Johnny Gargano has said that those that describe NXT as a developmental brand in WWE are wrong, saying that the black and gold brand is on par with Raw and SmackDown.
Gargano has become a lynchpin of NXT in recent years becoming a triple crown winner on the brand and continuing to dominate the main event scene. Gargano burst onto the NXT scene alongside Tomasso Ciampa in late 2015. The pair became #DIY as they climbed the tag team ranks on the brand finally winning the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT TakeOver: Toronto in November 2016 when they defeated The Revival in an incredible 2 out of 3 falls match.
From there #DIY exploded as Ciampa shockingly turned on Gargano and the two engaged in a brutal feud with one another. Following that Gargano captured the NXT North American Championship before capturing the NXT Title at NXT TakeOver: New York in 2019.
Now leading the group known as The Way, Gargano is preparing to head into a fatal five-way match for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on the 13th of June. Speaking on ‘Rasslin’ with Brandon F. Walker’ Gargano took issue with the assertion that NXT is still a developmental brand in the wider world of WWE.
Gargano explained his point of view:
“I have been saying for years that NXT is a viable third brand for the WWE, and I very much so mean that. You got RAW, you got SmackDown, you got NXT. And anyone who says NXT is developmental, anyone who says NXT is less-than, you are wrong. You are wrong. Watch our show on Tuesday night and look at the talent we have in the locker room. I will put our talent up against anyone. I think our locker room is loaded up and ready to rock n’ roll. And when you watch a TakeOver, especially a TakeOver with a live crowd, those TakeOver’s with live crowds and that atmosphere, nothing can touch them, it is so amazing. It is something I am really proud to be a part of.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ToTLgVTWw
Johnny Gargano heads into NXT TakeOver: In Your House where he will face Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly, and Adam Cole as they challenge NXT Champion Karrion Kross for his title.