Johnny Gargano hasn’t appeared in a wrestling ring since leaving WWE in December, but what’s next?
On December 10th Johnny Gargano’s WWE contract expired, and he later confirmed that he was taking a break to embrace his new job of being a father to baby Quill.
However, as everyone knows that Johnny Wrestling is only taking a break, speculation has been running riot in recent months over when and where he may return. While stepping back into NXT might seem the natural option, Gargano also has friends in AEW, and the prospect of a new challenge is always appealing.
Speaking during an appearance at Starrcast V on a special panel with Inside The Ropes’ very own Kenny McIntosh, Gargano opened up about his wrestling future. While appraising WWE and NXT, the star said that there are positives and negatives to both options.
“This time period of my life has given me a unique opportunity to sit back and survey the landscape of everything. If I would have made a decision immediately, I don’t know what would have happened. But the fact that I kind of told myself, I was just going to sit back and watch how things turned out and make a decision made on that. I love things that both places are doing. Trust me, there are pros and there are cons, at both places. I love what both places are doing.”
When addressing what’s next, Gargano gave a very literal answer, he’s going home to change diapers. But with regard to getting back in the ring, the former NXT Champion admitted he hasn’t made a decision yet. Not that fans should expect any big announcements when he does.
“What’s next for me is that I’m going to go home and change a diaper tonight. That’s what’s next. People thought that I was gonna be like ‘I’m gonna show up… then!” I’m not gonna say that because I don’t have an answer yet. I haven’t made up my mind. I haven’t made a decision yet.
I think we’re all very lucky, not only wrestlers but as fans, where there are options out there. There are choices out there. There’s talent all over the world. There’s talent both places that I haven’t wrestled yet that I wanna wrestle. I’m all about right place, right time, right opportunity.
My favourite time as a wrestling fan was the Attitude Era, where people would just show up. You never knew the internet wasn’t like ‘This guy is showing up then. This guy is showing up here.’ It’s all about surprises, and I think that’s the fun thing about being a wrestling fan, is being surprised. So whatever I can do to try and add that element of surprise, and protect my surprise wherever that may be, I’m gonna keep protecting it.”
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