Tommaso Ciampa left a strong impression on his debut in AEW, bringing a change in the scene rather fast. Following a concise yet effective appearance on AEW Dynamite earlier in the week, Ciampa entered the ring on AEW Collision on January 31 on his debut.
Ciampa Faces Brutal Challenge
His first assignment was not an easy one. Ciampa was going against Mark Briscoe in the most desirable TNT Championship. This was a fierce battle and brutal, as the two men were displaying their stamina and strength. During the competition, Briscoe was receiving enormous punishment as he survived several Psycho Drillers and kept fighting back.
Ciampa Seizes Control, Clinches Win
People were wholly engaged and they all cheered Briscoe as he struggled. Ciampa, however, was focused and methodical and he would not allow Briscoe to build any momentum. The turning point of the match was when Ciampa performed a German Suplex after which a crushing blow was delivered on a running knee that caused a victory at a pinfall.
Ciampa Makes Historic AEW Debut
Ciampa had a historic moment with this victory as he won the TNT Championship on his debut in AEW. He is the only other performer to win championship gold in his in-ring debut in AEW alongside Mercedes Mone. The spectators cheered in the arena when Ciampa was promoted to the top within a short period of time, and the commentary team emphasized the meaning of the moment.
Fletcher Sets Sights on Ciampa
Ciampa rejoiced, however, briefly. A couple of seconds later, Kyle Fletcher came out, and he stared at the new champion. There were no lines of conversation, but the message was obvious: Fletcher has his eyes on the TNT Championship.
Now, Ciampa is at the very top of the midcard scene in AEW, and has an opponent that is already waiting. It is not long before his reign as TNT Champion might be challenged, and the midcard competition in AEW has become even tougher.
