Tommaso Ciampa’s WWE debut took place back in 2005.
Going by the name Thomas Whitney Esq., the future NXT Champion served as the legal representative for the infamous Superstar Muhammad Hassan on SmackDown. While Hassan was getting pushed by the company at the time and interacted with top names such as Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin, one angle would lead to Hassan being removed from TV immediately.
As seen on the July 7th episode of SmackDown, a controversial ending saw Hassan beckon a group of masked men to choke out The Undertaker. July 7th was also the day that multiple attacks took place in London, where over 50 people lost their lives. Following the controversial segment being broadcast and not cut from the pre-taped show, network UPN banned Hassan from appearing on SmackDown, necessitating the need for Whitney to carry on the storyline through to The Great American Bash.
At the pay-per-view, The Undertaker defeated Hassan and delivered a Last Ride onto Hassan through the stage, writing the wrestler off of WWE programming indefinitely.
Tommaso Ciampa Ordered To Deliver An Apology
While speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Ciampa recalled how he was the one tasked with delivering an apology on behalf of the company on live TV, and questioned why someone with more authority did not deliver the address:
“Yeah, he disappeared after this, but they were like you have to do an apology for his actions last week. And it has to come off as sincere and real because we’re actually apologising to the network on live TV, because that’s what they requested. And it was just bizarre because in my head at this point, I’m like, with Jamie the promoter. I’m like, why didn’t they just hire an actor? Why didn’t they hire somebody professional? And I was like, This is so bizarre.
But I was a promo guy I’ve always been a promo guy, he’s like it’s just like your penmanship promo, just go do whatever your penmanship problems. I’m like, Thank God, I have this script. I can read it and like they were like, you’re reading it. You don’t have to memorise it. So I like, okay, and then I did. I did an in-ring rehearsal with Undertaker, with Hunter, Steph and Vince and everybody watching me.”
Following a return to the company as one of the biggest names in NXT and now a member of the Raw roster, Tommaso Ciampa has admitted that he doesn’t think he would have made it if he was a part of the company 10 years ago. Recently on Raw, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano reunited to reform DIY. However, a report has revealed that the reunion should have happened a lot sooner.
If you use any quotes from this article please credit Chris Van Vliet and leave a h/t to Inside The Ropes.