Wrestler Turns Heel, Gets New Ring Name On WWE Raw
A turn AND a name change on the same episode of WWE Raw? Busy night for this star.
A former NXT Champion had an eventful night on last night's episode of Raw, turning heel and undergoing a seemingly permanent name change at the same time.
Tommaso Ciampa was the wrestler in question. Having previously appeared on Raw as a babyface, the main roster newcomer attacked returnee Mustafa Ali on the ramp following the comeback king's victory over The Miz, which was his first in WWE since August 2021. Although the cameras were quick to cut away from the scene of the crime, the angle suggested Tommaso had gone heel.
WWE's announcers referred to the former 'Blackheart' exclusively as "Ciampa" during this, not referencing his forename once. This is because of a recent name change. Per TVA Sports Quebec's Kevin Raphael, the 36-year-old will go by "Ciampa" from now on, with "Tommaso" seemingly going the way of the dodo.
Ciampa's switch is the latest in an ongoing series of WWE name changes, as the promotion works to remove old independent monickers and real names from its television shows, with a few exceptions.
Raw's 11 April episode hosted Ciampa's first show back on the main roster, having left NXT following a defeat to Tony D'Angelo at Stand & Deliver nine days prior.