6 Ups & 4 Downs From NXT 401

4. Johnny Gargano's Directionless Return
NXT 401 Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

Johnny Gargano's in-ring promo was intended to build hype for his return after being dramatically merked by his tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa. The crowd reacted well to him, especially when he said he was 'still Johnny Wrestling' for a major pop.

Unfortunately that was about all he said. He wants to be at Takeover: Brooklyn, but there was no indication of who he intends to face or why. The obvious answer is Ciampa and NXT would be pretty crazy not to cash in this feud on the big stage, but Gargano made barely any mention of his nemesis, or of any other opponent for that matter.

Presumably NXT is going to give Gargano a run at a couple of other opponents before building directly to Ciampa, but Gargano's promo didn't line up anyone for him to face before then. It would have been the perfect time to set him up against somebody but that didn't happen, and while the crowd appreciated seeing him the segment didn't advance anything and served only to remind us that Gargano is a nice guy who exists.

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Ben Counter is a fantasy and science fiction writer, gaming enthusiast, wrestling fan and miniature painting guru. He was raised on Warhammer, Star Wars and 1980s cartoons that, in retrospect, were't that good. Whoever you are, he is nerdier than you.