Tommaso Ciampa’s contract with WWE expired this past January and made his official debut for AEW at the January 28th AEW Dynamite show in Cedar Park, Texas.
According to Fightful Select, sources indicated that Ciampa’s debut was initially scheduled for the January 24th episode of Collision. However, AEW needed to tape that show during the January 21st AEW Dynamite taping instead due to the severe winter weather issues affecting the Dallas, Texas area that Saturday.
Ciampa was not moved to the Alumni section on WWE’s roster page until January 28th, which was several days after he had signed a contract with AEW contract and had already planned to join the company. It is said that AEW kept Ciampa “well hidden” until his official debut in AEW.
In his debut match, Ciampa defeated Briscoe to win the TNT Championship. Days later he lost the title to Kyle Fletcher, who defended it against Briscoe at AEW Grand Slam: Australia.
