7 Ups And 3 Downs From NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV

2. Ciampa Stands Tall

Given how molten crowds have been at the sight of NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, it’s no real surprise that he retained his title Saturday night.

Ciampa is something of a revelation as champion, evoking such a strong reaction from fans and playing the jerk heel to a ‘T.’ On top of that, he’s outstanding in the ring, backing up his character extremely well. He took a brutal beating in Brooklyn, but he also dished one out.

Johnny Gargano was looking for that fairy tale ending, but his overzealousness got the best of him at TakeOver, as he delivered a running knee strike that injured himself and led to his own defeat. It’s a case of the hero being his own worst enemy. The match itself was off the charts with hard-hitting action and cheer-out-loud and cringe-worthy moments.

While that stinks for those who wanted to see this story wrapped up neatly with a bow, it keeps the Ciampa as champ angle going while it’s still breathing fire. Gargano will have to find another way to exact revenge.