Billed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you would be forgiven if you did not know that Tommaso Ciampa actually hails from Boston, Massachusetts. Of course, where a professional wrestler is billed from can all be part of a character, but there is no denying that the New England area helped him get into the business.
Ciampa – who was trained by the great Killer Kowalski – made his name working shows in the northeast wrestling for notable independent promotions around Massachusetts. Nonetheless, after stints with bigger promotions such as the WWE, ROH, and TNA, he has since found himself working with the one promotion that took a chance on him in the first place.
Tommaso Ciampa’s injury
Avid watchers of the WWE and fans of the 2x-time NXT Champion will have noticed that we have not seen the Massachusetts native in the ring in a while. This is because he had to take time away from the squared circle because of an injury.
The 37-year-old last wrestled on September 17, 2022, in a match against Bobby Lashley. This was during a WWE Live Event, and he has not been seen since. He confirmed that he had undergone surgery in a post on his Instagram profile, revealing that he had been suffering from a hip labrum injury. A post recently showed that he is hard at work in the gym. This has led to speculation that he could be about to make his long-awaited return to the ring.
However, what could be in store for Ciampa once he does make his return to the WWE?
Could Ciampa Go Face?
While it will be impossible for fans to have forgotten all about him, the break may have done Ciampa’s character the world of good. In fact, he and the WWE could potentially look to use it to their advantage.
His last program saw him being with The Miz and helping to back him up during the feud that he had held with Dexter Lumis. However, it is now possible for the Massachusetts native to start his own storyline once again and take center stage once he does return. There is no denying how talented he is, and with Triple H allegedly a big fan of his, then there may be every possibility that he gets a chance at running for something big within the promotion.
One way that has been suggested is that he could return to confront The Miz and begin a feud with him, thus turning face in the process. This could work in his favor as The A-Lister is a top performer that can help get the best out of someone else and help push that person forward. If this is something that can be successfully achieved, then there is every chance that Ciampa can go on to enjoy a top 2023 and perhaps move on to things that may not have been in his sight before his injury.
Indeed, with sports betting set to go live in his home state in March 2023, there may be plenty of interest in watching what happens to the 2x-time NXT Champion once he does return. Those residing in the region may look to load up the Massachusetts Betting Apps to have been legalized by the state in the future to wager on what Ciampa does in the ring during his next run. Naturally, the face turn is something that some may feel is worthy of wagering on when given the opportunity to do so. However, are there other plans that could potentially happen?
Reunite with Johnny Gargano?
There is no doubt that when you think back to some of Ciampa’s greatest moments with the WWE, Johnny Gargano is alongside him for many of them. Whether that be as a single competitor, or as a partner, both of them excel in the ring together.
In 2018, the pair won the NXT “Rivalry of the Year” award, while both were involved in a tag match that saw them win the NXT “Match of the Year” award in 2016. And, it seems Triple H is keen to have them reunite together once the Boston native returns from his injury.
According to reports, Triple H wants to recreate DIY and have the faction reproduce the excellent storylines that they had under his guidance when he was controlling NXT. However, this time, he wants them to do it on the main roster. The Game is said to be of the belief that the pair could have a huge impact on the Tag Team Division and this could help them to become even greater stars when they eventually split them up into single competitors once again.
Could a move to AEW/ROH be on the cards?
While Ciampa is working hard to make his return to the WWE after his injury, his name has been mentioned by others in a different promotion in recent times. Of course, he is contracted to the major promotion, although that does not appear to have stopped certain corners from talking.
The Embassy is a renowned faction throughout professional wrestling. It has been around since 2004 and is part of the Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion; a sister company of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Ciampa was once a member of The Embassy back in 2011, and it seems there could be a spot for him if he were to ever look to return.
Prince Nana – the creator and manager of The Embassy – had recently revealed on a podcast that he owed a lot of the success that the faction has had to Ciampa and stated he would be the one guy he would look to bring back if given the chance.
Ciampa’s return will be highly anticipated
Regardless of what happens, there is no denying that Tommaso Ciampa’s return is one that will be highly anticipated by all wrestling fans. The Massachusetts native is one of the top performers in the ring and his talent is undeniable.
Whatever happens next does remain to be seen, but it would not be a surprise if his return to a WWE ring ended up being extremely successful!
