5 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE NXT (Apr 25)
1. Feud Of The Year
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa's TakeOver: New Orleans war was perfect, but nobody should've mistaken it for the end. Their's was a story with far, far too much mileage to cut off so early, and while Gargano's triumph was as cathartic a moment as WWE will deliver all year, the 'Blackheart' was always going to strike back, and it happened in dramatic fashion last night.
Wrestling's best babyface was getting ready for his NXT Championship bout with Aleister Black. Ciampa, now sporting an eyepatch (which makes him look like even more of a villain), destroyed him. It almost backfired when Gargano fired back up, but a low blow cut the hero off. From there, an Air Raid Crash off the stage put Ciampa's former partner away, and WWE went all in on selling the gravity of the situation by having Gargano stretchered out.
The most memorable visual came a few moments later. Johnny was wheeled into an ambulance, and as it left, the cameras caught sight of Tommaso stood atop an NXT truck, waving his enemy goodbye.
Such shots have come to define their rivalry, and Ciampa stood atop his lofty perch is one that will live long in the memory. They're telling a story for the ages here. Keeping it up will be difficult, but there'll never be a shortage of heat, and the performers' skill will transcend any writing flubs. Here's to a war that never ends...