Tommaso Ciampa is not easing into AEW—he is already calling the company’s current roster the greatest collection of talent professional wrestling has ever seen.
While speaking during AEW’s Countdown show for Redemption, Ciampa explained why he believes AEW was the right place to test himself after years of building his name elsewhere.
Ciampa said chasing the AEW World Championship remains the ultimate goal, but he understands that earning a shot means climbing through one of the deepest rosters in the business.
“If you’re not in this game for the world title, I don’t know why you’re bothering. But I’ve been around this long enough to know that it’s a ladder. You just have to climb it, and the roster currently in AEW is better than any roster that’s ever been assembled in professional wrestling.”
Ciampa then ran through the level of competition waiting for him, naming Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher.
“To come here and look at people like Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega, Cope and Christian and Jericho, Mox and Speedball Mike Bailey, The Jet, Kyle Fletcher—the list just goes on and on.”
For Ciampa, joining AEW was not simply about finding another place to wrestle. He wanted a roster strong enough to force him to prove that his confidence in himself is justified.
“There was no doubt in my mind that this is the place to go to not only test myself, but to prove to myself that I’m just as damn good as I think I am.”
Ciampa has already stepped into the ring with some of AEW’s biggest names during his short run with the company. He previously challenged Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship and will now face Chris Jericho’s Painmaker persona at AEW Redemption.
That match gives Ciampa another chance to back up his words against one of the most experienced wrestlers on the roster. He clearly believes AEW has assembled something special, and now he wants to prove he belongs near the top of it.
Do you agree with Tommaso Ciampa that AEW currently has the best roster ever assembled in professional wrestling? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
