Published: 3 seconds ago by Connel Rumsey | Last Updated: 3 seconds ago by Connel Rumsey
Connel has over five years of wrestling journalism experience writing about some of the biggest stories from across the wrestling world. Being a fan for 20 years, Connel has an expansive knowledge from a wide range of various wrestling promotions, including WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and Joshi.@connel1405
WWE
A WWE star has returned to their old character on tonight’s episode of SmackDown after months of inactivity.
Back in January, Tommaso Ciampa would leave WWE at the end of his contract, with him going on to sign with AEW shortly after.
Since Ciampa’s departure, Johnny Gargano has barely wrestled on WWE television, with him spending the past six months laying backstage depressed on a crate.
Many people have tried to wake Gargano up from his state, including his wife Candice LeRae, many, many times, but it was ultimately Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk who was able to wake him up.
‘Johnny Wrestling’ Returns On WWE SmackDown
On tonight’s SmackDown show in Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, Punk would approach Nick Aldis backstage looking for a number one contender following weeks of chaos between Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Gunther and Finn Balor.
Punk would then offer the match to Gargano, who at first didn’t seem to move, but would then end up standing up off camera, accepting the challenge for the title match in the main event.
Gargano would make his entrance to his old ‘Rebel Heart’ entrance music as the return of ‘Johnny Wrestling’, though he would end up coming up short against Punk in the match.
Taking to social media, Johnny reacted to the return of Johnny Wrestling, sharing a photo of him standing up and the caption:
He’s alive. #JohnnyWressurected
Gargano has not competed in a match on the WWE main roster since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown the night before WrestleMania 42 in April.
The Start Of Something More For Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae?
When Triple H took over as the head of WWE main roster creative back in 2022, fans were excited to see many of his former NXT Black & Gold stars on the main roster under his booking, which included the returns of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae after they had become free agents the prior year.
However, neither have achieved much success on the main roster even with Triple H at the helm, with Gargano winning two WWE Tag Team Championships while Candice only has a Speed Championship reign to her name.
With Gargano’s great reaction in tonight’s main event, this moment could be the start of what we were all hoping to see for the two all along.
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