WWE NXT: The Perfect Booking of Johnny Gargano
Since the awful betrayal at the hands of Tommaso Ciampa, DIY standout Johnny Gargano has been booked perfectly. In addition to his first storyline since coming back to NXT, Gargano has taken fans through a roller coaster ride of emotions, and it’s been absolutely phenomenal.
Everyone seems to agree that between the incredible storytelling, and prime in-ring work, NXT is the best weekly product that WWE delivers. Under the guidance of Triple H, the black and yellow brand has gone from eyeroll-inducing reality TV show, to one of the best wrestling shows in North America. This is, in large part, thanks to some of the best wrestlers in the world flocking to Orlando to begin their WWE careers over the years in NXT.
Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, and more recently, Ricochet and Adam Cole, have all made their mark on the yellow brand. The distinct “underground” feel of NXT adds to its charm in a major way, and it almost feels like the indie federation of WWE, but with more of a creative through line than most independent companies. And, like any American independent company worth their salt, they’ve included Mr. Wrestling, Johnny Gargano.
Johnny Gargano is one of the most lovable babyfaces in the entire wrestling world. Or at least, he was. And honestly, that’s what’s so interesting about him. Gargano has gone from one of the loudest crowd reactions in NXT, to being the ultimate tweener for the yellow brand. But, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. How did we get here?
Just a few short months ago, Gargano wasn’t even an NXT employee, at least in storyline. He gave up his career for a shot at Andrade Cien Almas’s NXT Championship, and came this close, but fell just short. Mere months later, he put his entire career up against the ultimate bad guy, his former best friend, Tommaso Ciampa. Gargano, finally, achieved the ultimate moment of catharsis and defeated the evil that was Ciampa. Many thought this would be where the storyline ended, but really, it was only starting to get interesting.
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Since that point on WrestleMania 34 weekend, Gargano has become the perfect tweener character in wrestling. Not to mention, his storyline has become one of the most must-see storylines in recent WWE history. In both of their last two meetings, Tommaso Ciampa has emerged victorious. Not only that, but Gargano has come so close on both occasions. Gargano has gone from a man obsessed with getting revenge on his former best friend, to a man who is once again desperate to just get a victory.
As Gargano’s main character trait, the mantra of “all heart” has allowed him to almost turn heel. Not in the traditional way, but in a near double-turn with Tomasso Ciampa, based solely on the brutality of Gargano’s actions during their bouts. NXT fans still cheer for Gargano, but some of the lengths he is willing to go to, just to make sure Ciampa feels his revenge, are flat out brutal.
Honestly, it’s perfect. Gargano is such a perfect character for this angle, simply because fans just really want to connect with him. At heart, Gargano is a lovable babyface character who just happens to be one of the best wrestlers not only in WWE, but in the world over. In addition to that, this is going to make Johnny Wrestling’s moment so much sweeter.
The Gargano vs Ciampa story can really only end one way: Johnny Gargano has to overcome his demons and take down Ciampa, clean, once and for all. It’s so perfect, and it needs to happen. Not to say that Gargano couldn’t bounce back from the a loss in this feud, but it’s because of how wrestling works. The babyface always comes around, and the heel always gets his comeuppance for his actions.
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The way NXT has milked this storyline is honestly a thing of beauty; Gargano vs Ciampa should be admired as a chief example of great wrestling storytelling. Specifically, the way Gargano has been written in the past year is a phenomenal example of the fiery babyface who has lost their way. Make no mistake, wrestling fans, Johnny Wrestling will be back. He just has to deal with some personal demons first, and Tommaso Ciampa is first up on the list.