As previously reported, Tommaso Ciampa has announced that he will be leaving WWE once his current contract expires and is open to accepting independent bookings.
Dave Meltzer noted in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Ciampa is aiming to join NJPW. His pursuit of independent bookings suggests that he is not planning to appear in AEW right away. Meltzer also pointed out that Ciampa, similar to Ricochet and Swerve Strickland, could thrive better in the AEW environment.
However, a potential drawback is that AEW already has a stacked roster, and Ciampa could get lost in the shuffle if he were simply added to a faction like the Death Riders. Ciampa is a former NXT Champion and Tag Team Champion, as well as a former World Television Champion in Ring of Honor, which is now owned by AEW.
