10 Greatest NXT Matches of All Time

#5 Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (Unsanctioned Match) (Takeover: New Orleans)

Gargano made his ex-friend tap out using his

ownkneebrace

After again losing to Almas, Gargano was attacked by a returning Ciampa during TO: Philly's end credits, only to set up a title vs. career re-match with Almas shortly after on NXT TV out of desperation. Ciampa would interfere in the match itself this time, attacking Gargano again and costing him his NXT career until Gargano was granted one last shot at restoring his status on the NXT roster in an Unsanctioned Match with Ciampa at Takeover: New Orleans.

Naturally, with a near one-year build, Gargano and Ciampa's inevitable faceoff not only ended up as an enjoyable exercise in sheer venomous brutally, but a satisfying 5-star rated pro-wrestling narrative as the match became filled with allusions and callbacks. Most memorable among these was at the end when Gargano held off from attacking Ciampa with a knee brace and briefly attempted to sit next to him the ring, as he had following their stellar Cruiserweight Classic match when the two, then friends, bonded in the ring together like two exhausted soldiers that just ended a war.