Tommaso Ciampa Praises Mark Briscoe, Says Watching Briscoe’s Singles Run ‘Genuinely Touched My Heart’

The history between Ciampa and Briscoe was spoken about.

Upon Tommaso Ciampa’s debut for All Elite Wrestling, he stepped up to the current TNT Champion, Mark Briscoe. They are set to go one-on-one with the title on the line at the 1/31 AEW Collision.

Their history dates back to their days together in Ring of Honor.

Ciampa was interviewed by SHAK Wrestling and spoke about Briscoe’s singles run that he’s been on. Ciampa said it has genuinely touched his heart and added that he could not have chosen a better first opponent to debut in AEW against.

“I just wanna touch on Mark Briscoe. I’ve always loved The Briscoes. I always will love them, I have nothing but respect for them. What he’s done as a singles wrestler is incredible to me. Watching that from the sidelines genuinely touched my heart to see how much he succeeded because he deserves it. With that said, the very last match I ever had in Ring of Honor was in Texas, and there’s some real bittersweetness to coming back full circle, 13-something-whatever years later, and stepping into the ring with Mark Briscoe, and this is a new Mark Briscoe and this is a new Tommaso Ciampa, and we just so happen to be in Texas, and there’s no ROH Title this time. It’s a TNT Title… There’s so much fun to be had there. I couldn’t pick a better first opponent in my wildest dreams, because he is the most likeable babyface, arguably in all of professional wrestling. He’s impossible not to like. I like him so much that I had to give him a kiss, and to get in there with him on Saturday with the TNT Championship, knowing it’s my first-ever match in All Elite Wrestling, I’m stoked about it. I think the people are going to be completely fulfilled and get their money’s worth, because Mark’s an incredible wrestler and I have a lot to prove. So tune into Collision, because it’s my first-ever match and it ain’t ever happening again.”

Below is the match card for the 1/31 AEW Collision:

• Darby Allin vs. Clark Connors
• CRU (Lio Rush & Action Andretti) vs. The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) (w/ Myron Reed)
• AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: Babes of Wrath (Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale) (c) vs. Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue)
• TNT Championship: Mark Briscoe (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa

If the quote in this article is used, please credit SHAK Wrestling with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.