WWE: Top 10 Feel Good Moments of 2018

Credit: WWE.com

Johnny Gargano Defeats Tommaso Ciampa In New Orleans

Johnny Gargano has had one crazy year in NXT, with insane matches, an even more insane rivalry with his former tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa (where he helped tell the story with Marvel Comics themed gear), and a turn to the dark side.

But before all of this, Gargano’s story started with a rivalry with Andrade Cien Almas. When Zelina Vega asked Gargano what it would take for him to leave her and Almas alone after his loss at Takeover Philadelphia, Gargano put his job on the line for one last title match. It lead to an intense affair that ended rather unexpectedly: Ciampa attacked Gargano while referee Drake Wuertz was incapacitated, allowing Almas to get the pin.

I was present at the NXT taping that happened at and it was one of the most devastating moments I’ve seen at a wrestling show. There was also a lot of wondering what was going to happen next when Gargano didn’t show up at the taping the next night. Was he getting called up? Was he leaving WWE all together?

The next taping at Full Sail answered the question though: Gargano attacked Ciampa and it lead to an unsanctioned match. If Gargano won, he got his job back. If Ciampa won, he was officially fired from NXT.

The match itself was even more nervewracking, with Gargano and Ciampa going all around the ring and beating the snot out of each other. However, in the climax of the match, Gargano tried to show mercy to Ciampa.

Ciampa tried to take out Gargano in that moment, but Gargano avoided and then caused him to tap out by using Ciampa’s leg brace across his nose. With Gargano getting the win, he got his job back and in that moment, it felt like every negative feeling Gargano had felt since Ciampa had betrayed him had been exorcised inside the Smoothie King Center, leading to the biggest moment of relief in wrestling this year.