Tommaso Ciampa provides an update.
Tommaso Ciampa has not wrestled on WWE television since the Mar. 13 episode NXT when he and Johnny Gargano lost Semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The episode was taped on Feb. 20, marking the last time Ciampa has competed inside the ring. At the Mar. 13 NXT television tapings, Ciampa relinquished his NXT Title in order to undergo neck surgery.
With NXT set to debut on USA on Sept. 18, many have wondered whether "The Blackheart" will make an appearance. Ciampa revealed to Izzy that he will be at the show, but not in front of the camera.
"I got to lead NXT from bingo halls to Takeovers to the USA Network, not see them, lead them. It's big. There's a lot of rumors and speculation about what my role is going to be, breaking news, I've been told I will be coming back to a wrestling ring. I've been told I will eventually be able to wrestle again. And the sad part is, no, I'm not cleared. It is what it is. I will be there September 18th, the 25th, every time going forward. I just won't be out in front of the crowd until [my neck] allows me to. I promised my mom at home that this time, we're gonna take our time. I'm excited for [NXT moving to USA], I'd be a little more excited if I could take part in it. We'll get there soon," he said.
Fightful reported that internal documents listed Ciampa as returning/being cleared on Sept. 11. Ciampa told Fightful Select that the listing is often the fault of miscommunication within WWE and doesn't think it was done with malice. It is unknown when Ciampa will return to television.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit Izzy with a h/t to Fightful.
