5 Reasons why Johnny Gargano should be the next NXT Champion

With the untimely injury to former WWE NXT Champion Drew McIntyre, the new kingpin Andrade "Cien" Almas is in need of a number one contender. NXT GM William Regal set up a series of qualifying matches for a fatal 4-way to determine who will challenge El Ídolo himself for the NXT Championship. After weeks of great qualifying contests, we now know the four competitors who will face-off for the title shot.

"The Dutch Destroyer" Aleister Black, "The Beast of Belfast" Killian Dain, "The Leviathan" Lars Sullivan, and "The Whole Shebang" Johnny Gargano will all tear each other apart for the honour of challenging Almas for his championship. This poses a number of interesting scenarios, as Black and Sullivan are both undefeated in one-on-one matches, and fans have embraced SAnitY's monster Killian Dain, but Gargano winning is by far the best outcome.

It is too soon for Sullivan to be crowned champion, Black does not need the title, and Dain is merely the muscle of a faction who occasionally branches out into limited singles runs, but ultimately plays second fiddle to Eric Young in SAnitY. Gargano is the best choice to win the fatal 4-way and ultimately defeat Almas for the NXT Championship for a plethora of reasons.

#5 Saves him from the 205 Live Death sentence

WWE Photo — The Cruiserweights have been massively botched since the thrilling Cruiserweight Classic

I would like to start by saying that the Cruiserweight Classic was a tremendous success, the cruiserweight division however...well they have become the WWE equivalent of the Cleveland Browns. A group of young talented athletes who nobody watches, they garner no recognition, are of no relevance, and being signed to the show is the last resort that essentially marks the end of your career as there are clearly no future plans for you but you still want to wrestle so you begrudgingly accept the demotion.

205 Live had all the potential to be a great show like Raw, SmackDown Live, and NXT, but what should have been a high ceiling for the high-flyers was made much lower when McMahon limited what the cruiserweights were allowed to do in the ring. It is hard for the cream to rise to the top when the lid is jammed down into the pot. Weighing in at 199 lbs, Gargano competed in the Cruiserweight Classic and could be in danger of being moved to the woefully floundering cruiserweight division.

The mishandling of the cruiserweights prompted its two star competitors, Neville and Austin Aries to leave the company altogether, and a big name in Hideo Itami has been moved to the division in an effort to peak fan interest. For three years Itami cut his teeth in NXT while fans hoped to see him arrive on the main roster, but now his main roster push has been cancelled in favour of a 205 Live publicity stunt, and we would hate for that to happen to Gargano.

If Gargano becomes the NXT Champion, then a run with the title would make him the stable of NXT television, making him too valuable to be moved to 205 Live. Come to think of it, comparing 205 Live to Gargano's hometown Cleveland Browns is unfair. 205 Live is more like another McMahon cataclysm; The XFL.

#4 Fan Favorite

"Johnny Wrestling!" clap, clap, clap clap clap. It is a fan chant that breaks out whenever Johnny Gargano competes in the ring, and a sign of the tremendous fanfare he has garnered in NXT. Fans loved his matches in the cruiserweight classic, tag team division, and his recent singles run. It has been said that true faces and heels no longer exist in WWE, but Gargano is a superstar that you can make the face of your company.

While the position of "Face of WWE" has been earmarked for Roman Reigns for quite some time, Gargano may very well be the face of NXT. Almas might be the champion, be he is far from the face of the brand as stars like Aleister Black, Adam Cole, Gargano himself, and former champion Drew McIntyre remain bigger stars than Almas. That is not a knock on the champ as he has been given the ball and is running with it, but although the NXT universe enjoys his work they still gravitate more towards the men previously mentioned.

It is hard for fans not to gravitate to Johnny Gargano as he is easily identifiable. With an everyman's name like "Johnny" and a cool nickname (i.e. Johnny Wrestling) based of former Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel (i.e. Johnny Football), Gargano also has the distinction of being a little man in a big man's game.

While wrestling has evolved over the years, shifting from physically imposing muscle-heads like Hulk Hogan, to smaller in-ring technicians such as Bret Hart, to well-rounded jack-of-all-trades like Daniel Bryan. Wrestling is now run by charismatic high-flying superstars who can utilize submissions, strong style strikes, and storytelling techniques in the ring.

Despite the evolution of the prototypical wrestler, Gargano is still a 5'11" 205 lbs underdog trying to fight his way out of Triple H's underground pin and into Vince McMahon's yard.

#3 He puts on great matches with everyone

This entry is not a hyperbole, Gargano can literally carry anyone to a good match. It has been said that Bret Hart could carry a broom to a good match, equally impressive is the fact that Gargano carried Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss to good matches in NXT. No disrespect to Sabbatelli and Moss, they are a decent tag team, but they have a bland generic look and their gimmick seems to just be; Sabatelli is rich and Moss is his friend. Despite their limitations, Gargano told a story of redemption and triumph and put them over despite defeating them.

Following Gargano's return to NXT from being attacked by his former partner Tommaso Ciampa, Gargano challenged Riddick Moss to a match. Unable to make Moss tap to the Gargano-escape, Johnny pinned Moss but was clearly doubting his abilities.

The next week Sabbatelli challenged Gargano to avenge his partner Moss. This time Gargano made his opponent tap out, sending a message to the NXT universe that Johnny Wrestling was back.

Gargano has also put on spectacular showcases with an up-and-coming Fabian Aichner, NXT Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas, WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, and a barn-burner with Kassius Ohno to qualify for the fatal 4-way.

#2 Gargano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas Rubber Match

Having defeated Ohno for a spot in the #1 Contender Fatal 4-way match, Gargano will have an uphill battle against Black, Dain, and Sullivan. At the top of the said hill is the champion Andrade "Cien" Almas. It has been quite a run for Almas in NXT, and his hard work has materialized itself in the NXT Championship he carries so proudly on his shoulder.

Many were excited about the arrival of famed luchador La Sombra in NXT, but instead, Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza debuted as Andrade "Cien" Almas. Partying all night, and losing all the time, Almas was wasting away until he was paired with Zelina Vega.

The sharp-tongued Puerto Rican from Queens whipped Almas into shape and saved his career. Almas' first high profile match with Vega in his corner was against Gargano at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III, and as JBL would say "Somebody call the NYPD because these two just stole the show!"

Almas and Gargano's criminal streak would continue as they went on to steal the show on NXT 415. At TakeOver Vega threw a DIY t-shirt into the ring. DIY being the tag team that consisted of Gargano and his best friend Tommaso Ciampa until Ciampa turned on Gargano (as many best friends in wrestling eventually do). Upon seeing the shirt in the ring Gargano froze, allowing Almas to blindside him for an underhanded victory.

In the rematch, Vega again paid dividends to Almas. As Gargano locked Almas in the Gargano-escape, Vega shed her jacket to reveal the DIY top she had been sporting underneath. The shirt caught the gaze of Gargano, and for a moment it seemed that the distraction would work until Gargano smiled and shook his head as he tightened his grip on Almas. Almas was able to break the submission, and when he did Vega jumped up on the ring apron yelling at Gargano to look at the shirt. The mind games would not work this time as Gargano yelled: "That means nothing to me anymore!"

Almas would still go on to win the match, but a third bout could be in the cards. Vega revitalized Almas' character, Gargano made Almas credible, and McIntyre dropped the belt to him making him the champion. Gargano has been just as vital to Almas meteoric rise as Vega has been, but give credit where it is due as Almas himself has been incredible in the ring.

If Gargano wins the fatal 4-way it would establish a rubber match between him and Almas, and should he win then Almas' rematch clause would ensure a fourth match, and who doesn't want to see more of Gargano-Almas?

#1 Gargano vs. Ciampa for the NXT Championship

You may recognize the two competitors facing off in the final first round matchup of the Cruiserweight Classic. — Johnny Wrestling vs. Psycho Killer Round 2

Honestly, there is no better reason to put the title on Gargano, a match between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship would be a sheer lock for match of the year. Once again this is no hyperbole, this MOTY is a pure money match and is one that fans have been fantasy booking since NXT TakeOver Chicago.

Gargano and Ciampa were best friends and tag team partners as part of DIY, defeating the Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championships and losing them to the Authors of Pain. Along the way they put on some of the best tag team matches in WWE history, rivalling the "Dudleyz, Hardyz, and Edge & Christian" saga.

In the final match of the first round of the Cruiserweight Classic Gargano and Ciampa battled it out in a match that saw false finish after heart-stopping false finish. The story the two men told was better than Hollywood, and the entire time it was centred around maintaining an aura of friendship and sportsmanship despite nearly crippling each other.

DIY always made magic happen in the ring, then out of nowhere, it was over. After failing to reclaim their tag team titles from AOP at TakeOver Chicago, Gargano and Ciampa struggled up the ramp, before halting at the top of the stage. Receiving a standing ovation for their efforts, Ciampa placed his hand on the back of Gargano's head as he uttered the now famous words "It's not our time...its mine!"

In a moment that is defined as the modern day implosion of the Rockers, Ciampa threw Gargano into the LED board. Already beaten, battered and bruised from the gruelling ladder match they just endured, the aching and confused Gargano found himself at the mercy of the merciless Ciampa. The man formerly known as Psycho Killer proceeded to savagely beat his former best friend while the fans cursed him out.

Ciampa was already injured when the segment took place, but it was discovered after the fact that he would be out of action for a long time. Unable to capitalize on the storyline, Gargano was kept off TV for a while. With the looming Gargano-Ciampa match still in the company's back pocket, giving Gargano the NXT Championship would make an already greatly anticipated match even more meaningful.

For Ciampa to turn his back on Gargano only to get injured and have Gargano become champion in his absence would eat away at the psyche of the Psycho Killer. We all saw what the two did to each other in the CWC as friends, now imagine the two literally trying to end each other's careers with the added bonus of the NXT Championship on the line.

Take. My. Money.