Heartwarming / Tommaso Ciampa

• The conclusion of the NXT Tag Team Championship match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, with Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa unsuccessful in their bout against The Revival. The audience is held in suspense all throughout, fearing a Face–Heel Turn from Ciampa. Instead, he pulls Gargano into a hug and they exit the arena together, mirroring the conclusion of their match against each other at the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.
• #DIY shows how even a threat can become a heartwarming moment when they challenge the Authors of Pain to a rematch for the Tag Team Championships:
  Precious Paul Ellering: In two weeks, you can have your rematch for the NXT Tag Team Titles. Make peace with your loved ones before then!
  Ciampa: Hey, Johnny, I love you, man.
  Gargano: Oh, I love you too!
• Mixed with Tearjerker, this video of Ciampa on the day of his neck surgery. We see him outside of kayfabe and it shows that Tomasso Whitney is a much different man than the character of the Psycho Killer we see him use on TV. The story of his past few years shows how much the man has sacrificed and how hard he's worked. And the way he holds his daughter Willow is just downright precious.
  • The fact that he and Johnny barely knew each other when they were paired up for the first Dusty Rhodes Classic but leaned on each other, working together to earn contracts and becoming best friends in the process. It really makes DIY have a much more meaninginful impact.
• NXT TakeOver: New York: Ciampa makes a surprise appearance and Heel–Face Turn after Johnny Gargano wins the NXT championship, genuinely congratulating and hugging his former partner and best friend after nearly two years of trying to outright destroy each other.
  • Made sweeter by the fact that Gargano said he was going "hold on to Goldie" while Ciampa recovered from his neck surgery. Despite the bitter animosity the two had in kayfabe, Johnny found it in his heart to forgive him is really touching.
• The fact that he named his draping DDT "Willow's Bell" after his daughter after returning. Really showcases how much he truly loves her.
• NXT: Stand and Deliver 2022 in what turned out to be his last match for NXT, he imitates the iconic 'water spit' entrance as a tribute to the recently retired Triple H. In his send-off after losing said match, Triple H walks out suddenly to his theme music and hugs Ciampa like a proud dad would a son, which made Ciampa legitimately tear up for a moment. Not only was Ciampa considered to be the last of the 'old guard' from NXT's 'Takeover' era (largely helmed by Triple H), but it also marked Triple H's first appearance on WWE programming in any capacity since the serious heart issue that ended Trips's career and nearly killed him, so beyond the well-deserved "thank you" to Ciampa and the End of an Era feeling the visual provided, it was just immensely relieving to see Triple H okay and looking relatively healthy, all things considered.

---