Report: Scrapped Plans For Tommaso Ciampa's WWE Raw Return Revealed

Tommaso Ciampa made his return to WWE TV on the June 19 episode of Monday Night Raw, answering The Miz's open challenge. 

It was initially teased that Ciampa and Miz would rekindle their alliance from 2022 but the two-time NXT Champion knocked Miz down and faced him in an impromptu match. Ciampa would pick up the win with the Fairytale Ending after four minutes. 

That wasn't the original plan for Ciampa's return, however. Better Wrestling Experience has reported that Ciampa was initially scheduled to make his return by answering Seth Rollins' open challenge. WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H ended up scrapping those plans as he didn't want Ciampa to lose in his return match. 

Seth Rollins didn't end up actually holding an open challenge on Monday Night Raw as he was attacked from behind by Finn Balor. Reports have indicated that Vince McMahon changed the first 30 minutes of Raw in an attempt to heat up Finn Balor ahead of his World Heavyweight Title match with Rollins at Money in the Bank on July 1. 

Ciampa had been out of action since September 2022. He underwent hip surgery one month later. WWE's long-term plans for Ciampa reportedly call for him to reunite with Johnny Gargano and reform #DIY. 

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