Tommaso Ciampa on AEW match vs. Mark Briscoe: ‘I know we have chemistry’
Tommaso Ciampa spoke about his AEW in-ring debut match against Mark Briscoe during a recent interview with The Takedown on SI.com.
After the TNT Champion successfully retained his title against El Clon on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Briscoe put out an open challenge for someone to face him on Collision. The debuting Ciampa came out to answer the call.
“I love the Briscoes so much,” Ciampa said. “I have so much respect for them. Mark has always been, to me, the ultimate babyface. He’s impossible to dislike. His fire, his charisma… the second I saw him [Wednesday night on Dynamite] and locked eyes, it was just perfect.”
Saturday’s match will be the first time Briscoe and Ciampa have faced each other since 2013. Their full match from ROH Pursuit night two on November 16 that year was posted to ROH’s YouTube channel earlier this week.
Ciampa also said that he and Briscoe will “just figure it out” as they go on Saturday.
Ciampa continued:
“I think the finest product comes out when it’s organic, and Saturday night, man, it’s gonna be like we’ve touched for the first time ever. And I can’t wait to just figure it out as we go. He hits hard and he can take a licking and I think everyone knows what to expect. It’s gonna be smashmouth.”
“I’m excited ’cause I get to go do what I do with one of my buddies, who I haven’t even seen for over a decade. I know we have chemistry and I just can’t wait to get in there with him and test myself. All Elite Wrestling is where the best professional wrestlers in the world play. Let’s find out.”
For Briscoe, he’ll be looking to defend the TNT title for a fourth time since winning it from Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear. He’s already retained the belt in matches against Daniel Garcia, Hechicero, and El Clon.
Ciampa’s full interview with The Takedown on SI.com is available here.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.