Tomorrow will it all end?
Tomorrow night starting at 8 P.M. EST on the WWE Network NXT TakeOver will emanate live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. On top of an already stacked match card one match that has the wrestling world buzzing is the rematch between the best-friends turned bitter enemies Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. This ever-growing issue between the two men began in Chicago where Tommaso turned his back on Johnny Gargano at the first NXT TakeOver: Chicago event.
At NXT TakeOver: New Orleans two months ago which was Ciampa's first match back since returning from his sidelining injury, the two men headlined the card and put on a match that had the crowd going ballistic. Johnny emerged victorious in the bout but their feud was far from over as Ciampa soon returned to haunt Johnny Gargano. The recent actions of Ciampa coming out of TakeOver: New Orleans resulted in another match between the two being scheduled for tomorrow night at TakeOver: Chicago II in a Street Fight. Prior to the bout Johnny Gargano talked with ESPN and detailed he and Ciampa's hatred for one another.
"At the end of the day, Tommaso was in our wedding, we lived with Tommaso -- he was our roommate for two years," said Gargano. "When we got married, we moved in together, and the first time we had our own place, Tommaso moved in with us. We were all together." He continued, "It's so unique. This whole story we've been able to tell, it's just different," said Gargano. "I give credit for the freedom we're allowed to have. It's so amazing."
Their first grudge match as noted took place two months ago at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Gargano shared that throughout his stay in the "Big Easy" he could not count how many times people approached him and told him that they cannot wait to see him put a beat down on Tommaso.
"I can't count the number of people that walked up to me and said, 'I can't wait to see you punch Tommaso Ciampa in the face.' That's never happened before, and every single time I was like, 'You know what, I'm definitely going to.'" Gargano continued speaking about the vibe in the arena during the first grudge match, "It was a really different atmosphere than any match I've ever been a part of. The crowd was so rowdy, but at certain points they were just watching," said Gargano. "I can attribute it to [being like] watching a movie. At points things get somber, things get sad. At points you get excited, you get rowdy, you get crazy. You don't get that very often in professional wrestling. [Most of the time] it's like oh, we're going to make noise, we're going to chant and do things like that, and I think that speaks volumes to how deep this story goes, and how emotionally connected people are to me and to Tommaso, and just everything we stand for, and the history."
Johnny Wrestling reflected on his forthcoming bout stating that it is only right that this match takes place where it all began, in Chicago.
"Really, that's where this whole thing started right? It's very appropriate that it's going back to Chicago, going back to the scene of the crime," said Gargano. "And we're able to tell another layer of this story there. You don't get the chance to get to do that very often. It's just amazing that the universe is kind of working so we're able to do that."
Fightful will have live coverage of NXT TakeOver: Chicago II and there will also be a post-PPV podcast where our crew will be reviewing the action on the night.
