After making sporadic appearances for WWE early in his career, Gargano took part in the company's tryout camp in June 2015. Afterwards, he began appearing regularly for NXT, eventually signing a contract in April 2016. He formed a tag team,#DIY, withTommaso Ciampa, and held the NXT Tag Team Championship once. Following their split up and heated rivalry, Gargano captured the NXT North American Championship in January 2019 and won the NXT Championship in April the same year. With the win, Gargano became the first ever NXT Triple Crown Champion. In 2020, Gargano won the NXT North American Championship for a second, and later, a third time, becoming the first competitor to do so each time.
He departed WWE after his contract expired in December 2021, but returned in August 2022 as a permanent member of the main roster. He would then reunite with Tommaso Ciampa as #DIY the following year with the pair going on to win the WWE Tag Team Championship in July and December 2024.
John Anthony Nicholas "Johnny" Gargano was born and raised in theCleveland, Ohio suburb ofLakewood, to Adrienne (née Klasinski) and restaurateur Francis Gargano. He is of Polish descent through his mother and Italian descent through his father.[7] Gargano entered a professional wrestling ring for the first time at age eight, when Cleveland All–Pro Wrestling (CAPW) owner J.T. Lightning, who ran shows behind Gargano's father's catering business, allowed him to roll around in the ring.[8] While still a student atSt. Edward High School, he decided to enter CAPW'sprofessional wrestling school in order to become a professional wrestler.[8] At age 16, Gargano began training at the Cleveland All Pro Training Center under J.T. Lightning and Josh Prohibition.[8]
Gargano made his professional wrestling debut for CAPW in 2005.[9][1][6] In his first match, he competed in the AIW Gauntlet For The Gold Battle Royal on December 11, 2005, which was won byMichael Hutter.[9] Gargano calls his wrestling style "Lucharesu", a mix ofBritish chain wrestling,lucha libre andpuroresu and described hischaracter at the time as "someone lacking self awareness and living in his own deluded little world".[8] On October 8, 2006, Gargano defeated Josh Prohibition,M-Dogg 20, andZach Gowen in a four-way match to win his first Championship, the CAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship.[9] He would continue to make appearances for the company until August 5, 2007, teaming up with Prohibition in his CAPW farewell match, where they defeatedAlex Shelley andChris Sabin.[9]
Gargano made his debut forCleveland–based Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW) on February 26, 2006, losing to Kano.[9] He would pick up his first victory in the promotion two months later on April 30, defeatingTyrone Evans.[13] On February 24, 2008, Gargano defeated his trainer Josh Prohibition to become the number one contender to the AIW Intense Division Championship.[14] After Gargano's first shot at the title, held byTyler Black, went to a fifteen-minute time limit draw on March 21, the two were booked in a30-minute Iron Man match on May 25, where Gargano defeated Black to win the Intense Division Championship for the first time.[9][15][16] Gargano held the title for 187 days before he was stripped of it due to an injury on November 28, 2008.[17] On February 28, 2009, Gargano defeated Jimmy DeMarco, who had won the vacant Intense Division Championship in a tournament, to regain the title.[17] He would go on to lose the title to Josh Prohibition on May 15, 2009.[17]
On April 9, 2010, Gargano teamed up with Aeroform (Flip Kendrick and Louis Lyndon) to form Team Oreo for the Jack of All Trios tournament, a tournament held for sixteen teams of three. After defeating Psycho Sexual Panic (Corvis Fear, Michael Facade andShiima Xion) on night one of the tournament, Gargano and Aeroform advanced to night two, where they defeated Team Beyond Wrestling (Chase Burnett, Davey Vega and Zane Silver),Da Soul Touchaz (Acid Jaz,Marshe Rockett and Willie Richardson) and finally the Young Studs (Bobby Beverly, Eric Ryan and T.J. Dynamite) to win the tournament.[18] As a result of winning the tournament, Gargano and Aeroform earned the right to represent AIW inChikara's2010 King of Trios tournament.[18] On June 27, Gargano defeated Facade,Sterling James Keenan andTommy Mercer in a four-way match to win AIW's top singles title, the vacant AIW Absolute Championship, for the first time.[19] Later that same night, Gargano retained his brand new title by wrestlingBryan Danielson to a 30-minute time limit draw.[19] He would go on to lose the title to Shiima Xion on June 26, 2011.[20] On March 3, 2012, Gargano won a 30-manGauntlet for the Gold, last eliminatingTim Donst, to earn a shot at Xion and the AIW Absolute Championship.[21]
Gargano appeared on the very first episode of Pro Wrestling Ohio (PWO), a promotion owned by his uncle, on Sports Time Ohio on November 20, 2007.[9] He would lose his debut, in what many called an upset, toGregory Iron, a wrestler with a disability known ascerebral palsy.[22] Iron issued several challenges to Gargano, claiming he could beat him in another match. Meanwhile, Gargano remained in denial of the original defeat from Iron, and continued to mock Iron's disability, his history of concussions, and rough upbringing.[22] At the February 2008 PWO TV tapings, Gargano brutally attacked Iron, busting him open, assaulting him with a chair, and bashing his head into the ringside barricades.[22] On August 1, 2008, Gargano defeated Iron in aLast Man Standing match in front of over 1,000 fans in Cleveland, Ohio to end their feud.[22]
Gargano suffered a hairline fracture in hisvertebrae during the Last Man Standing match and did not return to active competition until March 2009, when he faced off against Mike Tolar and Jason Bane in a three-way match to become number one contender for the PWO Heavyweight Championship, in which he was victorious.[9][22] Gargano went on to unsuccessfully challenge Matt Cross for the PWO Heavyweight Championship on April 18, 2009.[22] After Gargano's loss, Josh Prohibition capitalized on a worn down Cross, and defeated him for the PWO Championship.[22] On August 9, 2009, atWrestlelution 2: A Coming of Age Gargano defeated Prohibition in his final match, for the PWO Championship.[23] On August 1, 2010, atWrestlelution 3: A Defining Moment, Gargano defeated Cross to retain the PWO Heavyweight Championship.[24] On March 20, 2011, Gargano lost the PWO Heavyweight Championship to Marion Fontaine in a three-way match, which also included Jason Bane, after getting hit with a nightstick.[25] After Pro Wrestling Ohio was renamed Prime Wrestling in early 2012, Gargano regained the PWO Heavyweight Championship, now known as the Prime Heavyweight Championship, by defeatingJimmy Jacobs on August 19, 2012.[26] He lost the title toKrimson on February 16, 2013.[26] Gargano regained the title from Krimson on October 20 at Wrestlelution 6.[26][27]
Gargano made his debut forPhiladelphia–based Chikara on June 14, 2008, taking part in the sixthYoung Lions Cup tournament, but was eliminated in the first round against Marshe Rockett.[28] Gargano returned to the company on April 23, 2010, taking part in the 2010 King of Trios tournament with Aeroform and suffering a loss in the opening round againstThe Colony (Fire Ant, Green Ant and Soldier Ant).[29] On the second night of the tournament, Gargano came out during a quarter-final match between F.I.S.T. (Icarus,Gran Akuma andChuck Taylor) and TeamOsaka Pro (Atsushi Kotoge,Daisuke Harada andTadasuke), wearing a F.I.S.T. shirt and witnessed how Icarus, Akuma and Taylor were eliminated from the tournament.[30] Gargano wrote on hisFacebook page that he liked F.I.S.T., but thought that the team might have a weak link, which led to thestable's members pointing fingers at each other.[30][31][32] On June 27 atFaded Scars and Lines, Gargano defeatedPlayer Uno to earn a spot in the eighth Young Lions Cup tournament.[33] On July 26 atChikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, F.I.S.T. lost a six-man tag team match toCima,Masaaki Mochizuki and Super Shenglong. After the match, Icarus and Taylor turned on Akuma, kicked him out of both F.I.S.T. and Chikara and gave his spot to Gargano.[34] On August 27, Gargano entered his second Young Lions Cup tournament, defeating Andy Ridge in the first round but was eliminated from the tournament when he was disqualified in the six-way elimination semi final match.[35] On August 29, Gargano defeated 29 other men to winThe Countdown Showdown match and earn a "Golden Opportunity".[36] With Gargano as a member, the new F.I.S.T. ended their losing streak by defeating Da Soul Touchaz (Acid Jaz, Marshe Rockett and Willie Richardson) and3.0 (Scott Parker and Shane Matthews) and Soldier Ant in six-man tag team matches on September 18 and 19.[37][38] On October 23, Gargano cashed in his "Golden Opportunity" for a Young Lions Cup title match againstFrightmare, but lost.[39] On April 15, 2011, F.I.S.T. entered the2011 King of Trios, defeating Team Australia (Kabel, Percy T and Tama Williams) in the first round.[40] The following day, F.I.S.T. defeated Team Osaka Pro (Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Ultimate Spider Jr.) to advance to the semifinals.[41] On April 17, F.I.S.T. scored a major upset in the semifinals of the tournament by defeating TeamMichinoku Pro (Dick Togo,Great Sasuke andJinsei Shinzaki) but lost in the finals of the tournament to The Colony.[42]
In June and July, Gargano and Taylor gained three points and the right to challenge for theChikara Campeonatos de Parejas with victories over The Colony, Incoherence (Frightmare andHallowicked) andAtlantis andRey Bucanero.[43][44] On September 18, Gargano and Taylor defeatedJigsaw andMike Quackenbush to win the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas for the first time.[45] Gargano and Taylor made their first title defense on October 7, defeating Momo no Seishun Tag (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada) with help from Icarus.[45] On October 7, Icarus replaced Gargano, who was unable to attend due to travel issues, and teamed with Taylor to retain the Campeonatos de Parejas against the Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield and Sugar Dunkerton), after which Gargano and Taylor defended the title on December 2, during Chikara's special post-seasonJoshiMania weekend, defeating The Colony.[45] Gargano was sidelined with a back injury and Icarus replaced him; he and Chuck Taylor retained the Campeonatos de Parejas on February 25, 2012, against the Spectral Envoy (Hallowicked andUltraMantis Black), before losing the title to 3.0 on March 24.[45] After earning three points in a four-way elimination match on April 14, Gargano and Taylor defeated 3.0 in a rematch on April 29 to regain the title and become the first two-time Campeones de Parejas.[43][45] On June 2 atChikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur, F.I.S.T. lost the title toThe Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) in their first title defense.[46] On August 2, Chikara'sDirector of Fun, Wink Vavasseur, named Sugar Dunkerton, who had stated his wish to join a stable, the fourth member of F.I.S.T.[47] The other members, however, refused to accept Dunkerton as a full-fledged member, instead referring to him as their "water boy".[48][49]
On September 14, F.I.S.T., represented by Gargano, Icarus and Taylor, entered the2012 King of Trios tournament, defeating Team Osaka Pro (Ebessan,Kikutaro and Takoyakida) in the first round.[43][50] The following day, F.I.S.T. defeated the all-female TeamJWP (Command Bolshoi,Kaori Yoneyama andTsubasa Kuragaki) to advance to the semifinals.[43][51] On the third and final day of the tournament, F.I.S.T. was eliminated in the semifinals by the Spectral Envoy (Frightmare, Hallowicked and UltraMantis Black).[43][52] In early 2013, the members of F.I.S.T. began having problems with each other, leading to Icarus turning on Gargano on May 3 over his treatment of Sugar Dunkerton.[53][54] Following the turn, Gargano quit F.I.S.T., which was followed by Chikara removing his profile from the promotion's official roster page.[55] He returned on September 2, 2016, entering the2016 King of Trios tournament as part of Team #CWC, alongsideCedric Alexander andDrew Gulak. They were eliminated from the tournament in the first round by The Warriors Three (Oleg the Usurper,Princess KimberLee and ThunderFrog).[56]
While wrestling forChicago-based All American Wrestling (AAW), Gargano ran intoColt Cabana, who suggested he get in touch with former Ring of HonorbookerGabe Sapolsky, who was looking for talents forDragon Gate USA andEvolve Wrestling, and tell him that Cabana sent him.[8] Gargano received a tryout match for Dragon Gate on July 25, 2009, at the tapings of theEnter the Dragonpay-per-view, wrestling in an eight-way elimination dark match won byLince Dorado.[57] On November 28 atFreedom Fight, Gargano made his pay-per-view debut by entering the tournament to crown the firstOpen the Freedom Gate Champion, but was eliminated in the first round.[58] In May, Gargano signed a contract with Dragon Gate USA.[8] On July 24 at Enter the Dragon, Gargano lost to Cima.[59] On September 26, Gargano offered himself to Cima's Warriors International stable.[60] On October 29 at Dragon Gate USA's first live pay-per-view, Bushido: Code of the Warrior, Gargano wrestled in a four-way match won by Chuck Taylor. After Taylor turned down an offer from Cima to join his Warriors International stable, Gargano offered himself to Cima but was turned down. Gargano confronted Cima again, offering himself to Warriors International, before attacking him andRicochet, along with Chuck Taylor andRich Swann, forming the stable Ronin.[61]
On January 29, 2011, Gargano and Taylor entered a three-day-long tournament to determine the first everOpen the United Gate Champions. Gargano and Taylor defeatedNaruki Doi and Ricochet and followed it up by defeating Cima andDragon Kid,[62][63] before losing in the finals toMasato Yoshino andPAC.[64] On April 1 atOpen the Southern Gate, Gargano lost to Cima, with Ronin now working as ababyface group against Cima's Blood Warriors.[65] The following day at Mercury Rising, Ronin lost a six-man tag team match to Cima, Doi and Ricochet.[66] On April 3 at Open the Ultimate Gate,Austin Aries, who lost a match with his Dragon Gate USA career on the line, feigned passing the torch to his former Ronin rivals, but turned on them and joined Blood Warriors.[67] Gargano defeatedJon Davis on April 19 at Evolve's first live internet pay-per-view.[68] Later that same night, he defeated Chuck Taylor in a tiebreaker match to become Evolve's new wins leader with a record of 6–2.[68] On June 3 at Fearless, Gargano lost to Aries, but came back two days later atEnter The Dragon to force Cima and Aries to submit in a six-man elimination tag team match, where he teamed with Rich Swann and Masato Yoshino withBrodie Lee being the third member of Blood Warriors.[69][70]
On November 13 at Freedom Fight, Gargano defeatedYamato to win the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.[71] On January 14, 2012, Gargano retained the title against Ricochet in the final professional wrestling match in theAsylum Arena.[72] Following the match, Gargano was helped backstage and rushed to a hospital with a back injury, but was released the following day.[73][74] On March 30, Gargano returned to Dragon Gate USA, where he and Chuck Taylor unsuccessfully fought Masato Yoshino and Ricochet for the vacant Open the United Gate Championship; Taylor then turned on Gargano and broke away from Ronin.[75] Following the merger of Dragon Gate USA and Evolve, Gargano successfully defended the Open the Freedom Gate Championship against Taylor on June 29 at Evolve 15.[76] On July 28 at Untouchable, Gargano retained the title againstAkira Tozawa.[77] Prior to the event it had been reported that Gargano had been offered adevelopmental contract with WWE, however, following his win, Gargano revealed that he had signed a two-year contract extension with Dragon Gate USA/Evolve.[78][79] The following day at Enter the Dragon, Gargano defeated Chuck Taylor in a non-title"I Quit" match, ending their rivalry.[80] Gargano made another successful defense of the Open the Freedom Gate Championship on September 8, defeating Jon Davis at Evolve 17.[81] On November 4 at Freedom Fight, despite a pre-match assault by Jon Davis, Gargano defeated Tozawa,A. R. Fox and Ricochet in a four-way elimination match to retain the Open the Freedom Gate Championship and, as a result, made it to a full year as the champion.[82] On December 8 at Evolve 18, Gargano retained the title againstSami Callihan.[83]
On April 6, 2013, Gargano retained the Open the Freedom Gate Championship againstShingo after hitting him with alow blow and a chain, turningvillainous in the process.[84] Gargano's streak of successful title defenses continued against the likes ofSamuray del Sol,[85][86] Akira Tozawa,[87] and Rich Swann.[88] Having now held the Open the Freedom Gate Championship for two years,[89] Gargano retained the title on November 17 againstChris Hero.[90] Gargano's successful title defenses continued in early 2014, when he defeated Uhaa Nation,[91]Trent Baretta,[92] andRoderick Strong.[93] On March 27, it was reported that Gargano had signed a contract extension with Dragon Gate USA.[94] On April 4, Gargano lost the Open the Freedom Gate Championship to Ricochet in a match one year in the making,[94] ending his two and a half year reign.[95] The rivalry between Gargano and Rich Swann culminated in an "Evolution's End" match on August 10, where Swann was victorious. Post-match, Gargano saved Swann from an attack by the Premier Athlete Brand ofAnthony Nese, Caleb Konley and Su Yung.[96]
On November 16, 2014, during Dragon Gate USA's parent companyWWNLive's tour ofChina, Gargano defeated Ricochet to regain the Open the Freedom Gate Championship, becoming the first two-time holder of the title.[97] On March 26, 2015, Gargano retained the Open the Freedom Gate Championship against A. R. Fox to set up a double title match withEvolve World ChampionDrew Galloway two days later,[98] where Galloway defeated Gargano to retain the Evolve World Championship and win the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.[99] Following the match,Ethan Page turned on Gargano,[99] starting a feud between the two with the storyline being that Gargano got Page his job in Evolve, but he was now trying to make himself a name at Gargano's expense.[100] On April 18, Gargano and Swann defeated Anthony Nese and Caleb Konley to win the Open the United Gate Championship.[101] On May 30, Ronin successfully defended the title against Drew Gulak andTracy Williams. After the match, Gargano retired the Open the United Gate Championship since Dragon Gate was the past and demanded the creation of theEvolve Tag Team Championship.[102] Gargano's partnership with Swann ended on August 15, when Swann turned on Gargano and joined forces with Ethan Page.[103] The feud between Gargano and Page culminated on October 17 at Evolve 49, where Gargano defeated Page in an "I Quit" match, where his Evolve career was on the line.[104] On January 24, 2016, at Evolve 55, Gargano and Drew Galloway defeated Chris Hero andTommy End in the finals of a tournament to become the inaugural Evolve Tag Team Champions.[105] They lost the title to Drew Gulak and Tracy Williams on April 2. After the match, Galloway turned on Gargano.[106] The feud between Gargano and Galloway concluded on July 17 at Evolve 65,[107] where Gargano lost to Galloway.[108]
On July 21, Evolve revealed Gargano's impending departure from the promotion with his final match taking place on September 11.[109] On September 10 at Evolve 68, Gargano was defeated byZack Sabre Jr. in his final singles match in Evolve.[110] The following day at Evolve 69, Gargano andCody Rhodes defeated Chris Hero andDrew Galloway in Gargano's Evolve farewell match.[111]
On March 1, 2011, Gargano made hisJapanese debut, when his Dragon Gate USA stable Ronin started their first three-week-long tour of Dragon Gate. In their first match of the tour, Gargano, Chuck Taylor and Rich Swann defeated Blood Warriors representatives Cima, Naruki Doi andNaoki Tanizaki in a six-man tag team match.[112]
Gargano returned to Dragon Gate in October 2012, now aligned with the World-1 International stable.[113] In his first match of the tour on October 6, Gargano teamed with Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi to defeat Kaettekita Veteran-gun representativesDon Fujii,Gamma and Masaaki Mochizuki in a six-man tag team main event.[114] The following day, Gargano defeatedRyo "Jimmy" Saito to retain the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.[115]
On March 22, 2013, Gargano made his debut forSouthern California-basedPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) during the promotion's All Star Weekend 9, teaming with Chuck Taylor in a non-title tag team match, where they were defeated by the reigningPWG World Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks.[116] Gargano returned to PWG on June 15, when he and Taylor lost to the Dojo Bros. (Eddie Edwards and Roderick Strong).[117] On August 30, Gargano entered the2013 Battle of Los Angeles, defeatingWillie Mack in the first round.[118] The following day, Gargano defeatedKevin Steen in the second round, before being eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals byMichael Elgin.[119] On October 20, Gargano defeated Roderick Strong and, at the end of the event, challengedAdam Cole to a future match for thePWG World Championship.[120] Gargano received his title shot during the second day ofAll Star Weekend X on December 21, but was defeated by Cole.[121] Gargano failed to earn another title shot on January 31, 2014, when he was defeated by Drake Younger in a four-way number one contender's match, which also included Chris Hero and Kyle O'Reilly.[122] In August, Gargano made it to the finals of the2014 Battle of Los Angeles, before losing to Ricochet in a three-way match, also involving Roderick Strong.[123] On December 11, 2015, Gargano andTommaso Ciampa unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the PWG World Tag Team Championship.[124]
On March 23, 2007, Gargano appeared as the "Champion ofLiechtenstein", Cedrick Von Haussen, on an episode ofWorld Wrestling Entertainment's television programSmackDown!, losing toMontel Vontavious Porter.[8][1][125] He made another appearance for WWE on the May 25, 2010, edition ofNXT, portraying a security guard.[8] Gargano wrestled another tryout for WWE, working under the ring name Joey Gray, at the September 20, 2011, tapings ofSuperstars, losing toBrodus Clay.[3]
In June 2015, Gargano took part in a WWE tryout camp,[126] and also wrestled at the June 18NXT tapings, losing toUhaa Nation in a dark match.[127] Though he did not sign with WWE, Gargano continued making appearances for NXT over the next few months.[128] In Gargano's first televised NXT match he teamed with Tommaso Ciampa in theDusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, defeating the team ofBull Dempsey andTyler Breeze in their first round match on the September 9 episode.[129] They were eliminated from the tournament byBaron Corbin andRhyno on the September 16 episode.[130] Gargano continued working for NXT in early 2016.[131][132] On April 2, it was confirmed that Gargano had signed with WWE earlier in the week.[133] Gargano's NXT contract was a so-called "Tier 2" contract, which allowed him to continue working independent dates alongside his now regular NXT bookings.[134] On June 23, Gargano entered theCruiserweight Classic tournament, defeating his tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa the first round.[135] On July 14, Gargano was eliminated from the tournament byT.J. Perkins.[136] On July 21, it was reported that Gargano was signing a new full-time NXT deal, which would prevent him from taking further independent bookings.[109]
On August 20 atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, Gargano and Ciampa unsuccessfully challengedThe Revival (Dash Wilder andScott Dawson) for theNXT Tag Team Championship.[137] Gargano and Ciampa, now billed collectively as "DIY" (often stylized as #DIY), challenged The Revival for another title shot in atwo-out-of-three falls match on November 19 atNXT TakeOver: Toronto,[138] where they went on to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.[139] DIY went on to successfully defend their championships against the teams ofTajiri andAkira Tozawa, andTM61 (Nick Miller andShane Thorne) in their respective home countries of Japan and Australia, and against The Revival in a rubber match on the January 11, 2017 episode ofNXT, ending their trilogy feud with the latter team, after which they would be attacked by The Authors of Pain. AtNXT TakeOver: San Antonio on January 28, 2017, they lost the titles toThe Authors of Pain causing their championship reign to end at just 70 days.[140] They received their rematch on the March 1 episode ofNXT, which ended in a no contest after The Revival interfered and attacked both teams. This led to atriple threat elimination match between all three teams for the NXT Tag Team Championship atNXT TakeOver: Orlando on April 1,[141] which DIY lost after being the first team eliminated.[142]
AtNXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on January 27, 2018, Gargano challenged Andrade "Cien" Almas for theNXT Championship, which he lost again, even after his wife,Candice LeRae, helped fend off a distraction from Zelina Vega. Afterwards, Tommaso Ciampa returned to attack Gargano from behind with a crutch.[148] Gargano faced Almas for the title again on the February 21 episode ofNXT, where Gargano failed to win the title after interference from Ciampa, thus forcing him to (kayfabe) leave NXT.[149] AtNXT TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7, he defeated Ciampa in aunsanctioned match to be reinstated to NXT.[150] On the April 25 episode ofNXT, Gargano was once again attacked by Ciampa while he was making his entrance for his NXT Championship match against Aleister Black,[151] leading to aChicago Street Fight between them atNXT TakeOver: Chicago II on June 16,[152] which Ciampa won.[153]
At the July 18NXT tapings of the July 25 episode, Gargano interfered in Ciampa's NXT Championship match against Black and accidentally hit Black with the title belt, causing Ciampa to win the championship.[154] The following week, all three men were scheduled in a triple threat match for the NXT Championship atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV on August 18,[155][156] though Black was removed from the match due to being unable to compete after being found unconscious in the parking lot after the show.[157] The title match was later changed to a Last Man Standing match between Gargano and Ciampa at the event,[158] which Ciampa won.[159] On the October 24 episode ofNXT, Gargano was revealed as the one who attacked Aleister Black, turningheel in the process.[160] Black and Gargano continued their rivalry,[161] culminating in a match atNXT TakeOver: WarGames II on November 17,[162] which Black won.[163] On the December 19 episode ofNXT, Gargano defeated Black in a steel cage match after interference from Ciampa, ending their feud.[164]
AtNXT TakeOver: Phoenix on January 26, 2019, Gargano defeatedRicochet to capture theNXT North American Championship.[165] Later in the night, after Ciampa successfully defended his NXT Championship against Black, Gargano reunited with his former tag-team partner as they raised their belts in unison on stage as the show went off air. The following night, he would make his first main roster appearance at theRoyal Rumble event, entering at number 6 in theRoyal Rumble match, in which he lasted over 13 minutes and eliminatedJinder Mahal before getting eliminated byDean Ambrose.[166] On the February 20 episode ofNXT, Gargano lost the NXT North American Championship toVelveteen Dream.[167]
Gargano made his main roster debut on the February 18, 2019, episode ofRaw, where he and Ciampa defeated former rivalsRaw Tag Team Champions The Revival in a non-title match.[168] The next night on theirSmackDown debut, Gargano and Ciampa defeatedThe Bar (Cesaro andSheamus).[169] On the March 13 episode ofNXT, after Gargano and Ciampa were eliminated from the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Ciampa attempted to attack Gargano, similar to his original betrayal at TakeOver: Chicago two years prior, before Gargano reversed it and attacked him, thus turning face.[170]
After defeating Adam Cole in April 2019, Gargano won the vacantNXT Championship
On the March 20 episode ofNXT, it was revealed byTriple H that Gargano and Ciampa were to compete atNXT TakeOver: New York for the NXT Championship, but due to Ciampa needing real-life neck surgery, he was removed from the match and forced to vacate the title; therefore, it was announced that Gargano would still be in the match for the now vacant title, and his opponent would beAdam Cole, who won afatal five-way match later that night to earn the right to replace Ciampa.[171] At the event on April 5, Gargano defeated Cole in a critically acclaimedtwo-out-of-three falls match to win the NXT Championship for the first time in his career, which also made him the first everNXT Triple Crown Champion.[172] At the end of the show, Ciampa came out to celebrate Gargano's successful title win withCandice LeRae as well.[172] On the April 17 episode ofNXT, Gargano was celebrating his championship victory until he was confronted and attacked byThe Undisputed Era.[173] A rematch was scheduled between Gargano and Cole to take place atNXT TakeOver XXV on June 1,[174] where Gargano lost the title, ending his reign at 57 days.[175] Gargano's rematch on August 10 atNXT TakeOver: Toronto was then scheduled byWilliam Regal to be another two-out-of-three falls match, with each wrestler allowed to pick a stipulation, with Regal deciding the final fall's stipulation. At the event, Gargano won the second fall, but was ultimately unsuccessful in regaining the title after losing the final fall, which was in a steel cage match, after both men fell from the top of the cage through a table.[176]
On the October 23 episode ofNXT, Gargano reunited with Ciampa once again, only to be attacked by The Undisputed Era and surprise NXT returneeFinn Bálor.[177] He suffered a legitimate neck injury when Bálor performed his signature move1916 on Gargano on the entrance ramp, sidelining him indefinitely.[178] He returned on the December 18 episode ofNXT, distracting Bálor during his NXT Championship match against Adam Cole, causing him to lose; he then attacked Bálor with a steel chair post-match.[179]
On the January 8, 2020, episode ofNXT, Bálor challenged Gargano to a match atNXT TakeOver: Portland, which Gargano accepted.[180] AtWorlds Collide on January 25, Gargano and Ciampa defeated NXT UK'sMoustache Mountain.[181] At TakeOver on February 16, Gargano lost to Bálor,[182] and later that same night, Gargano interfered in the main-event between Cole and Ciampa for the NXT Championship and attacked Ciampa with the title while the referee was unconscious, subsequently allowing Cole to pin Ciampa, breaking up DIY for the second time and turning heel for the second time in his WWE career.[183] On the April 8, 2020, episode ofNXT, Gargano defeated Ciampa in an Empty Arena No Holds Barred match after Candice LeRae gave Ciampa a lowblow and Gargano hit Ciampa with the Fairytale Ending.[184] Gargano and LeRae then began appearing together more frequently as a power couple.[185]
AtTakeOver: In Your House on June 7, Gargano unsuccessfully challengedKeith Lee for theNXT North American Championship.[186] On July 8 atThe Great American Bash, Gargano defeatedIsaiah "Swerve" Scott.[187] On the July 22 episode ofNXT, Gargano faced Bronson Reed and Roderick Strong in a triple threat qualifying match for a spot in the North American Championship ladder match atNXT TakeOver XXX, but lost.[188] AfterDexter Lumis dropped out of the match due to an ankle injury, Gargano replaced him by defeatingRidge Holland in a last chance match.[189] At TakeOver XXX on August 22, Gargano failed to win the title.[190] He challenged new championDamian Priest for the title atNXT TakeOver 31 on October 4,[191] which he failed to win.[192] On October 28 atHalloween Havoc, Gargano defeated Priest in a Devil's Playground match to become the first-ever two-time NXT North American Champion.[193] He lost the title toLeon Ruff on the November 11 episode ofNXT, ending his second reign at 14 days,[194] but regained it on December 6 atNXT TakeOver: WarGames in a triple threat match involving Priest to become the first-ever three-time North American Champion.[195] On the December 9 episode ofNXT, he announced that he formed a villainous faction with LeRae,Indi Hartwell andAustin Theory calledThe Way.[196] On the December 30 episode ofNXT, Gargano retained his title against Ruff, finally breaking his championship "curse".[197] Gargano's streak of successful title defenses followed, including against Kushida atVengeance Day on February 14, 2021,[198] andBronson Reed on April 8 at the second night ofNXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.[199] On the May 18 episode ofNXT, he lost the championship to Reed in a steel cage match, ending his third reign at 163 days.[200]
AtIn Your House on June 13, Gargano failed to win theNXT Championship in a fatal five-way match involving Adam Cole,Karrion Kross,Kyle O'Reilly, andPete Dunne.[201] On the October 19 episode ofNXT, Gargano turned face when he confronted NXT North American ChampionCarmelo Hayes andTrick Williams.[202] On the November 23 episode ofNXT, Gargano faced Hayes and Pete Dunne in a triple threat match for the title, where Hayes retained due to interference fromTony D'Angelo.[203] After the match, Gargano, Dunne, Ciampa, andLA Knight brawled with Hayes, D'Angelo,Bron Breakker andGrayson Waller, leading to aWarGames match atWarGames on December 5,[204] where Team Black & Gold lost to Team 2.0.[205] On the following episode ofNXT, Gargano cut a farewell promo where he thanked his fans, friends, and family before being brutally attacked by Grayson Waller.[206][207]
On the August 22, 2022, episode ofRaw, Gargano returned to WWE after nine months to give a speech, but was interrupted and mocked by his former The Way stablemateAustin Theory, whom he superkicked afterwards.[208] Two weeks later on the September 12 episode ofRaw, he defeatedChad Gable in his return match, but was attacked by Theory.[209] On the October 3 episode ofRaw, Gargano suffered his first main roster loss toOtis after Theory hit him with his Money in the Bank briefcase.[210] He retaliated by defeating Theory on the following episode ofRaw, ending their feud.[211] AtRoyal Rumble on January 28, Gargano competed in his second rumble match where he lasted nearly 30 minutes before being eliminated byDominik Mysterio andFinn Bálor.[212] On the following episode ofRaw, Gargano defeatedBaron Corbin to qualify for theElimination Chamber for theUnited States Championship.[213] AtElimination Chamber on February 18, Gargano failed to win the title in the Elimination Chamber match.[214] Gargano would return to NXT after over a year on the March 7, 2023, special episode ofNXT: Roadblock after being introduced by Shawn Michaels as Grayson Waller's opponent forNXT Stand & Deliver, in which Gargano won.[215]
Over the next few months, DIY vowed to win back the titles, but there were signs of dissension between Ciampa and Gargano as the former took on a more aggressive character. On the November 15 episode ofSmackDown, Ciampa interrupted a title match betweenThe Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins andMontez Ford) and defending championsMotor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley andChris Sabin), attacking both teams, but Gargano restrained him.[224] On the December 6 episode ofSmackDown, DIY defeated Motor City Machine Guns to win the titles for the second time after Gargano hit Sabin with a low blow, and later revealing the recent arguments to all be a ruse, turning Garganoheel.[225] At theRoyal Rumble on February 1, DIY successfully defended the titles against Motor City Machine Guns in a 2 out of 3 falls match with interference from The Street Profits who attacked them after the match.[226] On the February 21 episode of Smackdown, DIY’s tag title match against Pretty Deadly ended in Disqualification after The Street Profits got involved. On the March 14 episode ofSmackDown, #DIY lost the titles to the Street Profits, ending their second reign at 98 days.[227] On the April 25 episode ofSmackDown, they would attempt to regain the titles against the Street Profits in a critically acclaimedtables, ladders, and chairs match also involving the Motor City Machine Guns, where the Street Profits retained.[228][229]
Gargano's uncle, Walt Klasinski, is a professional wrestling promoter who owns the Northeastern Ohio-based independent promotion Pro Wrestling Ohio (PWO).[230]
Gargano got engaged to fellow professional wrestlerCandice LeRae Dawson in January 2016.[231] The two got married on September 16, 2016.[232] On August 12, 2021, the two announced that Candice was pregnant with their first child, a son named Quill Lewis Gargano,[233] who was born on February 17, 2022.[234]
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 24, 2016)."Evolve Tag Team Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. RetrievedNovember 26, 2020.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 13, 2011)."Open the Freedom Gate Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. RetrievedNovember 26, 2020.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 18, 2015)."Open the United Gate Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. RetrievedNovember 26, 2020.
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