and now learning from the Miz.”
Bobby Lashley defeated Ciampa (w/The Miz) to retain the United States Championship (12:56)
They had a strong match, interference aside, and Ciampa got a few nearfalls before Lashley ultimately won.
Ciampa slipped out of a powerslam and hit a chop block but Lashley no-sold a few chops before hitting a back elbow. Lashley wanted to drive Ciampa into the post but Miz got in his way so Lashley just chucked Ciampa into Miz.
[THIRD HOUR]
Ciampa took control during a break with a knee strike but Lashley came back with shoulder tackles and a modified Dominator for two. They traded counters until Lashley hit a spear but Miz put Ciampa’s leg on the rope to break up the cover.
AJ Styles ran in from out of nowhere and chased Miz through the crowd. Lashley hit a flatliner as Styles chased Miz through the ring and to the back.
Ciampa used the distraction and drove Lashley into the exposed turnbuckle before hitting a knee strike for a nearfall. Lashley countered a Fairy Tale Ending but Ciampa applied the Gargano Escape. Lashley fought out of that but Ciampa hit a draping DDT for a nearfall.
Lashley blocked a knee strike and hit a chokeslam before applying the Hurt Lock and Ciampa tapped out. The crowd liked Lashley and popped for the win.
********
Styles continued to brawl with Miz in the back during commercials and a match between the two was announced for tonight.
Patrick interviewed Rollins (whose full name is still Seth Freakin’ Rollins). Patrick informed Rollins that Riddle would have an injury update next week. Rollins was pissed that Patrick brought him in for an interview just to ask about Riddle.
Rollins called himself the gatekeeper of this industry. As great as Riddle could be in the ring, he was great at flushing his own potential down the toilet — just ask Dana White. Rollins thought Riddle should retire or he might just have to Cody Rhodes his ass out the door.
********
Dolph Ziggler defeated Chad Gable (w/Otis) (6:33)
They did chain wrestling for the first two minutes before Gable hit a Chaos Theory suplex (called the “American Automatic”). Gable worked over the leg briefly before Ziggler dodged a moonsault and hit a DDT for two. Ziggler fought out of an ankle lock for a second time but was too hurt to hit a superkick so Gable powerbombed him.
Ziggler slipped out of another ankle lock, slipped out of an Angle Slam attempt and hit a superkick for the pinfall win in his hometown.
Good, short match that at least felt different than what we’d normally see on this show.
********
Nikki and Doudrop were focused and said they would crush the hopes and dreams of Bliss and Asuka next week.
Elsewhere, Bliss and Asuka said nobody was ready for them. Bayley and chums showed up to mock them.
As this was happening, the crashed car could be seen in the background and officials suddenly jogged passed them.
Bayley and pals left as Styles walked by them on his way to the ring.
********
Main event time.
No disqualification match: AJ Styles defeated The Miz (12:34)
Styles tried to grab a table to the delight of the crowd but Miz dropkicked him. Moments later, Styles tried to set something up on the announce table but Miz chucked him over the barricade which led to break.
Styles was back on his feet following the break setting up a table as the crowd chanted for the table. However, Miz attacked him repeatedly with a kendo stick. Styles fought back with the kendo stick, crotched him with it and used it to hit a side Russian leg sweep for two.
Styles hit a Phenomenal forearm but Ciampa pulled the ref out of the ring. Styles knocked Ciampa off the apron and through a table.
Styles went for the Phenomenal forearm but Miz chucked a chair in his face and hit a Skull Crushing Finale for a nearfall.
Miz attacked Styles’ leg with the kendo stick and went for a figure four but Styles kicked him into a steel chair and hit a Styles Clash for the pinfall win.
— As Styles celebrated, it seemed like a fan was being dealt with by security. It was actually Dexter Lumis but they didn’t focus on him (one announcer did say his name).
Styles continued to celebrate as the show went off the air.
WWE’s new era continued with the first Raw since SummerSlam taking place last night.
After making their returns at SummerSlam, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY wreaked havoc last night, targeting Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka. A match between Belair and SKY ended in a no contest as Belair, Bliss, and Asuka brawled with Bayley, Kai, and SKY.
A push for Ciampa began as he became the number one contender to the United States title. He defeated Dolph Ziggler and Chad Gable in a triple threat match before going on to defeat AJ Styles later in the night.
In last night’s main event, The Usos retained their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Rey & Dominik Mysterio. The Judgment Day attacked The Mysterios after the match until Edge made the save. But Edge accidentally speared Dominik when Rhea Ripley pushed him in the way as Edge was trying to take out Finn Balor.
Tommaso Ciampa’s first name appears to have been dropped by WWE.
On Monday night’s episode of Raw, Tommaso Ciampa was only referred to as “Ciampa” by the announcers. Kevin Raphael of TVA Sports in Quebec, Canada reported on Monday afternoon that, effective immediately, Ciampa would only be going by “Ciampa” as his in-ring name.
Ciampa turned heel on this week’s Raw, attacking the returning Mustafa Ali.
Ali defeated The Miz on Raw. After the match, Ciampa blindsided Ali on the stage.
Ciampa was officially called up to the Raw roster two weeks ago. He had his farewell match for NXT at Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania 38 weekend, losing to Tony D’Angelo.
The 36-year-old Ciampa (real name Tommaso Whitney) is going by the last name that he used on the indies and in NXT.
Dave Meltzer reported earlier this month that the reason for WWE’s recent name changes is that Vince McMahon doesn’t want anyone new using their real names anymore, nor using names that they already had on the indies.
