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The rivalry of the Year: Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa produced some of the best WWE matches and most compelling storylines of all time. The rivalry started off with Tommaso Ciampa making his return in the most shocking way as he viciously hit Johnny Gargano with a crutch after he suffered a heartbreaking loss to Andrade 'Cien' Almas for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia. Tommaso then cost him his NXT career in another match Johnny Gargano had with El Idolo on an episode of NXT.
The two then had WWE's best match of the year in an unsanctioned match where Johnny Gargano got the feel-good victory. The two superstars definitely deserved the main event slot that they were given and were one of WWE's only 5-star matches of the year. The two then had two brutal matches. At NXT Takeover: Chicago II, the two fought in a street fight that just made its audience cringe at some of the spots that were hit. Tommaso Ciampa threw the man's wedding ring into the audience.
The fact that he walked away with the victory made the crowd go crazy and after that Tommaso Ciampa won the NXT Championship because of accidental interference from Johnny Gargano. The two had another great match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV that Tommaso Ciampa barely walked away. This feud with Tommaso Ciampa helped Johnny Gargano descend into darkness as it was later revealed that Johnny Wrestling attacked Aleister Black causing one of WWE's best underdogs to turn heels for the first time in his career. While Kairi Sane vs Shayna Baszler, Ricochet vs Velveteen Dream, Aleister Black/Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa/Nikki Cross, and even Undisputed Era vs Moustache Mountain can be counted as honourable mentions but Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa is the true rivalry of the year.
