5 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE NXT (Feb 21)
2. The Ballad Of Johnny & Andrade
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.