NXT champion Tommaso Ciampa opens up on ‘bummer’ cinematic match with Johnny Gargano, says he wants to be Rick Steiner’s friend and talks Tim Thatcher

Tommaso Ciampa reunited with ‘goldie’ to start his second reign as NXT champion at the birth of NXT 2.0.

For the past couple of months he’s been working with the rookie Bron Breakker, the son of the legendary Rick Steiner, while guiding the brand into their new era.

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During WWE’s recent UK tour, talkSPORT was able to catch up with the champion and take a dive into his recent career.

On working with Rick Steiner’s son, Bron Breakker...

“So, he was meant to be at Halloween Havoc,” Ciampa started. “He pulled out last minute. Maybe because I retained, but I won’t say that’s why [laughs]. I would love to be friends with him. 

“I said to Bron ‘I don’t want to meet your dad, I want him to be my buddy.’ I want us to exchange numbers and whatever Rick Steiner does. He’s probably not a big phone guy, I don’t know [laughs]. But I just wanna be friends with him.”

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On the Johnny Gargano feud ending with the cinematic match...

“It was disheartening. I’ll be honest, a lot of our feud, I can’t think of something that’s had more obstacles than that, between Aleister [Black] getting injured and my injury. 

“It would have been perfect if we’d gone to TaekOver New York like we were supposed to. So it hurts a little sometimes because I know it’s tarnished in some people’s minds, but I know how much we put into it and that’s what hurts. 

“We know the passion that went into that work, so yeah, it’s a bummer that we didn’t get to finish it the way we imagined.”

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The cinematic match itself...

“The cinematic match specifically, it’s a weird one. The day we filmed, there was only three takes. It wasn’t a heavily edited act. There was two ‘stunts’ in it and the rest we just wrestled and they let us do it. 

“The thing that hurt it was, it was the first cinematic match we had filmed. It was filmed before the Boneyard match at WrestleMania, but it came out after it and I think that’s what hurt that match. 

“Because once you see the Boneyard match it’s held to a different standard. So that was a bummer, because everyone involved with the recording of our match and our peers were so happy with what we did, but then you see it get a mixed reception from the fans. It’s a tough spot.”

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On forming the tag team with Tim Thatcher...

Initially, no [I wasn’t excited about the idea]. I won’t lie to you, I just didn’t understand going back to a tag team, I didn’t know if I wanted to tag again. 

“I felt like I had done it. Then I did it and our first match was against Undisputed Era and immediately I was like ‘Oh, we’ve got something here.’

“Then after two of three of them I was like, this is fun, it’s challenging. Tim and I have great chemistry and we get on really well behind the scenes. 

“I just think he’s finding his role within the company right now and I’m hoping he’s back sooner rather than later. Especially with where my character has gone, I think there’s a lot we can do whether it be with or against each other."

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On which new NXT talent Ciampa wants to work with next...

“If I could pick anybody, it would be the third Uso, Solo Sikoa. I like his catchphrase, Street King of the Island. That vignette said star to me. 

“When I watch him come out and the way he carries himself, he looks like a star. I think if I can work with him, I can pull a greatness out of him that would turn a lot of heads, it would be amazing.”

WrestleMania 38 are on sale NOW for the AT&T stadium in Texas, April 3, 2022

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