Before surprising the wrestling world with his AEW debut, Tommaso Ciampa was deep in negotiations with WWEand hes now confirmed that the company did try to keep him.
In a new interview with SHAK Wrestling on January 30, 2026, Ciampa revealed that WWE made a serious effort to re-sign him, offering a new deal in the final months of his contract. But after much consideration, he turned it down and chose to start fresh with AEW. When asked directly if WWE put an offer on the table, Ciampa didnt hesitate:
He made it clear this wasnt a decision based on dissatisfaction or bitternessit was a personal move, rooted in what felt right for the next phase of his life and career: I just needed to do what I felt was right for me and my wife. Even after walking away from nearly a decade in WWE, Ciampa had nothing but gratitude for the platform the company gave him. He also acknowledged that his time in WWE helped shape him as both a performer and a person:
The update comes just days after Ciampa debuted on the January 28 episode of AEW Dynamite, where he answered Mark Briscoes open challenge for the TNT Title. That same night, AEW President Tony Khan made it official by tweeting the Tommaso Ciampa is All Elite graphic.
With his first AEW match set for this Saturday on Collision, and a new chapter unfolding, Ciampa is proving he left WWE on his own termsand with unfinished business to pursue.
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