Tommaso Ciampa left WWE, took a chance on AEW and now he’s looking back at the decision like he made the right damn call.
On August 9, Ciampa took to Instagram with a collection of photos documenting the last six months of his life, including his AEW run and the time he’s been able to spend traveling with his family. Ciampa explained that the entire thing started with a family conversation and a decision to gamble on something different.
“A little over 6 months ago I sat with my family and we decided to take a risk…”
Ciampa didn’t specifically name WWE or AEW in that sentence, but the timing and photos tell the story. His post included shots from his AEW appearances alongside family trips, as he reflected on everything that has happened since making the change. For Ciampa, that risk has meant mixing wrestling with a hell of a lot more family time. He pointed out that work has taken them through several cities without forcing him to leave his family behind for the ride.
“Since then, we have taken family/work trips to Texas, LA, New York, Boston, and Montreal… next up is Scotland and London.”
“Change is often scary. Embrace it.”
That’s one of the obvious differences Ciampa has experienced since leaving WWE. AEW generally operates a lighter schedule than WWE, giving talent fewer dates on the road, while several wrestlers who have made the jump from WWE have also spoken about increased creative freedom. Contract terms and pay vary by wrestler, but for Ciampa, his post makes it clear that the lifestyle change is working for him.
Ciampa then doubled down on trusting yourself and doing things your own way, something that certainly hits differently after he walked away from the company where he spent roughly a decade of his career. He closed things out by thanking the people who supported the decision.
“Believe in yourself. Trust your gut. Do the work. And through it all, move forward with integrity and authenticity.”
“Thanks for believing.”
Ciampa didn’t need to take a direct shot at WWE to get his point across. Six months after sitting down with his family and deciding to take a risk, he’s wrestling for AEW, traveling with his family and openly celebrating the life that decision created. From the way he tells it, there aren’t many regrets about betting on himself.
What do you think about Tommaso Ciampa’s life since leaving WWE for AEW? Do you think the lighter schedule and added freedom made AEW the right move for him? Leave your feedback in the comments.
