Did AEW Try To Sign Top Star Before He Left WWE? Truth Revealed

A popular star revealed whether AEW had approached him while he was under contract with WWE. The star in question is Tommaso Ciampa.

At the beginning of 2026, Tommaso Ciampa departed WWE after nearly a decade with the company. He had a great run in NXT and also won the tag team titles a couple of times on the main roster. Following his departure from the Stamford-based promotion, Ciampa joined All Elite Wrestling.

Since joining Tony Khan’s promotion, Ciampa has been a former TNT Champion and has consistently given great in-ring performances over the past few months. He is currently in a feud with Chris Jericho, whom he defeated on Dynamite: Beach Break last Wednesday in a singles encounter.

When he joined AEW in January 2026, Tommaso Ciampa explained his big decision of going All Elite after leaving WWE:

It’s something I’ve been leaning towards for quite some time. I don’t know that I can say there’s one sole factor that led to it or caused it. I think it’s one of those things when your contract is coming to an end, you naturally have discussions,” revealed Ciampa.

Tommaso Ciampa on whether AEW tried to sign him before he left WWE

There have been speculations that AEW and Tony Khan tried to tamper with Tommaso Ciampa’s contract while he was signed with WWE. Speaking on Stick to Sports recently, Ciampa revealed that there was a leaked report that he was leaving the Stamford-based promotion while he was still under contract, but he was glad about that:

The best thing to happen to me is that there was a leaked internet report when I had about two or three months left on my deal that said, ‘Ciampa is leaving WWE. We don’t know why, but when his deal is up, he’s leaving.’ I have no idea where that came from, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It raised this interest, and I started to get a lot of inquiries.”

Tommaso Ciampa further disclosed that AEW and Tony Khan didn’t tamper with his contract before he even left WWE:

‘Oh, look at these options I have.’ AEW wasn’t even part of that because, in Tony’s defense, he is very adamant that there is no tampering.” [h/t fightful]

Tommaso Ciampa says the leaked report about him leaving WWE was the best thing that happened to him.

Tommaso Ciampa: "The best thing to happen to me is that there was a leaked internet report when I had about two or three months left on my (WWE) deal that said, ‘Ciampa is… pic.twitter.com/kmZ6UR0Y4f

— The Squared Times (@TheSquaredTimes) July 15, 2026

It remains to be seen what’s next for Tommaso Ciampa in All Elite Wrestling.

Also read: Major AEW Star Ready To Return After 514 Days: “No More Barriers”