Ranking Tommaso Ciampa's 10 Greatest NXT Matches
Bidding adieu to the Blackheart of the Black and Gold.
In one of the most poignant moments of NXT’s recent Stand & Deliver show, it was all but confirmed that Tommaso Ciampa is done in WWE developmental. He preceded the match by showing off a chair inscribed with the dates of his NXT debut and (presumed) goodbye. He then followed his loss to Tony D’Angelo with a surprising, and genuinely moving, embrace from his erstwhile boss Triple H.
Most reports suggest Ciampa is headed to the main roster, something he said he’d never do (but absolutely should), so WWE fans won’t need to wait too long to see him again. For NXT fans, though, particularly those who lived and breathed the black and gold, now’s the time to take stock of everything he gave to the brand.
It’s fair to say that, probably even more so than frenemy Johnny Gargano, Ciampa was Mr NXT. Not just for the time he put in and the matches he put on, but the variety of his work, from monstrous heel to beloved hero, and the effort he made to stick around as WWE transitioned in the next generation. Whatever the Psycho Killer does next, he leaves with an amazing NXT resume.
10. Vs. Moustache Mountain - Worlds Collide 2020
The saga of Ciampa and Johnny Gargano in NXT took so many twists and turns that it can be easy to forget it only lasted around six years. We’ll cover some more matches alongside and against Gargano later, but early 2020 found the pair in an interesting place, a long feud behind them and ready to try teaming once again.
Their match against Trent Seven and Tyler Bate was the highlight of a stacked NXT vs. NXT UK card, with four incredible pro wrestlers unsurprisingly tearing it up. Using an always enjoyable format, the bout starts off respectfully competitive before ultimately becoming a stiff battle for supremacy.
It’s Ciampa who takes things up a notch. Bate and Gargano do their technical thing, shake hands, tag out. Ciampa and Seven start to do the same before Tommaso loses patience, decks both Englishmen, and it’s on.
This is 20 minutes of fast paced fun, subverting spots like the dual submission holds and exhibiting the fantastic chemistry of each team before finally seeing DIY take it with the knee/kick combo - and to top it off, a sign of mutual respect at the finish.