NXT News: Ciampa Injury, Itami Heel Turn, Dunne/Bate Main Roster, More

The Velveteen Dream

Former WWE Tough Enough contestant Patrick Clark “officially” debuted his “Velveteen Dream” gimmick on this week’s NXT episode, defeating jobber Robert Anthony. The match was taped before NXT TakeOver: Chicago. Clark has appeared on NXT TV previously, with an earlier version of his gimmick, but this is his first debut under the full blown gimmick and new name after NXT ran weeks of promos. They are no longer referring to him as “Patrick Clark.”

Hideo Itami

NXT may turn Hideo Itami heel. They seemed to tease a possible feud with Kassius Ohno in a YouTube video posted after TakeOver, where Itami started trashing the locker room and got into a confrontation with Ohno.

Ciampa Injury

Tommaso Ciampa made his sprained ankle worse during his match at TakeOver, according to Dave Meltzer. Ciampa sprained it at a house show a couple of nights before the event, but the TakeOver match and post-match breakup angle was obviously very important, so he wrestled in a situation where he likely normally wouldn’t have. Ciampa was apparently “injured again” but it has not been fully evaluated as of now.

Ciampa Moves Out

Tommaso Ciampa seemed to move out of the apartment that he shares in real life with Johnny Gargano in Orlando:

Goodbye, old friend… pic.twitter.com/IphCkVXNkJ

— Tommaso Ciampa (@ProjectCiampa) May 23, 2017

Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate

Currently, there don’t appear to be any plans for Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate to move to the main roster, according to Dave Meltzer. That obviously could change, with them putting on the match of the night (and possibly match of the year) at TakeOver, and both guys still being very young (Bate is 20 and Dunne is 23).