Part One: Fairy Tale Beginning
Build to Worlds Collide 2021
Survivor Series Weekend was one hell of a weekend for Tommaso Ciampa, as he dethroned Keith Lee to become the new NXT North American Champion, before going on to defeat Randy Orton the following week, gaining two essential victories to propel him forwards in the coming weeks and months. The weekend also saw Kross defeating Lee to become the new NXT Champion, boding to be a rough couple matches for the Limitless One, stripped bare of both his titles.
Ready to usher in a new era for the NA Title, Ciampa heads to the ring on the NXT following Survivor Series and sits in the ring crossed-legged like when he became the new NXT Champion two years ago, but instead of cradling his gold, he lays it out in front of him on the mat, gazing at himself in its reflection. He reveals that he’s undergoing conflicting emotions coming out of his title victory. Whilst he’s ecstatic to be holding gold once more, at Takeover the world saw Ciampa do what he said he’d do – beat Lee. He beat him for the NA Title… but it should’ve been for Goldie, because that match was proof he could’ve won back Goldie had he been given the match. For all he knows, the only reason Goldie’s now in Kross’ arms is because Ciampa tired out the Limitless One for him. However, as much as he’d love to get his revenge against Kross for their match all those months ago, revenge is a dish best served cold, so he’s going to ensure that it hits sub-zero before he makes a move on Kross. That’s not a threat, that’s a warning to Kross, or even anyone else who might manage to lay their grubby hands on Goldie. He’s coming for Goldie… Tick Tock.
With that out of the way, he moves on to address the championship in his possession. The last piece of the puzzle that stood between him and joining the ranks of Triple Crown Champions. Unlike those before him, the label doesn’t mean much to him. However, what does matter to him is the North American Championship. Whilst it isn’t Goldie, it’s still symbolic that any title held in the hands of the Greatest Sports Entertainer of All Time is immediately relevant. That’s why he’s going to ensure that it remains relevant, and the only way to do so is for him to put it on the line against the rising stars of the Black and Gold brand. Since this is Daddy’s Home, he plans to act as the gatekeeper for his home, so he invites anyone who wants to be let through his doors into his ring to show him what they’re made of. This prompts the arrival of Cameron Grimes, who swaggers to the ring with a sneer, complaining that he’s been defeating the likes of Finn Balor, Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest over the course of the year yet was forced to wait in line so NXT’s Golden Boy could wipe his tears with a title. He demands a shot at the NA Title, to which Ciampa responds telling Grimes to be careful what he wishes for, accepting the challenge. They put on a great sprint of a match, Grimes using his highly extensive repertoire of submissions, strikes and high-flying manoeuvres to put on a star-making performance, even almost picking up the win off of his patented Cave-In, but the Project Ciampa does him in, Ciampa successfully retaining in his first title defence.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Ciampa puts up further Open Challenges, establishing his gatekeeper role, battling the likes of Bronson Reed and Oney Lorcan, as well as having arguably one of his best defences against KUSHIDA to cap off 2020 in huge fashion. As the new year rolls around, he finally slows down and assesses his surroundings. He claims that the past month or so has been a worthwhile experience for him, getting to bond with his new title and putting on strong performances against tough competitors, but it still feels like as if he’s missing something. Whilst his challengers have all been worthy, they all come from his home of NXT. With Worlds Collide coming up, it only seems fitting that he should… open the doors a little bit more. He wants wrestlers from NXT UK to make the journey across the pond and come for his title too. He doesn’t care who they are or what their motivations are, he just wants more skulls to knock his knee into and put down. As a result, the first few weeks of January see Ciampa taking on the likes of Ilja Dragunov and Dave Mastiff, adding more names to his already impressive resume of title defences. On the Worlds Collide go-home show, he announces that he’ll be defending at the interbranded show, but is without an opponent. As he says that, this music
hits.
IT’S TYLER BATE! The inaugural NXT UK Champion rolls into the ring and comes face-to-face with Ciampa, before recounting the events of last year’s Worlds Collide show. It was #DIY vs Moustache Mountain with the former coming out on top, but what interests him is the finish. Whilst it was Ciampa who picked up the victory, he didn’t pin Bate. And neither did he have the opportunity to pin Ciampa. So how about they fix that? How about they find out who the better man is at Worlds Collide, one year on? Ciampa nods in response, satisfied by the choice of opponent, the two men shaking hands to make it official.
Worlds Collide 2021
Whilst Worlds Collide was held in the States in 2020, the action makes its way over to the United Kingdom for a change in scenery, the event taking place in the Wembley Arena, home to NXT Takeover: London. As a result of wrestling in UK, Ciampa finds himself in unfamiliar territory in comparison when taking into account the past year or so, as the crowd show unwavering support for their hometown lad, Bate coming out to raucous pops from the always hot British crowd, whilst he’s met with a mixed reaction, though tipping more on the side of boos. He doesn’t let it faze him though, embracing the reaction instead of opposing it, as whilst the reaction he’s received over the years hasn’t been consistent, he’s never truly changed who he is. He’s the Psycho Killer, he’s the champion, and he’s always willing to do what’s necessary to ensure victory. He raises his title in Bate’s face, who responds with his signature pose, the crowd backing the Iron Master to win.
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs Tyler Bate – NXT North American Championship
They kick things off like they did last year, getting into a classic test of strength, the Big Strong Boi managing to hold his own despite the height and weight advantage being in Ciampa’s favour. As Bate draws the fire of the crowd to start pushing Ciampa backwards, Ciampa breaks free and steps to the side, sending Bate for a walk as he dusts his hands, playing it smart. They lock up again, this time Bate not letting Ciampa escape, scoring a Monkey Flip, before kipping back to his feet and standing in wait for the Blackheart, who frantically turns around to prevent his back from being to his foe, only to see Bate waving to him, which spurs him on to return to his feet and nail Bate across the face with a forearm! Bate staggers into the ropes, where Ciampa scores a few knees to the midsection, the referee trying to get in between the competitors to allow Bate a clean break, only for him to display his own resolve, going to pop Ciampa with a fist to the jaw. Ciampa gets his arms up in time to block it, but it was merely a diversion, Bate connecting a Rolling Wheel Kick instead!
Ciampa heads to the outside for a breather, Bate not giving him time to rest though, wiping him out with a Suicide Dive! He goes to return Ciampa back inside the ring, only to eat a Back Elbow for his troubles, Ciampa going back inside only when he wants, instead taking advantage of the surroundings by sending Bate into the apron, before going to throw him into the steps. Bate hops onto them though, rebounding with a Flying European Uppercut, followed by an attempted Tornado DDT. Ciampa catches him mid-flight though, instead depositing him back onto his feet, before blasting him with a Jumping Knee Strike! With Bate stunned, Ciampa hoists him up for an Apron Fisherman Buster, Bate landing hard spine-first! Ciampa dumps Bate back inside, taking him to the corner and unloading with knees, one to the face, one to the gut, but then coming up empty on the Running Knee Strike, Bate moving out of the way so that Ciampa’s knee goes into the turnbuckle pad instead! Bate builds momentum of his own, catching Ciampa with a train of European Uppercuts in the corner, before tossing him with a Northern Lights Suplex! As he gets Ciampa’s shoulders down with the bridge, Ciampa pops a neck bridge of his own, proving just how much stronger his neck is now since injury, breaking the cover.
Ciampa gets Bate into a Powerbomb set-up, only for Bate to back body drop him, before connecting a Running Shooting Star Press! He follows up with a Deadlift Bridging Saito Suplex, once again forcing Ciampa to use his neck to pop off the canvas to prevent the pinfall, smart moving from Bate. A Standing Moonsault doesn’t bode too well for him though, Ciampa getting the knees up, before blasting Bate with one to the side of the head and following up with an Argentine Facebuster, this time Bate kicking out! Ciampa pulls Bate back up, only to be met with a Step-Up Enzuigiri, Bate summoning his strength to follow up with an Exploder Suplex into the corner! He drags Ciampa back to the centre using his legs, before performing a Giant Swing, sending the Blackheart for a ride! Powering through an impressive 20 rotations, he finally dumps Ciampa back onto the mat, only to roll through and get him in a Fireman’s Carry, now going the other direction with an Airplane Spin! In his spinning about the ring, Bate stumbles too close to the ropes, allowing Ciampa to escape to the apron, who takes Bate down with a Gargano-esque Slingshot DDT! Whilst Ciampa and Gargano are done for good, Ciampa fails to forget the old tricks, busting it out in his time of need.
Both men lay on the mat to rest for a few moments, the disorientation from all the spinning settling in and forcing them to remain on their backs until they manage to get their wits about them. Back on their feet, the two engage in a hockey fight, nailing each other with relentless fists and the occasional knee from Ciampa, scoring a Jumping Knee Strike to knock Bate back, only for him to retort with a Wind-Up Punch, both men now staggering back into the ropes and launching off, Ciampa with a Discus Lariat and Bate with a Rebound Lariat! They collapse to their knees, only held up by leaning on each other, yet still continuing their fight, a relentless exchange of forearms between them! Bate struggles back up, trying for another Rebound Lariat, Ciampa responding with a Lariat of his own, only for Bate to duck under and connect a Tornado DDT instead! He doesn’t let go of Ciampa though, following into an ORANGE CRUSH! 1…2…KICK OUT! In his haste to pin Ciampa, Bate forgot to put one of his legs over Ciampa’s arms, allowing him to drive the shoulder up and keep the match going! The mistake proves to be costly as Ciampa scores an Over-the-Shoulder Neckbreaker, followed by an Argentine Spin-Out Sitout Powerbomb, now driving Bate into the mat, only for him to get the shoulder up too!
As if back to square one, the two engage in another test of strength, only this time Bate uses an explosive burst of energy to hoist Ciampa up, wanting a Brainbuster! Ciampa lands on his feet though, instead connecting a Bicycle Knee Strike and a Rear High Knee to drop Bate! Ciampa gets a waistlock for a German Suplex attempt, only for Bate to perform a Standing Switch and test the waters for a Rolling Wheel Kick, but it’s caught, Ciampa rolling Bate through and lunging with a Knee Strike, Bate this time catching it and turning it into an unique pinning combination, Ciampa kicking out in the nick of time! What he doesn’t have time to escape though is a Headbutt finding its mark on his neck, followed by a TYLER DRIVER ’97, this time with both feet over both arms! 1…2…NOOOOOO! Bate doesn’t stop there, not letting hopelessness settle in, pulling himself up to the top rope and going for a CORKSCREW SENTON BOMB… CIAMPA GETS THE KNEES UP! As Bate recoils from the knees meeting his back, reaggravating the earlier agony experienced on the apron, Ciampa nails a Knee Trembler, before getting Bate on the ropes, landing WILLOW’S BELL! 1…2…3!
Tommaso Ciampa (c) def. Tyler Bate to retain the NXT North American Championship (17:36)
Bate showed tremendous heart in front of his home crowd, but it just wasn’t enough to put an end to Ciampa’s reign, the Blackheart pulling through victorious much like recent weeks. Although Ciampa crushed the hopes of the Wembley crowd, they loosen up their reaction, instead giving both men the applause they deserve for the belter they put on, Ciampa walking out still the NA Champ.
Build to NXT Takeover: Atlanta
As there’s only a gap of a few weeks between Worlds Collide and Takeover, William Regal sets up a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to see who Ciampa will face in Atlanta. The match features appearances from stars higher on the totem pole like Dijakovic and Priest, as well as rising stars like Dexter Lumis and Mansoor, and even NXT veteran Tyler Breeze. However, the two men worth keeping eyes on are Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Timothy Thatcher, who make it to the Final Two. The two battle it out in exhilarating fashion, the fight spilling out to the apron, with Thatcher almost eliminating Swerve, only for The New Flavor to land in a handstand position, getting a headscissors on Thatcher to force his feet to touch the floor first instead, Swerve victorious in unique fashion! Ciampa appears in the rafters, slowly clapping for Swerve, before raising his title up high as Swerve points at it to let Ciampa know he’s coming for the gold. Meanwhile, a vexed Thatcher stomps to the back, feeling he should’ve come out on top, the unfamiliar territory for the submission specialist hindering his chances. Nonetheless, the spotlight shines on Swerve that night, set to receive the biggest opportunity of his NXT career thus far by facing Ciampa.
On the road to Atlanta, a couple sit-down interviews are conducted for the two competitors, given an opportunity to voice their thoughts heading into the bout. Swerve has his first, in which he states that what happened in the Battle Royal was no fluke, Ciampa coming out to the rafters to witness with his own very eyes the rise of Swerve. He feels this opportunity is a long time coming for him, initially forced to sit on the side and watch his peers eclipse him, who were thrust into the spotlight. However, that spotlight finally called his name, craving to bathe Swerve in its luminescence, and so he answered, phoning in the victory to allow the spotlight to fall on him. He isn’t this to feel the warmth for a few moments in the ring though. He wants to remain in the spotlight, and to do that, he must defeat Ciampa for the gold. Whilst Ciampa is arguably one of the best the brand has to offer, there’s one thing that sets the two of them apart and at times, works in his favour. Ciampa suffers from doubt. The doubt in his mind of whether he’s still the flagbearer without his beloved Goldie or not. The doubt of whether he’ll suffer another career-threatening injury in his next match or not. The doubt of whether he is all that he claims to be. Swerve never doubts himself because Swerve is confidence, but even so, that doubt in Ciampa’s mind can drive him to insane lengths to prove him to himself. That’s what the Psycho Killer is, and if Swerve wants to win, he has to survive the killer, so that’s just what he’s going to do. And when he wins, no longer will NXT be ‘Daddy’s Home’, but rather, Swerve’s House.
Ciampa is up next, observing that Swerve seems to have done all his research on the Blackheart. However, there’s one more thing he’s forgetting – experience. Between the two of them, he’s been doing it for longer and consistently at a higher level. The spotlight may have picked Swerve to be next in line to face Ciampa, but what it didn’t tell him is that just like everyone that’s come before him, the spotlight can go dark on him too, that power laying in Ciampa’s hands. He’s faced plenty of young, talented stars, most recently defending against Bate, but as everyone saw in that match, whether you stumble into the spotlight or earn your way there, most aren’t capable of controlling the spotlight. Ciampa has been pulling its strings for years, but this is Swerve’s first rodeo, and there’s just as good a possibility that he’ll get bucked off like those before him. It’s the experience factor of being in big matches and winning top titles that puts Ciampa a notch above Swerve, and Atlanta will be a display of that. No matter how much confidence Swerve has, no matter how high he thinks he can soar, gravity will pull him right back down into Ciampa’s waiting arms, where he’ll give him a reality check. This is his home, not Swerve’s. Patting his gold, he affirms ‘AND STILL’.
NXT Takeover: Atlanta
The crowd are buzzing for the first time ever encounter, greeting Swerve with a favourable reaction as he saunters to the ring, oozing charisma on each step of the way. Ciampa is out next, measured movements leading him down the ramp, the champ taking his time to read his foe’s body language in order to look for any early advantages, before finally handing his title to the referee, ready to get things started.
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs Isaiah “Swerve” Scott – NXT North American Championship
The two men kick things off with a simple tie-up at the behest of Ciampa, wanting to get a feel for what he’s dealing with, getting his answer very quickly as Swerve easily slips out of headlock, slapping on one of his own, before showing his comfort in the ropes as Ciampa launches him into them to try and get him off, Swerve twirling his way about them and catching Ciampa with a Dropkick! He keeps the pace up, coming in hot at Ciampa, only for the Blackheart to evade, Swerve though expertly wasting no motion, instead using his momentum to cartwheel over to the corner. Ciampa is much warier now as he stalks back to the centre of the ring, locking up with Swerve once again, this time shooting for his waist instead of the head, going for a Suplex, only for Swerve to flip through and land on his feet, lashing out with an attempted Corkscrew Roundhouse, his boot falling an inch from Ciampa’s face, who shuffles backs into the ropes, both his attempts at controlling the pace thwarted. Swerve invites him back to the centre, giving him space like an honourable competitor, Ciampa accepting and stepping forwards, only to this time duck under the lock-up attempt, heading to the outside instead, spinning around to smirk at Swerve, who realises he’s been outclassed now.
Swerve doesn’t let him get off the hook that easily though, handspringing over the ropes in hopes of catching Ciampa with a headscissors, only for Ciampa to evade, catching Swerve with an Up Kick to the midsection instead, Swerve struck out of the air and falling to the floor. Ciampa capitalises on the opportunity, landing a Twisting Hangman’s Neckbreaker, before sending Swerve back inside, not letting him have the space to roam about freely, striking him with a Running Knee Strike in the corner. He wrenches on his headlock tight this time, Swerve forced to exert energy to break free, yet still making it look so smooth and effortless as he thrusts his way out, wanting to play to the presumed doubts in Ciampa’s mind. Ciampa shuts him out though, swinging with a forearm, only for it to meet the air, Swerve stealing Ciampa off the mat and scoring a Backdrop Lift Backbreaker, before cinching in a Flying Armbar, Ciampa getting a monkey grip to prevent extension. He rolls Swerve onto his shoulders, who kicks out, still keeping the hold applied, causing Ciampa to shake the branches with a Cradle Backbreaker! He opts for another cover to no avail, Swerve back out, only to walk into an errant Rear Knee Strike!
Ciampa goes for a Leapfrog One-Handed Bulldog but Swerve escapes, catching Ciampa with a Lungblower on his way down! He kicks the back of the Champ’s head in with an Axe Kick, before following up with a Rolling Thunder Cutter! Ciampa kicks out and sits back up, only to be planted back down with a Double Foot Stomp! Swerve attempts a Running Shooting Star Press, coming up empty, Ciampa surprising him with a Complete Shot, before landing a slew of Rolling German Suplexes! He bridges on the final one, hoping to keep Swerve down, only to be met with a kick out, Ciampa slamming the mat in frustration. He gets his adversary on his shoulders, connecting an Over-the-Shoulder Neckbreaker, before calling for an Air Raid Crash, but Swerve wriggles free into a Sunset Flip cover, Ciampa kicking out, only to follow up with a HOUSE CALL! The WMD has struck early, floating into cover once again, this time Ciampa putting his foot on the ropes to save himself! He takes Ciampa to the top turnbuckle, sitting him there and propping his legs outside the ropes to prevent him from fighting back with his knee-based offense, scoring a Superkick on the exposed Ciampa! He leaps up for a Jumping DDT, only for Ciampa to catch Swerve and keep hold, hauling him up so he’s upside-down to the ring, blood rushing to his head, until he finally releases with a Gourdbuster!
With Swerve down, Ciampa uses the opportunity to free himself from the ropes, before leaping to connect a Missile Dropkick! The Psycho Killer sends Swerve into the turnbuckles with a T-Bone Suplex, followed by a Knee Strike to crush him in the corner and shooting the half, Swerve kicking out yet again! The doubt Swerve spoke about starts to creep into Ciampa’s mind as he lands a Fireman’s Carry Driver, The New Flavor popping the shoulder up once more, and not even an Air Raid Crash right after able to do the trick! Desperate to put Swerve away, Ciampa exposes the knee, walking over to Swerve to get him into position, only to be caught in a Small Package, Swerve almost getting the upset right there! He gets Ciampa back up, connecting a Pop-Up Double Knee Gutbuster, followed by a JML Driver attempt! Ciampa struggles though, doing his best to prevent Swerve from hitting it, forcing the King of Swerve Style to think on his feet and turn it into a JAPANESE OCEAN CYCLE SUPLEX! 1…2…CIAMPA JUST GETS THE SHOULDER UP! Swerve follows up with a Space Jam, before going up top, wanting the Swerve Stomp but rolling through as Ciampa starts moving… PROJECT CIAMPA OUT OF NOWHERE! 1…2…ONE MORE KICK OUT FROM SWERVE!
Ciampa lets out an exasperated yell, before stomping repeatedly all over Swerve, bringing out the Psycho Killer from within! Swerve weathers the storm though, countering a Knee Trembler attempt with a HOUSE CALL, before heading up top! SWERVE STOMP… Ciampa evades and Swerve tweaks his knee on the landing, experience shining through at last! Ciampa nails Swerve with WILLOW’S BELL and a FAIRY TALE ENDING, not wanting to leave anything to chance! 1…2…3!
Tommaso Ciampa (c) def. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott to retain the NXT North American Championship (16:29)
A gutsy performance from Swerve indeed, but it was Ciampa’s experience coming to play in the end, one more successful retention for the Blackheart! Swerve, though disappointed by the reality that it wasn’t meant to be his night, keeps his head held high in defeat, not letting it faze him. As Ciampa celebrates his victory, he’s blindsided by… TIMOTHY THATCHER! Thatcher hasn’t forgotten about his elimination in the Battle Royal, believing it to be stupid that he wasn’t given a title shot solely because his feet his the ground, branding it as disrespect to the sport of wrestling. Thatcher locks in a Fujiwara on Ciampa, wrenching back with all his might, Ciampa tapping out, though that only provokes Thatcher to pull back even further! Before he can seriously injure Ciampa though, the referees intervene, forcing Tim to cease his assault, the British Messiah baring his teeth as he lets go. He scoops the NA Title off the ground and plants his boot on Ciampa’s chest, sending his message loud and clear – he’s coming for the gold.
Build to NXT Takeover: Los Angeles
Whilst Ciampa doesn’t immediately address Thatcher’s attack on him, the British Messiah takes shots at the Champ over the following weeks, conducting further classes on ‘Thatch-as-thatch-can’, this time teaching the importance of winning a match by submission as opposed to being chucked over a rope and fluking your way to ‘victory’. Whilst Swerve had the crutch of the stipulation working in his favour, when he went toe-to-toe with Ciampa, he soon learned that he was undeserving of the opportunity. Had it been Thatcher in the same position, he guarantees Ciampa would’ve been tapping out. In another lesson, he deconstructs Ciampa’s Bridging Fujiwara Armbar, exposing how the move can be countered, before stating that whilst Ciampa has the advantage of extra pressure thanks to leverage, Thatcher’s Fujiwara is much more efficient as it isn’t as easy to counter. On the third week, he has a match with Swerve, who takes offense to Thatcher’s recent comments about his Battle Royal victory, wanting to beat Thatcher at his own game instead. Much like the match with Ciampa, he puts on an excellent performance, but even that isn’t enough to put down Thatcher, who ultimately taps Swerve out. After the match, he keeps the hold applied whilst looking directly into the hard cam, yelling at Ciampa that this is what a champion looks like, and that sooner or later, the gold will be wrapped around his waist.
Ciampa finally confronts the man that’s been calling him out for weeks, cutting a promo on him that he should’ve stuck to tapping people out to earn his opportunity instead of attacking Ciampa at Takeover, because he was already interested in the prospect of facing Thatcher, but now, he’s incensed, warning the British Messiah that he’s bit off more than he can chew. Thatcher retorts that he’s been in NXT for over a year now, so he knows what he is and isn’t capable of. One thing he’s certain he’s capable of is being the man to dethrone Ciampa for his gold, before claiming that it’s a travesty that even after all this time he’s spent here, getting win after win, he hasn’t been payed a single title shot. He’s done waiting around and letting someone like Ciampa bar him from taking what he wants, so Ciampa’s lucky he came to his senses just in time, or otherwise, he would’ve slapped on another Fujiwara like in Atlanta, only this time he’d break his arm. Ciampa laughs, telling him that he’s not giving him a match because he fears the consequences. He’s giving him one because when he wants to make a statement, he’ll do it on the biggest stage possible, so at Takeover, he might just have to snap Thatcher’s arm instead. He grins whilst flashing his title, Thatcher responding with his stoic demeanour, the match set for Takeover.
To warm up for his match, Ciampa battle Arturo Ruas in non-title action, showing off his repertoire of strikes and submissions, ultimately tapping out his foe with the Bridging Fujiwara to send a message of his own to Thatcher. However, he isn’t the one standing tall at the end, as Thatcher runs out from the back and ambushes Ciampa, beating him down, before tying him up in the ropes, chopping his chest until it goes beet red! He takes Ciampa down to the canvas and slaps on a Fujiwara, wanting to injure Ciampa before their match, only for the Psycho Killer to quickly make it to the ropes and roll to safety, showing that perhaps Thatcher’s move isn’t as impossible to escape as he claims it to be. Ciampa returns the favour the following week after Thatcher’s match, gunning him down with a salvo of knees, before latching on the Bridging Fujiwara, this time Thatcher forced to retreat to ringside, Ciampa doing his signature wave as he stands tall heading into their match.
NXT Takeover: Los Angeles
Hyped up as perhaps one of the largest threats to his reign thus far, the world has their eyes glued on Ciampa’s bout heading into WM Weekend. Thatcher makes his entrance first, towel around his neck and stoic expression on his face, bouncing about the ring in wait of his opponent, no theatrics from him. Ciampa is out next, decked out in his signature trench coat, the colours matching the NA Title that he’s grown more attached to over the past few months. The two men lock eyes, ready to kick things off as the opening bell sounds.
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs Timothy Thatcher – NXT North American Championship
The match opens in explosive fashion, as both men move swiftly about the ring, weaving in and out of attempted lock-ups, slapping each other’s hands away to break contact and trying to cinch in holds of their own. Thatcher is the first one able to get Ciampa grounded, but he’s unable to keep the advantage, Ciampa turning over to prevent Thatcher from properly pinning him down and in order to give him enough space to move about comfortably. Nonetheless, Thatcher is able to pick the arm, going for a Cross Armbreaker, though Ciampa gets his feet on the ropes in a flash, forcing Thatcher to back away. Thatcher goes after the leg this time to get Ciampa back down, before floating over to the arm, only for Ciampa to slip behind and apply a hammerlock, followed by a waistlock. He teases a German Suplex, only to push with his body weight to get Thatcher stomach-down against the canvas, going for the beginnings of a Bow & Arrow as he locks the legs in position, but as he goes for Thatcher’s arm, the British Messiah grabs Ciampa’s arm instead, struggling out the submission predicament and trying to latch on one of his own, though Ciampa gets to the ropes once more.
Thatcher doesn’t let go this time, instead pushing Ciampa further into the ropes as he controls the arm, only for the referee to get in between them, breaking things up. As Thatcher argues with the ref to let him do what he needs to do, Ciampa bursts out the ropes, dropping Thatcher with a knee to the gut, followed by a stomp to the back of his head. He continues by driving the point of his knee into the small of Thatcher’s back, keeping it there as he pulls back on the head, Thatcher flailing his arms about in search of reprieve. Ciampa subdues his attempts of escapes, nailing him with another knee to the back, before sliding into a quick cover, Thatcher kicking out, feeling insulted by Ciampa’s attempt to pin him instead of tapping him out. Thatcher lights Ciampa up with a couple of palm strikes to the chest, before backing him into the corner with a deluge of European Uppercuts, going rampant with his own set of strikes. Ciampa pushes him away though, scoring a Dropkick flush on his jaw for separation. He hooks the arm for a Vertical Suplex, only for Thatcher to jump up and lock in a Guillotine Choke! Ciampa backs him into the ropes, using them to generate enough momentum to toss Thatcher off with an Exploder Suplex!
Thatcher scurries back to his feet, coming back with a Suplex of his own, before floating over, however going back to the Armbreaker attempt as opposed to pinning Ciampa. A monkey grip prevents full extension though, Ciampa powering Thatcher up off the canvas and ramming his head against the turnbuckle a few times instead! He scores a sharp stomp on Thatcher’s face, before cracking a Knife-Edge Chop across his chest, Thatcher wincing at the impact. Whilst he remains on his knees after the first, the second one comes in extra crispy, dropping Thatcher. Ciampa keeps up his onslaught, getting a Chop combination going after the crowd start counting along, only for Thatcher to break things up with a streak of European Uppercuts, resetting the counter. He gets a double wrist-clutch, before stomping Ciampa into the canvas, leaving him clutching at his midsection and neck which suffered from the blow the most. Thatcher keeps wrist control, applying in a Keylock to continue torturing the arm that he’s been targeting, only for Ciampa to turn things around and target Thatcher’s arm himself, driving sharp knees into it and wringing it to apply torque. Thatcher breaks free with a palm strike to the chest that staggers Ciampa into the corner.
Thatcher drags Ciampa’s head across the ropes, before cinching in a tight headlock, Ciampa managing to twist his way out and switch positions with Thatcher, unloading with knees in the corner! He lays Thatcher over the top turnbuckle and blasts Thatcher with a Nakamura-esque knee to the midsection, crumpling his foe, before joining him on the top turnbuckle. The two competitors slug it out, trading close-range forearms and chops. Thatcher slips between Ciampa’s legs back onto the canvas and grabs him off the turnbuckles, nailing an Elevated Gutwrench Suplex! As Ciampa recoils, scouring the ring for a place of respite, Thatcher stays on him, driving knees into Ciampa’s ribs, driving the air out of his lungs. He sets up a Double Underhook, before yanking back in attempts of landing a Suplex, only for Ciampa to stand his ground, wrapping his legs around Thatcher’s. Understanding there’s not much else he can do in the predicament, Thatcher instead uses the Double Underhook as a submission of sorts, clasping his hands together from both sides of Ciampa’s arms to apply torque! Ciampa breaks free with a few stomps to Thatcher’s foot, before dumping him with a Belly to Back Suplex! He follows up with a Corner High Knee and a Sliding Knee Strike, followed by an Air Raid Crash off the middle rope! Thatcher has the wherewithal to kick out though, thwarting another attempt from Ciampa of pinning his foe.
However, whilst last time Thatcher somewhat brushed it off, he takes the pinfall much more personally this time, cracking Ciampa with a storm of strikes, landing a combination of chops, palm strikes and slaps! This only proves to draw ire Ciampa’s ire too, who responds with a Sicilian Barrage! Both men now trade their signature strikes, going a full minute without either man stopping! Ciampa finally breaks things up by planting Thatcher with a surprise Short-Arm DDT, but as he goes for the cover, Thatcher doesn’t let him follow through, instead twisting around to lock in the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! This time Ciampa’s a good distance from the ropes, having to figure out a different means of escape to the one he used on NXT TV. And so he does, managing to get his legs underneath him, though after much scratching and clawing, finally alleviating the pressure and turning the table with a BRIDGING FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Whilst Ciampa can’t pull as much as he’d want to due to his compromised arm, he manages to inflict a considerable amount of Thatcher. Thatcher goes to sweep Ciampa’s legs with his free arm, only for Ciampa to hop over, preventing Thatcher from breaking his hold! Now Thatcher’s forced to fight, eventually nailing Ciampa in the head with a few stiff shots to force the separation.
The two men return to their striking exchange from before, their shots lacking the same intensity after all they’ve been through, yet still powerful enough to leave a mark. Ciampa goes for a Jumping Knee Strike but Thatcher pats it down. Thatcher attempts a Headbutt but Ciampa stops him in his tracks with a slap! Thatcher responds with one of his own, and the two start slapping the living daylights out of one another! A boot the gut allows Ciampa to lunge for a Knee Trembler, only for Thatcher to pull back, connecting an Open Palm Strike! He lands a second, before spitting on the hand as he goes for the third, only for Ciampa to catch it and turn it back into a BRIDGING FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Thatcher has it scouted this time though, quickly grabbing at the legs and countering into an ANKLE LOCK! Ciampa rolls through and blasts Thatcher with a Knee Trembler, before locking in PROJECT CIAMPA II! He sits deep in the Cloverleaf, doing his best to keep Thatcher down, only for Thatcher to fight out yet again, blasting Ciampa with one hell of a slap across the face!
Ciampa’s eyes light up in fury, but before he can retaliate with one of his own, Thatcher lands a BACKDROP DRIVER and swiftly applies the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Ciampa senses the ropes nearby, fighting to get to them, only for Thatcher to propel himself off of them and back into the centre of the ring! Ciampa’s hand waves over the mat, causing Thatcher to wrench back further and further! Ciampa’s eyes move to look at his gold at ringside, before looking back at his arm, feeling one final yank from Thatcher… AND HE TAPS OUT!
Timothy Thatcher def. Tommaso Ciampa (c) to win the NXT North American Championship (19:03)
Ciampa’s reign has come to an end! We have a new champion! But Thatcher isn’t letting go after the bell, more interested in Ciampa’s arm! The referee scurries over, trying to pry Thatcher’s grip off, but he responds with a menacing expression, pulling back until he hears a satisfying pop, finally letting go, having made his point crystal clear. He didn’t come to just beat Ciampa, he wanted to leave him injured too, and he’s accomplished that goal. Ciampa yells and thrashes in agony as he grabs his arm, whilst Thatcher forces the referee to raise his arm as he holds the title above his head, ushering in a new era for the NA Championship. Ciampa’s streak of luck has finally come to an end, now without gold once more, back to square one…
submitted by The most significant perk of 2021 free spins no deposit in the UK is of course that they are free. No counterclaim is asked from you to start accessing the free casino games. Instead, we see that casinos are giving out free spins upon you entering the casino and some free spins are awarded for registering, some are awarded for depositing and some can even be awarded on your second, third and ... 50 Free Spins Casinos UK! We’ve got every UK No Deposit Casino offering 50 Free Spins to new UK casino players. Play at the best sites with 50 spins on us. Explore every Casino with 50 Free Spins, No Deposit and On Deposit. We’ve listed every 50 Spins Bonus Casino this 2020 so you can enjoy 50 Free Spins with the biggest and best brands. We love free stuff! At Gambla we have the biggest free spins no deposit top list in the UK that 100% only promote actual no deposit free spins in the UK. Many other online casino guides usually promote false or outdated offers that don’t actually give you anything for free. Now you can relax, Hakuna Matata or whatever you call it. Looking for the best no deposit free spins? Then you’ve come to the right place. Here at Bet & Skill we bring you all the very best free spin offers. In many cases you can keep what you win and you really won’t miss out on any offer from the UK’s best online casinos. Take a look below for our best no deposit free spin promotions, and get playing today! Our no deposit free spins table now only offers the very best free spins on sign up!. We provide high quality no deposit bonuses and free online casino offers to our visitors. Since we're a bigger than usual casino bonus guide in the UK we can negotiate offers like exclusive no deposit free spins and bonuses. In this list, “free spins” means no deposit and “extra spins” mean after deposit! Sign-up and start playing with 10 Free Spins No Deposit on Burning Wins. With a name like Online Slots UK, you can bank on finding all of your favourites. Specializing in video slots and min-games, this arcade-style slots platform is a plug-in and play solution to casino gaming players will enjoy. 10 Free Spins No Deposit T&C apply No Deposit Offer: New players only • Predefined bet amount of £0.25 per spin • Free Spins (FS) must be claimed within 48 hrs of receiving the email and expires after 14 days • FS wins are capped at £20 Bonus, exc. JP win • Deposit Bonus Offer: £20 min deposit, excluding deposits by Skrill or NETELLER • 100% up to £200 FreePlay (FP) • FP wins are capped at the amount of FP ... Free spins no deposit UK 2021. Free spins no deposit in 2021 are pretty sweet - you can play slots to try and win real money online without risking your own! Here, view no deposit free spins casinos that we've reviewed. Find over 400 free spins no deposit for 2021 in total, all at sites with no deposit required. Free Spins No Deposits features every Free Spins Casino Site online, including every Free Spins bonus this 2021! We specialise in Free Spins No Deposit, so you can enjoy hundreds of Free Spins by claiming a Free No Deposit Bonus, as well as find New Online Casino sites. Free Spins No Deposit 2021 Free spins are the casino’s way of enticing you to play a certain game, or they can be used as a bonus to tempt you back onto the site. Free spins allow you to spin the reels of a specified slot game (or games) without risking any of your own money.
🎁 EgoCasino sign-up bonus: 20 free spins on the Carnival Queen slot by Thunderkick Get your no deposit bonus https://cutt.ly/ego20freespins🏆 New Free Casi... ПОЛУЧАЙ ФРИ СПИН ПО ССЫЛКЕ!!! http://hottopnow.com/BUR online casino uk free spins no deposit, online casino us players real money, online ... 🎁Top free online casino bonuses https://newcasinobonus777.com🎰Free spins on the best slot machines Latest no deposit bonus codes 💲Free chips 🆗Sign up bon... 🎁 Konung Casino sign-up bonus: 25 free spins on the best slot machines Get no deposit bonus https://cutt.ly/konungcasino🆗 Konung Сasino accepts crypto cur... Promo link to get the bonus: https://is.gd/YKLAzv Bonus code: DEMERESTDetailed instructions for getting a no deposit bonus - Play Fortuna bonus code in an on... ПОЛУЧАЙ ФРИ СПИН ПО ССЫЛКЕ!!! http://hottopnow.com/BUR online casino uk free spins no deposit, online casino gambling, online casino 2021 ... Best UK Online Slots With No Deposit Required:50 Free Spins - Leovegas http://bit.ly/2DBoooH20 bonus spins in Starburst slot - Dunder http://bit.ly/2NMN7LB£8...
