Before Johnny Gargano gets to face off against Tommaso Ciampa one last time, he lets his feelings on his opponent be shown.
In an interview with Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, Gargano spoke about why he still does not like Ciampa after years of the two teaming together as DIY and battling each other on multiple TakeOver shows. Gargano opened things up by calling Ciampa the worst person in the history of NXT.
"Yes, I can definitely explain what my main gripe is. So, let’s talk about the obvious here. Tommaso Ciampa is the worst person in NXT history. That’s plain and simple. Six months ago this guy is universally hated. Everyone hates Tommaso Ciampa. He is making everyone’s life a living hell. He was the NXT Champion more than a year ago at this point. Over a year ago, everyone hates him. He’s the worst person in the world, blah blah blah. He breaks his neck. He has a baby. Comes back six months later. Now everyone loves him? Now everyone thinks Tommaso Ciampa’s the greatest?! He never apologized to me. He never redeemed himself. The only time I saw him is when he came out at TakeOver: New York and took my moment away! He made it about himself. He hobbled out there with his neck brace on, made about it himself. That was my moment to finally have the NXT Championship that I’d worked hard for. Made it about himself. NEVER apologized. NEVER been redeemed," Gargano said.
At first, Gargano thought that maybe he was wrong for harboring a grudge against Ciampa given how NXT fans love him. But in the end, Gargano saw what was in Ciampa's eyes and knew that he couldn't trust him, leading to the rivalry being renewed.
"But, Johnny Gargano being the good guy that he is, I have a great relationship with the fans. That’s me. Johnny Wrestling, that’s who I am. They love Johnny Wrestling. We are hand-in-hand. I trust them. So maybe I thought that I was a little jaded. Maybe I’m wrong? I can accept that if I’m wrong. I can accept that maybe they see something that I don’t. So I took their word for it. They chant “Daddy’s home” and they think that this guy is a different guy. Maybe he is? That’s why I brought back DIY. That’s why I teamed with this man again. That’s why I was his friend again. Because you don’t think I want my best friend back?! You don’t think I want to have my friend back that I think died in Chicago years ago?! I want that guy back. Of course I do. So I brought it back and what happens? I come out in Portland and I come out to support him. To watch my friend get his life back. But you know what I saw? People show their true colors when they’re desperate. I looked in that man’s eyes and I saw the truth. Only a truth that I would know. Only a look that I would know. Only a look I saw in Chicago years ago. That he’s a snake, he’s a liar and he can’t be trusted. He would’ve turned on me the minute he won that title. He would’ve turned on all the fans and they are too stupid to see it. So I fixed their mistake. I let that man become NXT Champion once. I wasn’t gonna let it happen again. That’s why on Wednesday, I’m going to expose him and show everyone what kind of monster he really is. And I’m gonna show everyone that Johnny Gargano is the better man. Simple as that," Gargano said.
Gargano and Ciampa are going to have their last match together in "One Final Beat" tonight on NXT. Fightful will have live coverage of NXT.
