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Post by bossrock on Jan 1, 2019 12:17:46 GMT -5
Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (NXT Takeover: Chicago II - 6/16/2018)
Another recent entry but one I think warrants a nomination. Doesn't quite live up to the first match between these two at New Orleans and you can argue the ending segment of the match got a bit too melodramatic, but still possibly one of the greatest No DQ matches ever. It's just a shame the feud couldn't maintain this level of momentum. Similar to the first match, I think Gargano and Ciampa did a great job weaving in plunder spots setup with a level of violence and hatred that felt genuine. The logic in attacking each other's injuries (Ciampa's knee and Gargano's neck) was also very well done. And while the callback well ran dry at Brooklyn, they were a bit more clever and welcome here.
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TheBestThereNeverWillBe
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Post by TheBestThereNeverWillBe on Feb 7, 2019 12:36:01 GMT -5
I feel that the street fight in Chicago was the worst of their trilogy. I had it at #32 for 2018, so mathematically, it wouldn't make my Top 300
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Post by bossrock on Mar 2, 2019 21:42:45 GMT -5
I'll go a bit more in-depth.
At 30+ minutes, Ciampa and Johnny did a great job maximizing their minutes. Nothing felt wasted or padded. The ending segment did go on a bit too long, but it was pretty much a relentless pace throughout. That's not an easy thing to accomplish when so many 30+ minute matches have a 10 minute padded opening or just have so much going on that it's hard to keep interest in what's happening. That certainly wasn't the case here as apart from the ending and the spot where Ciampa exposed the wooden boards, no part of the match dragged. And even then it was never enough to take me out what was going on.
Another thing I really liked about this match was that it wasn't your typical plunder match. The weapons weren't used just for the sake of spots but were used with the intention of brutalizing the other. It never felt like "Hey, look at this cool table spot!" but rather "I'm gonna beat the crap out of you with this stop sign." There was also really smart limb work that played up the story of Johnny's neck and Ciampa's knee injury. The long-term selling throughout was also really good with both guys' offense looking more labored as the match went on.
As far as the ending goes, I understand why some don't like it. They could have gotten to the point a lot quicker with Johnny realizing what he's done to Ciampa and then deciding he's not finished with him yet. We didn't need any pensive reflecting. Still, before the feud went completely off the rails with the Brooklyn match and everything that happened afterwards, it still sort of works in the context of THIS match. Johnny going to lengths he thought he'd never go to and then paying for it still really works well as a finish even if the feud should have realistically ended after New Orleans (and could have been a lot more subtle in execution). The callbacks to Chicago 1 were also more clever and not played-out by the time they had the rubber match in Brooklyn.
Not a perfect match, but still arguably one of the greatest No DQ matches of all time.
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Post by shodate on Mar 4, 2019 3:07:55 GMT -5
a really downright awful match. starts with some violent forearms and nice brawl then turns imto the usual garbage plunder brawl with alot of setting up spots homonized feeling. and a lot cooprativness and shitty strikes. the ending was embrassing and made shawn michals seem infintely better. so micromanazed forced hokey acting *.
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Post by elliott on Oct 15, 2023 23:39:52 GMT -5
It's just reallly long and boring. Sorry.
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