[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”19315″ img_size=”900×500″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Last night, at NXT Takeover: New York, Johnny Gargano finally captured the NXT Championship by defeating Adam Cole in a Two Out of Three Falls match, two falls to one. It was a thrilling contest that has seen a tremendous amount of praise all over social media. The win makes Johnny NXT’s first ever Triple Crown Champion, having won the NXT North Amercican Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship as part of DIY with Tommaso Ciampa.
Gargano first received a WWE tryout in June of 2015, but was not offered a contract. He worked with the company off and on in the coming months, notably teaming with Tommaso Ciampa in the Dusty Rhodes Classic, until finally being offered a developmental contract in April of 2016. Gargano and Ciampa would continue teaming as part of DIY and eventually win the NXT Tag Team Championships against the Revival at the NXT Takeover: Toronto event in a Two Out of Three Falls match. DIY would hold on to the titles until losing to the Authors of Pain at the Takeover: San Antonio event in January of 2017. The two teams would feud in the coming months until finally, at Takeover: Chicago in June of 2017, DIY lost to the Authors of Pain in NXT’s first ever Ladder Match for the Tag Team Titles. After the match, Ciampa attacked Johnny, turning heel and officially ending the partnership.
With Ciampa out injured, Johnny would begin singles competition as a babyface. He began feuding with Andrade Cien Almas, ending in a critically acclaimed match at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia in January of 2018 for the NXT Championship. Johnny lost the match after a returning Ciampa cost Gargano the bout by attacking him with a crutch. The two would go on to feud for the rest of the year and earn the 2018 Feud of the Year award from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, having two classic matches at NXT Takeover: New Orleans in a Non Sanctioned Match April and NXT Takeover: Chicago in a Chicago Street Fight in June.
Johnny would continue singles action, turning heel in late 2018 by being revealed as the man who attacked Aleister Black in a back parking lot. The two had a match at NXT Takeover: War Games II in November of 2018, which was won by Black. Johnny then turned his attention to the NXT North American Championship and won the title from Ricochet at NXT Takeover: Phoenix in another fantastic match. He would lose the title less than a month later to Velveteen Dream at an NXT TV taping.
Johnny was supposed to face Tommaso Ciampa at last night’s Takeover event, finally ending their storied feud, however Ciampa had to relinquish the NXT Championship due to having neck surgery. It was heavily rumored Johnny would beat Ciampa for the title, and seeing him defeat Adam Cole appears to confirm this. Johnny enters his first reign as NXT Champion and we can only imagine more classic matches are to come.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
What’s up fellow geeks! I’m AB and I’m as passionate a pro wrestling fan as you’ll find. I’ve been watching wrestling for 19 years and it’s my absolute favorite form of entertainment. I have a podcast called That Wrestling Pod, and I feel like I bring a fresh and positive perspective on all things professional wrestling. In addition to wrestling, I’m a huge movie buff, a die hard Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bulls fan, I love all kinds of music and I’ve been known to dabble on some PS4. I feel like I fit right in here on Geek Vibes Nation, and I’m excited to contribute to a world of fellow Geeks. You can follow me on Twitter @ThatWrestlePod and can also find me on Facebook under That Wrestling Pod. Keep on keepin on!