Tommaso Ciampa Reflects On Representing NXT At Madison Square Garden

WWE held it’s holiday tour last weekend, with them making their annual stop inside the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Due to several of WWE’s top stars being removed from the tour, the lineup for the show was changed last minute, including Edge taking on Kevin Owens in the main event.

Another late addition to the card saw NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defend his title inside the Garden against Pete Dunne. Ciampa recently spoke to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, where he explained what wrestling his first match inside MSG meant to him.

He said:

“Any time I get asked to do the Garden, I’ll always say yes. So many legendary performers have played here. It means a lot to share a piece of that history and it means a lot to represent NXT against Pete Dunne. Stepping through the curtain, I immediately thought about Reggie Miller coming in here and playing the Knicks, scoring eight points in nine seconds (in the 1995 NBA playoffs). I’m a huge Boston sports fan, so I thought about games between the Celtics and Knicks. It’s just amazing to be at Madison Square Garden.”

Ciampa continued on, talking highly of his challenger on that night, Pete Dunne. He said:

“Pete Dunne is one of the best professional wrestlers in the world. This was only our second time ever wrestling a singles match, with the first being for his UK title in England. It’s a pleasure to share a ring with him. He’s a world-class person in and out of the ring.”

Ciampa is set to defend his NXT Championship in a rematch with Bron Breakker at the NXT New Year’s Evil show on January 4, 2022.

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