Why Johnny Gargano Shouldn’t Win at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV

Johnny ‘Wrestling’ vs. Tommaso Ciampa has been THE feud of 2018 for WWE. But it shouldn’t culminate in an NXT Championship for Gargano at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV.

The last three NXT TakeOver shows have blown the WWE main roster show they shared the weekend with out of the water, and there is a good reason for that, Johnny Gargano.

The main event in the last three TakeOver events has had one consistent player, Gargano. At TakeOver: Philadelphia, Gargano wrestled then NXT Champion Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas in a losing effort. At TakeOver: New Orleans, Gargano took on Tommaso Ciampa in the long-awaited grudge match and won, only to lose to Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II in brutal fashion.

With SummerSlam weekend on the horizon, and with it NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV, it looks like the Gargano vs. Ciampa saga may be drawing to a close. (For now at least.)

Since, Ciampa is the current NXT Champion, after winning the belt off of Alestair Black on NXT TV last week, WWE could be building toward the final rivalry ending title match between the pair.

WWE has been really smart in the way they have booked this feud. Still, though, there is no guarantee that Gargano vs. Ciampa will even have an NXT Title match at TakeOver: Brooklyn, but all signs point to that being the match.

While seeing Gargano finally win the NXT Championship would be great, heel Ciampa is the best thing going in NXT, and that doesn’t need to end so soon.

Ciampa with the gold around his waist makes his character that much more interesting. He has a reason to be the un-yielding bully he has been since NXT TakeOver Chicago over a year ago. He has even more of a reason to take every shortcut in the book to keep his NXT Championship.

Plus, Gargano should really be heading up to the main roster after SummerSlam anyways. He’s told just about every story he can in NXT, and SmackDown Live is in dire need of a babyface other than AJ Styles and the injured Jeff Hardy.

Gargano can make his debut on the episode after SummerSlam, and instantly make an impact by joining the United States title picture. He can go on to be a major player on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series, and maybe even win the match for his show.

Then at the Royal Rumble, Gargano can be on a roll. He is the only man left standing in the ring halfway through, but then a debuting Ciampa comes in through the crowd to eliminate Gargano…only to eliminate himself after doing his signature wave. Ciampa walks back out through the crowd leaving Gargano broken at the bottom of the ramp once again.

This would keep the rivalry fresh in the minds of the fans, and make the fans all the more interested for Ciampa’s eventual call-up after Mania.

Gargano has had a nice three-year career in NXT, though the first year he was also taking independent bookings in 2015 and parts of 2016. It’s time for him to go up to the main roster and bolster their lackluster PPVs by churning out yet another five-star match in 2018, bringing his total to three on the year.