#2 Johnny Gargano
He may come into this match as a Rebel Heart but Johnny Gargano could have left Money in the Bank as the Defiant Heart. Gargano has shown what he is willing to do to ensure he captures his moment. The battle and win with Ciampa set them apart. Gargano walks away as the winner with the intention of taking over NXT. He is NXT's Grand Slam Champion having held all three titles in the promotion's history. Only Adam Cole could safely make that claim as having held all three titles during his career.
To include Johnny Gargano in this match would do more than simply signify a sense of purpose; it is cemented with a rationale of being as well. Gargano has continued to show that he bleeds NXT, but having him in this match would show how he belongs in the same ring as a Daniel Bryan. The inclusion of the Rebel Heart also helps to involve easily one of the top faces of the brand in a match of great importance.