WWE: Johnny Gargano pulled the ultimate fake-out on Tommaso Ciampa

On the Mar. 13 episode of WWE NXT, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa fell to Aleister Black and Ricochet in the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, but it was Gargano’s actions to close the show that provided wrestling fans with the real cliffhanger on the road to TakeOver: New York.

The Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa storyline will have to be put on hold due to Ciampa’s scary neck injury, but on the taped Mar. 13 episode of WWE NXT, wrestling fans witnessed an interesting moment in the relationship between the DIY teammates.

After losing an electrifying match to Aleister Black and Ricochet in the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic that DEFINITELY delivered, Gargano sat dejected outside the ring, nursing a lower-body injury.

Candice LeRae, who really needs an NXT Women’s Championship storyline by the way, emerged from backstage to help Gargano, but she wasn’t the only one supporting him by his side. Ciampa, his long-time friend-turned-rival-turned-friend-again, helped Gargano to his feet and supported the fallen superstar’s weight as the trio walked up the ramp.

Even with the support, Gargano couldn’t quite make it backstage, collapsing on the stage area. Ciampa helped his partner to his feet, and, as he did, Gargano drunk in the support from the NXT Universe.

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But the sinister Ciampa loomed behind him, and with that trademark evil glimmer in his eye, he grabbed Gargano and attempted to throw him into the LED board for a second DIY betrayal.

Gargano saw it coming all the way.

Yelling, “Not this time!” at Ciampa, Gargano countered NXT’s scourge, threw him into the LED board, and put the boots to him. The NXT Universe cheered Gargano’s apparent turn back to the “light” side, as Gargano screamed “Johnny Wrestling is back!”

For as much criticism as the Gargano/Ciampa storyline has recently received for being convoluted, the fans at Full Sail soaked up this show-closing angle. They’ve enjoyed booing Gargano, who put on an instant classic match at TakeOver: Phoenix against Ricochet to win the North American Championship, but they were also eager to resume cheering the Cleveland native.

It will be interesting to see what comes next for Gargano, because the story was supposed to end with an NXT Championship match between Ciampa and “Johnny Wrestling” as TakeOver: New York, in a match that would hopefully exceed their all-timer at TakeOver: New Orleans during last WWE WrestleMania weekend.

However, Ciampa’s horrible, saddening neck injury leaves the immediate future of this feud in doubt, and Ciampa’s health is by far the more important thing here.

In storyline, though, Johnny Gargano appears to be a babyface again, and even with Ciampa out, he should still be headed for a significant role at TakeOver: New York. His matches, of course, always deliver, and you could feel the energy emanating through the screen when Gargano took agency for himself and was finally in control of his actions, shedding the “puppetmaster” Ciampa by finally beating him at his own games, baiting Ciampa when he knew the Blackheart’s loyalty didn’t truly lie with Gargano.

And maybe, just maybe, Gargano was the mastermind all along.