WWE NXT: Examining How Johnny Gargano Slowly Found The Darkness

via wwe.com

Crackling Crackles of a Cracking Relationship (Say That Five Times Fast)

Speaking of a rock in a hard place, despite their bond seeming solid as a rock, there were some bumpy cracks in their relationship along the way. The first coming in the first ever Cruiserweight Classic. Both men competed in the First Round, but only one man advanced to the Second Round. Gargano defeated Ciampa in a hard fought match, but Ciampa seemed salty about the altercation.

Gargano offered his DIY mate a handshake, but Ciampa refused and opted to walk away. This was the first major test of their friendship and for a moment, it looked like Ciampa was ready to throw it away right then and there. However, after some contemplation, Ciampa reconsidered and gave Gargano a hug. Their brotherly bond was tight again. For now.

Another crack in the relationship would come from their first crack at the NXT Tag Team Championships against The Revival at TakeOver Brooklyn II. DIY would fail to win the titles that night and once again, Ciampa looked despondent. He still raised his partner’s hand to a standing ovation after the match and even helped him out of the ring, but he had a different look in his eyes compared to Johnny Wrestling’s. While Johnny was more physically and mentally hurt, Ciampa looked like he was dejected; like he was just tired of losing.

Thankfully, all it took was the next TakeOver event – Toronto – where over a year of ups and downs failing to get the job done would pay off for the duo when DIY finally captured the NXT Tag Team Titles from The Revival at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Their journey had finally come full circle after over a year of chasing victories and championships. Sadly, this championship reign would prove to be short lived as they would lose the titles to Authors of Pain at the next TakeOver two months later.

DIY then lost a rematch – a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team match that included The Revival – at TakeOver: New Orleans where they were the first men eliminated from the match. Some months later, DIY would get one last shot at challenging AOP for the NXT Tag Team Championships in a Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: Chicago.

Remember that 70’s song from Paper Lace called “The Night Chicago Died?” Well, all it took was a night in Chicago to kill DIY. NXT TakeOver: Chicago was the night that DIY died. Na-na-na, na-na-na.