With a new ethos – #DIY: Do it Yourself – driving them, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa charged into battle for the most important match of their career. The two Cruiserweight Classic competitors were fighting with fire from the bell, as Ciampa forced The Revival into retreat after they felt the brunt of his vicious strikes.
Gargano tagged into the fight and targeted Dash Wilder’s shoulder, but soon felt the full force of The Revival, who trapped him their corner and worked him over. However, the spry Gargano scurried out of their clutches, setting off an all-out brawl that they came out on top of after Gargano took flight and Ciampa launched himself knee first to the arena floor.
Back in the squared circle, The Revival showed why they believe they are “top guys,” taking charge of the match with quick tags and double team maneuvers on Ciampa. The Sicilian Psychopath would not stay down, though Scott Dawson yanked Johnny Gargano out of reach of a tag at the last second. The NXT Tag Team Champions used every trick in the book to keep a worn-down Ciampa in the bout, including Wilder feigning injury to distract the referee when Ciampa finally tagged Gargano.
But Ciampa’s adrenaline was at an absolute high as he shook off blows from Dash & Dawson and finally reached his partner. Gargano sprang into action, clocking Dawson with a rolling kick and neckbreaker as the sold-out Barclays Center exploded in chants of “Johnny Wrestling!” A spear through the ropes nearly captured the titles for the DIY duo, but the wily champions stayed in the bout. Ciampa tagged in and locked on his patented armbar, nearly forcing Dawson to tap out, only for Wilder to break the hold.
Ciampa survived the Shatter Machine and nearly pinned Wilder after their superkick/knee strike combination, but Dawson slipped his partner’s foot on the rope, ensuring the match would go on. Dawson shoved Ciampa face-first into the ring post and then the NXT Tag Team Champions swarmed on Gargano in the ring, using the hold that put Big Cass on the shelf last year to weaken Gargano’s knee. Dawson pressed on, ensaring Johnny Wrestling’s injured knee in a reverse figure four that gave Gargano no choice but to tap out and retain the titles for The Revival.
After coming up short in a valiant effort, a heartbroken Gargano & Ciampa got back to their feet in the ring, taking in the applause of the sold-out Brooklyn crowd before heading to the locker room, Gargano apologizing to his partner.