WWE Superstar Tommaso Ciampa Has Departed from the WWE:

WWE Superstar Tommaso Ciampa has made it known he'll not renew his WWE Contract and will let it run out as he looks to become a free agent shortly. (Image by WWE)

After an 11-year tenure with WWE, Tommaso Ciampa informed the company that he would be leaving and not renewing his contract, as first reported by Bodyslam on their Patreon.

Ciampa carved out one of the best heel runs in recent wrestling history, becoming the face of NXT in the late 2010s when the brand was at its peak. His rivalry with long-time friend and foe Johnny Gargano produced some of NXT’s most memorable moments. During his time there, Ciampa held the NXT Championship once and became a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion with Gargano as D.I.Y.

When Ciampa was called up to the main roster in 2022, his momentum stalled. He was quickly slotted in as a lackey for The Miz, and an untimely injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2022 and the first half of 2023. Upon his return, he hovered in the mid-card with no clear direction. Reuniting D.I.Y. with Gargano finally gave him some purpose again, leading to two reigns as WWE Tag Team Champions.

News of his departure is especially surprising to fans because Ciampa has long been viewed as one of Triple H’s favorites. Many assumed that with Triple H running creative, Ciampa would break into the upper card or even the main event scene. Instead, he remained anchored to the tag division. While D.I.Y. became the faces of SmackDown’s tag team scene, it was clear Ciampa was capable of much more as a singles act—something he had already proven from 2018 to 2021 as the centerpiece of NXT.

The core problem was that Ciampa was rarely given the chance to lean into the qualities that made him special: his ability to cut intense, compelling promos and consistently deliver high-level matches. Late in 2025, his United States Title feud with Ilja Dragunov showed flashes of that potential as they tore the house down, though Ciampa ultimately fell short. Once again, if it wasn’t tag-related, WWE seemed reluctant to elevate him. That was underscored last night when Johnny Gargano came to the ring without Ciampa by his side; instead, his real-life wife, Candice LeRae, accompanied him as he challenged Carmelo Hayes for the United States Title.

Ciampa entering free agency is a major development. He has the tools to be a top contributor wherever he lands. WWE is losing someone who could have been much more than a tag team specialist. In the rare instances when he was allowed to be himself—such as his programs with Gunther and Dragunov—he delivered in a big way. Now, he immediately becomes one of wrestling’s hottest free agents, with the in-ring ability and mic skills to hang with anyone.

His exit also highlights a broader issue within WWE’s booking philosophy: talented performers often find themselves pigeonholed into certain roles or “bubbles.” Ciampa was stuck in the tag team bubble and never got to fully show his range on the main roster. At 40 years old, he still has plenty of great matches left. Speculation is already swirling about his future—whether he’ll take some time off and eventually return to WWE, or test himself in another promotion.

Wherever he goes next, I wish Tommaso Ciampa nothing but success. Any company that signs him is getting a complete performer who can contribute in every aspect of professional wrestling.

Tommaso Ciampa – WWE Accomplishments:

• 2x NXT Champion

• 1x NXT Tag Team Champion

• 2x WWE Tag Team Champion