The former NXT Champion Ciampa recently moved to main roster and turned heel on last week’s WWE Raw, when he attacked Ali following the latter’s win over The Miz. Mustafa Ali has also made a return to WWE programming after being off-screen since October 2021.
According to the Fightful Select reports, during a taping of Main Event, Ciampa was originally scheduled to face former United States Champion Finn Bálor. But WWE booked Ciampa as a babyface and had him take on former Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews.
It’s also noted that source within WWE confirmed that Ciampa would have worked as a heel against Finn Bálor. Ciampa also undergone a name change since his move to Monday Night Raw. The former Tommaso Ciampa now only goes by his surname.
On this week’s Monday Night Raw, Mustafa Ali faced The Miz and US Champion Theory in 2-on-1 handicap match, in which he lost. Following his loss, Ciampa once again attacked Ali in straight second week.
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