Triple H says he monitored Tommaso Ciampa's injury status while deciding what to do with Johnny Gargano.
Last May, Tommaso Ciampa was injured in a ladder match against Authors of Pain. After the match as the show went off the air, he attacked his tag team partner Johnny Gargano. Ciampa would return in January at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia to attack Gargano again. The two wrestlers have been in an on-screen feud since the second attack.
Triple H who has creative control over NXT told NBC Sports, he wanted to have Gargano and Ciampa feud before the injury happened but he knew he had to keep the storyline going.
“So we we’re still going in the same direction. The turn was happening and everything was in place, but then the injury happened. When we looked at that it was like, ‘Oh my God now what?’ But sometimes the most exciting things and great art takes place out of chaos. In the chaos of that moment we looked at that and said, ‘How can we make this even better?’ That’s one thing I’ve learned from Vince over the years. Anything can happen and you can do anything with it, said Triple H.
While Ciampa was out, Gargano wrestled on NXT regularly and contended for championships including the NXT Championship. Triple H said while Ciampa was out, he would monitor his situation while deciding what Gargano should be doing.
"So you’re playing, ‘Where’s he at now?’ I certainly don’t want to rush his return until he’s 100 percent and I want to make sure he’s healthy and can capitalize on the opportunity, but at the same point in time, I’m glued to the updates on his health so I can begin to tell the story in a direction that gets us to match the timing of his return," said Triple H.
At NXT Takeover: New Orleans, Ciampa and Gargano will face off in a non-sanctioned match where Gargano can earn his job back with NXT. Fightful Wrestling will have live coverage and a recapping podcast of the event.
The full interview with Triple H is available at NBCSports.com.
