Tommaso Ciampa Doesn’t Want To Join Raw Or SmackDown

Tommaso Ciampa Doesn’t Want To Join Raw Or SmackDown

Tommaso Ciampa returned to WWE in 2015, having been away for 8 years. He joined the NXT brand and as a world-class performer it was noticeable to the product when he had to miss 7 months with a severe neck injury.

Now he has returned it would be expected that having been in what was is deemed developmental for several years, he would be due a call up to Raw or SmackDown, but it seems that isn’t going to happen.

Speaking to Lilian Garcia’s Chasing Glory podcast, he said:

“I have a little one at home, and my schedule is better in NXT than it would be on the road – and I had neck surgery, and I’m not freaking stupid. I get that my window is smaller than it was and my bump card is ticking, and I just look at it like if I’m doing 200+ days a year on the road with Raw or SmackDown, or I’m doing a manageable load of 30 to 50 matches with NXT.”

“So I can do four years of that in the time I do one year with Raw and SmackDown. So how long can my career and portfolio grow here as opposed to going there? Now it’s become a thing where I have legitimately vocalized to them that if I have to go to Raw or SmackDown, then I’m going to retire. And I would love to produce or coach or be a part of it, but there’s no way I’m taking on that load.”

NXT wrestlers are paid much less than full-time roster members of Raw and SmackDown, so it’s unusual to not want to move brands but makes perfect sense given the circumstances.

You can listen to the interview below.

JAMES RYDER

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