WWE NXT: Evaluating Tommaso Ciampa’s Reign After TakeOver Phoenix

via wwe.com

Unfinished Business and a Bad Finish

Ciampa’s first title defense was originally scheduled as a triple threat between Black and Gargano, but an impromptu injury would change plans drastically. The TakeOver Brooklyn IV title match would be changed to another Ciampa vs Gargano match, this time in a Last Man Standing match. To close out their trilogy of matches, these two put on another barn burner. Unfortunately, one thing that stopped it from being another classic was the finish.

The finish of the match saw Gargano launch a knee at the champion with such speed and ferocity that he sent himself crashing into a box in the electronic area, injuring his knee in the process and destroying his chances at winning. The finish isn’t a knock against Ciampa particularly and, again, the match was still great. It’s just that it made a lot of fans view Gargano as an idiot and subsequently inspired some “Johnny Failure” chants that would emerge in the coming weeks.

While Johnny Wrestling didn’t come out of his feud with Tommy Entertainment looking so hot, the latter looked like a million bucks. His boos were louder than ever and his heat just as hot with the title in his hand. Sadly for Ciampa, things would take a steep turn in the coming months.