We all remember that faithful Saturday night on May 20th, 2017 at NXT Takeover: Chicago where the DIY tag team was no more. The “stay after the credits” motif wasn’t just created for Marvel movies alone. When the Takeover credits flashed, the events that transpired would alter the path of Johnny Gargano until this day. Tommasso Ciampa broke the friendship and the underdog story for Gargano as a singles competitor began.
I’m sure there are a good chunk of people out there that believe in things happen for a reason. Andrade Cien Almas and Johnny Gargano’s paths weren’t just two ships passing each other. In fact, the third match between Johnny Gargano and Andrade Cien Almas seemed like it was written by fate. The first singles match that Gargano had was against Almas at Takeover Brooklyn III. A revitalized, confident Almas with the help of manager Zelina Vega, beat him. Then on NXT on October 11th, Almas beats Gargano again. This time, with the then ghost of DIY rearing it’s ugly head with an amply timed reminder by Vega.
There was a precedent set for Gargano of just not quite being there. Would he have what it took to be a real threat as a single’s competitor again? Gargano built some momentum leading up to NXT Takeover: Philadelphia where his best challenger to date was ready to meet him. The one that already bested him twice. The one that was the then NXT Champion.
There was something in the air at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27th. Announcer Mauro Ranallo drew a parallel of the underdog from Gargano to then retired superstar Daniel Bryan. Perhaps, that was the night that he was going to overcome the odds and claim the ultimate prize – standing on his own two feet exercising the ghost of DIY past.
The third match between Almas and Gargano started on a very technical level. At this point, these men were very in tune to each others styles. Each wrestler countering holds and executive reversals flawlessly. From there, the match escalates with a slight miscalculation by Gargano with a missed moonsault that Almas dodges. From there, Almas starts to work on his back and the action picks up.
The beauty of this match both lies in the heart of both men and the brutality that both choose to inflict each other. It was very clear that something dire and drastic would get the win. Almas’s trademark double knee spot missed in the beginning of the match. However, not only does hit it later on, he lands it on the outside apron to a very dazed Gargano. Gargano smartens up as well, often countering Almas’s hammerlock DDT and not initially giving in to Vega’s distraction. He follows up Almas’s dropkick with a counter. Shortly after, gives a nod to his DIY days with a superkick from the corner.
The near falls that occur towards the tail end of the match are a thing of beauty. Each drawing out every ounce of emotion from the crowd and showing the desperation on each man’s faces as they give everything they have. Earlier in the match, the camera shows Candice Lerae – accomplished wrestler, then recent NXT signing, and Gargano’s wife. This would be a foreshadowing of her getting involved. Vega inserts herself with a hurricanarana that sends Gargano into the step. From there, Lerae has had enough. This doesn’t take away from the match at all. It evens the playing field to which both men goes mono-e-mono.
A Slingshot DDT and two attempts at the Gargano escape withstanding, you thought that this would finally complete the long story of respect given. It was such a long, arduous journey to get here. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t get a fairy tale ending. Almas gets a double stomp to the outside apron that he wasn’t able to hit earlier. Then he finally lands the hammerlock DDT. 1-2-3. Championship retained.
To be so early in the year, the Gargano/Almas championship match set the tone for the year. Not only did it seem to elevate Gargano as this scrappy, never-give-up underdog that you can get behind, it solidified Almas’s NXT championship run. Both men would go on to fight each other again where Almas beat Gargano to temporarily end his NXT career. The pinnacle of the story happened in Philadelphia on a cold January night for one of the best matches of 2018.
