5 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE NXT (Feb 21)

2. The Ballad Of Johnny & Andrade

Andrade Almas
WWE.com

If this is the end, Gargano vs. Almas was a great in-ring rivalry. It felt more like a New Japan Pro Wrestling program than typical WWE fodder, as the most memorable storytelling moments took place in the ring, not through over-the-top soap opera theatrics. On top of this, it wasn't just a case of two wrestlers being thrown together for the sake of feuding, but the intersection of two fantastic individual storylines over an elongated period of time, resulting in some of the best matches in NXT history.

Gargano's story saw him become developmental's most beloved babyface. Tommaso Ciampa's turn was gut-wrenching, and since then, Johnny has become the ultimate underdog, scratching and clawing his way to the top. Inversely, Almas started his run as a good guy, but struggled to get over. His fortunes didn't improve until long after he'd turned heel, with Zelina Vega's arrival prompting a huge upturn, transforming him from listless midcarder to genuine superstar.

Their vastly differing routes to the top are what made this rivalry so special. Ciampa now seems to be in Gargano's future, while Almas will face one of Killian Dain or Aleister Black in New Orleans. They're going their separate ways for now, but we can only hope they meet again in the future, as their tale has been nothing short of wonderful.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.