Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa debuted on Raw in a babyface tag team alongside longtime arch nemesis Johnny Gargano on February 19, which pretty much chucked about two years of some of the best storytelling we’ve ever seen down the drain.
However, he sustained a neck injury later that month and has been out of action since. Ciampa never lost his NXT Championship as he had to vacate it due to the aforementioned injury
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Ciampa was adamant that when he returns, it will be with NXT:
“I don’t know if people think I’m going to Raw or SmackDown, but here’s a spoiler, I’m not.
“I’m going to NXT. If someone tells me anything else, I’m answering them with a no. I bleed black and gold. NXT is home. And I have unfinished business there.”
While there is still no absolute word on when Ciampa will be back, reports have been positive and that he has been recovering ahead of schedule.
“I didn’t lose the title.
“Storyline or not, entertainment or not, that title meant the world to me. I was ‘The Guy’ for NXT, the hottest brand in the entire world. I came through knee surgery and two shoulder surgeries to get to that point. That’s what I worked my entire career for, so giving up the title is not how I envisioned it ending. I am the best sports entertainer in the world. I always hear, ‘Sports entertainer? You’re a sell-out!’ Call me a sell-out if you want. I’m buying in. This is my brand. NXT is mine.”
