Ciampa says that the NXT 2.0 rebranding process wasn't that challenging for him because he focused on controlling what he could and adapting as much as possible.
"The Blackheart" won the NXT Championship for the second time on September 14, 2021, the first night of the 2.0 Era. As someone who was one of the show's most prominent stars throughout the black-and-gold years, many fans wondered how Ciampa and other veterans would fare in the new NXT. Among other changes, this different version leaned away from established stars like Ciampa and Johnny Gargano and focused on elevating younger talent. Though he won the title early on, Ciampa and his many of his peers were gradually phased out of the roster.
Speaking with Jon Alba of Ad-Free Shows during a media scrum ahead of SummerSlam 2022, Ciampa was asked about the challenges linked to the NXT 2.0 rebranding process.
"So it wasn’t all that challenging, to be fair," Ciampa responded. "I feel like if it had happened ten years ago, it would have been a lot harder for me. I just feel like I was at the right point in my career and my life, my professional life. You learn to adapt. The longer you do this and the more reps you get, you just adapt. That’s really what the 2.0 thing was for me. You recognize, I control what I control, I don’t control the rest. I’m just gonna continue to apply myself, take the most of these opportunities."
Ciampa went on to note that becoming the first NXT Champion in the 2.0 Era meant a lot to him because it was a substantial role, considering the circumstances. He also stated that working with energetic young talent was fun.
"I got pretty damn lucky. I became the first NXT 2.0 Champion. That was a very significant role. There was a lot of trust put into that. Working with Bron Breakker and a lot of the young guys down there, the Creed Brothers and stuff, there’s a lot of real genuine energy that you don’t get when you’re 20 years in. So it was awesome. It wasn’t all that challenging. I guess just wrestling guys who are newer, it’s like, 'Okay, gotta talk to them a lot more', but it was just a lot of fun," he said.
Ciampa is now a member of the WWE Raw roster, and he will challenge for the United States Championship on the August 8 episode of the show. His comments about this opportunity are available here.
Access to this interview was granted via a subscription to AdFreeShows. Subscribe at this link for access to early podcast releases from names such as Jim Ross, Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard, Kurt Angle, and more.
If you use any of the quotes above, transcription credit should go to Fightful with a H/T linking back to this article.
