It was revealed a few weeks ago that Tommaso Ciampa needed neck surgery and he was forced to vacate the NXT Championship.
Ciampa was originally planned to face off against Johnny Gargano in the main event of NXT Takeover: New York. It will now be Gargano vs Adam Cole instead.
Ciampa issued a statement on Twitter after having neck surgery. Here is what he posted:
“In May of 2017 they told me that no one has ever had 3 major surgeries in a 12 week span and returned at a competitive level.
I returned to the most successful run of my career.
This week I should be preparing to walk into the main event of Takeover New York on Wrestlemania weekend as the NXT Champion. This match meant more to me than anyone will ever understand.
The opportunity was taken away from me.
In March of 2019 they told me that if I return then I will be on borrowed time.
To be continue…”
We wish him the best of luck in his recovery.
On a related note, check out the highest-rated NXT Takeover matches of all time.