Tommaso Ciampa believes there is better communication between NXT and the main WWE roster with Triple H and Shawn Michaels in charge.
When Vince McMahon was in control of the creative direction of WWE, NXT stars could expect to undergo major changes when they were moved up to the main roster regardless of how well their run on the developmental brand was received. For Ciampa, this meant inexplicably being paired up with The Miz despite the two characters having little in common.
However, Ciampa believes that kind of creative change is now in the past, and that successful NXT gimmicks will move to Raw or SmackDown mostly untouched. Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, the two-time NXT Champion explained that there is more communication between the brands now.
“There’s a lot more communication between the two brands now. They are a lot more in sync. For instance, if you develop a persona in NXT and it’s working, take Trick Williams for example, I don’t think when Trick Williams comes up to Raw or SmackDown that he’s going to be repackaged. They’re going to have to educate the crowd on who he is, but he’s going to give you the same Trick Williams that you’ve been getting.
“I think that was the hardest part for a long time. You did a thing in NXT, the thing worked in NXT, then you go to the main roster and it’s like, well that didn’t exist. Not in this universe, so we’re going to repackage you and put you in this position. That’s very hard on a performer.”
Looking back on his time with Miz, Cimapa admitted it didn’t make any sense to team them up, but they tried to make it work.
“Speaking first person, when I came up, I was paired up with The Miz, I love the Miz. I love Mike as a person. I love his character. I think he’s fantastic as a wrestler and as a performer, but in no way, shape or form does Miz and Tommaso Ciampa make any sense as a unit. So it was like, how do I make this work? How do I do this and stay true to myself? That’s where it becomes very hard to be the real you.”
The star believes that due to the friendship between Triple H and HBK, there will now be a smooth transition for NXT wrestlers when they move up.
“I think we’re going to see less of that now. Shawn is running creative and Hunter is running creative. Obviously, they’re very good friends, so I think that’s going to be a smoother transition for people going forward which is awesome.”
Triple H High On AEW Star
Triple H is said to be high on AEW star Daniel Garcia, with some reports claiming he believes Garcia to be the “next great technical wrestler.” Garcia’s future is currently up in the air as he is yet to re-sign with AEW and it’s thought WWE are making a push to hire the young star.
In other WWE news, new information has been released concerning ticket sales for WrestleMania 41.
H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the above transcription.