WWE's Tommaso Ciampa Dealing With Unknown Injury?

This was why the NXT Champion wasn't on Raw or SmackDown this week...

by Andy H Murray
Tommaso Ciampa NXT Champion
WWE.com

Tommaso Ciampa was one of four NXT standouts to jump to WWE's main roster last week, but he and partner-turned-rival-turned-partner Johnny Gargano didn't make it onto Raw or SmackDown this week.

The reason for this is simple: the reigning NXT Champion is injured, and may now be forced to take significant time off between the ropes.

This is according to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He writes that not only was Ciampa forced to miss this week's TV due to the injury, but also a string over NXT live events over the weekend, adding that he has been working through it for quite some time.

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While it's clear that Ciampa is struggling, there's currently no word on whether or not this latest issue is related to the ACL problem that sidelined him for 11 months from May 2017. Its extent is unknown, though he is expected to take some time off to deal with the matter after TakeOver: New York on 5 April.

A huge blow for Ciampa, who has become NXT's franchise player since returning last year, but at least it sounds like he'll be able to cope with whatever WWE have planned for him at TakeOver.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.