Tommaso Ciampa returned to WWE NXT, staring down current champion Adam Cole. Out since February, due to a neck injury, Ciampa is likely set to embark on a journey which may end with him recapturing the NXT title. It was only one of the standout moments on a very pivotal episode for the black and gold brand.

Ciampa is known for his partnership and, subsequent rivalry, with Johnny Gargano. Displaying chemistry both as friends and as enemies, they’ve been involved in some of NXT’s most memorable matches. Earlier this year, the duo had even wrestled on both Raw and Smackdown. But the toll of professional wrestling, and its inherent risks, eventually caught up to Ciampa. He underwent neck surgery, which kept him out of the ring for many months and reportedly led to WWE canceling their plans to conclude the long-running storyline between Ciampa and Gargano. Although his best work has happened, arguably, when Ciampa leaned into the role of a dastardly villain, his untimely injury and the way he’s chronicled his recovery on social media has led to an outpouring of support. Rather than continue with Ciampa as the bad guy, NXT has shifted course upon his return.

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On the October 2nd episode of NXT, just as the show was about to go off the air after an eventful two hours, Ciampa made a surprise return. Staring down Adam Cole, the current NXT champion, Ciampa made his intentions clear without uttering a word: he wants his title back. It likely won’t be as simple as a one-on-one match. Finn Balor, who also made his return, confronted Cole in a similar manner. This could lead to a triple threat. Alternatively, a tournament could take place to determine Cole’s next challenger. There’s an abundance of viable contenders on the roster and a tournament could be a way of familiarizing NXT’s talent to the new USA Network audience.

The episode, NXT’s first full two hours on USA Network since the move was first announced, had plenty of other big moments. The show opened with a highly-praised match between Cole and Matt Riddle for the NXT title. Gargano had the spotlight on him, against Shane Throne, and emerged victorious. In women’s action, Io Shirai defeated Mia Yim while Shayna Baszler retained her Women’s Championship by submitting Candice LeRae. In the main event, just before Ciampa appeared, Cole’s cohorts in The Undisputed Era kept their tag team gold.

It’s only the first week where AEW and WWE are going against each other, on the same night and in the same timeslot. But if these opening salvos are any indication, it’s the fans who will benefit from the competition. There are a lot of options on what type of wrestling to watch and, for now, everyone seems interested in bringing their best to the table.

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Source: WWE NXT