Nobody Will Do It For You: The Rise And Fall Of #DIY
8. "Takeover: Chicago Was My Moment"
A final fight between AOP and #DIY would come May 20th 2017 at Takeover: Chicago in a ladder match. Despite a fight for the ages, Akam and Rezar again proved too much for Ciampa and Gargano. Cheered on by the crowd even in defeat, Gargano and Ciampa staggered up the aisle, each supporting the other.
It was then, at the top of the ramp, that Ciampa hurled Gargano into the screens in the most shocking heel turn of NXT history. With the crowd chanting "F**k you, Ciampa!" he laid a beat down on Gargano, and the show went off the air as he stared down at the EMTs tending to his fallen partner.
On May 31st 2017, Ciampa addressed the crowd about his actions. His beard already growing out, seemingly unused to the boos he was receiving, he began by calling Johnny Gargano out to the ring to explain his actions. When Gargano failed to appear, Ciampa turned on the crowd, asking them if they wanted to replace Johnny, then began his own story about being replaced.
"I sustained an injury and questions started to circulate whether or not I would be able to perform by Takeover: Chicago. In a mere 24 hours all those questions started to turn to these hypotheticals. You people started to replace me with dream partners for Johnny Gargano. It took less than one day for me to become an afterthought. Well, newsflash, I'm not a damn afterthought!"
The rage was obvious and yet restrained as if Ciampa was appealing to the crowd. Listen to me, he implored them, hear the sense I'm speaking. Know why I had to do this. He explained that he was injured further in the ladder match and knew he would have to go away for a long time.
"Johnny and I would talk for the last two years, night after night, about our moment; about how we were searching for our moment. Takeover: Chicago was supposed to be our moment. It wasn't our moment. Takeover: Chicago was my moment.
His explanation given, Ciampa turned on the crowd.
"This ring, for me is not replaceable. Tommaso Ciampa is not, nor will he ever be, replaceable. Johnny Gargano, he's not replaceable. You know what is replaceable? You."
After vowing to return the most dangerous man in NXT, Tommaso Ciampa walked away for eight months.
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