AEW Seen as Ideal Landing Spot for Tommaso Ciampa After WWE Exit

Tommaso Ciampa may be charting a brand-new course after WWE—but according to Jim Ross, there’s one place that makes perfect sense for him: AEW.

During an episode of Grilling JR, the legendary announcer weighed in on the chatter surrounding Ciampa’s WWE exit and where he might end up next. With JR fresh off a segment about Powerhouse Hobbs leaving AEW, the conversation quickly turned to Ciampa and whether Tony Khan should make a move.

“I think that’s logical. If you know AEW as I do, he’s somebody you wouldn’t pass on, you know? He’s a good worker… and he’s got a lot of name recognition in the business. He can have great matches with anybody… he’s solid.”

JR’s comments come at a pivotal moment. Ciampa recently confirmed his WWE contract is ending and for the first time in over a decade, he’s open to outside appearances, bookings, and even acting gigs. The former NXT Champion is also trademarking “Psycho Killer” and “Psycho King”, signaling a possible character reboot on the indie scene—or beyond. But it’s not just AEW in the conversation.

In the January 23, 2026 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Ciampa could be headed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, not AEW—at least not right away.

“There is talk of him trying to get into New Japan,” Meltzer wrote.

While Meltzer acknowledged that Ciampa fits AEW’s style, he pointed out that the company’s crowded roster might make it harder for him to stand out. Ciampa’s recent push for indie dates also suggests he didn’t leave WWE with a Tony Khan deal already in place:

“The fact he’s pushing indie bookings would seem to indicate he didn’t leave for AEW and a deal there, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see such a deal happen.”

So where does that leave Ciampa? Japan. AEW. Or everywhere in between. He’s got the freedom now—and JR believes the right call might still be coming from Jacksonville.

“He’s someone you wouldn’t pass on.”

With WWE behind him and nothing locked in yet, Ciampa might be about to reinvent himself on his own terms. Whether it’s a violent reset in New Japan, a surprise debut on Dynamite, or a coast-to-coast indie renaissance under the “Psycho King” banner—he’s no longer NXT’s Blackheart.

Where do you want to see Tommaso Ciampa land—Japan, AEW, or a full indie takeover? Drop your dream booking scenario in the comments. 👇

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