Ranking Tommaso Ciampa's 10 Greatest NXT Matches

In the middle of Ciampa and Gargano’s feud, the addition of a certain Goldie took things up a notch. The Blackheart’s capturing of Aleister Black’s NXT Title is very sports entertainment, but booked far more intelligently than most shenanigans-heavy encounters you’re likely to see.

Ciampa’s heel persona is sneaky and shrewd but not cowardly; he tackles the hard hitting Black head on, but has no intention of getting into a striking contest with the kickboxer. The first stage of the match sees the two trading holds and moves, but Ciampa backing off before the Dutchman has any opportunity to deliver the Black Mass.

It comes down to a distraction and a ref bump, but an unusually logical one; Ciampa ploughs into a cameraman, whose health referee Drake Wuertz is obliged to check on. Wuertz then spills onto the exposed concrete, giving Johnny Gargano the opportunity to make the interference - only he accidentally tags Black with the belt, leading to the three count.

Ciampa consistently tells the crowd that he only needs one opportunity to snatch the belt - and when the opportunity comes, he takes it. A fantastic TV match, leading to an all-time great title run.