Is WWE Quietly Setting Up 'Johnny Wrestling' for a Major 2026 Push?
On the September 4th edition of SmackDown, CM Punk attempted to uplift Johnny Gargano by offering him a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship. Gargano, who has faded away into a backstage character that lies down on a pair of boxes, initially didn’t respond to the offer. As Punk walked away, Candice LeRae tried to make him reconsider; she was stunned to see her husband finally on his feet, accept the offer, and find his way into the main event. Although ‘Johnny Wrestling’ would come up short against ‘The Best in the World’, his return to the ring was well received by his hometown Cleveland crowd. After proving to the WWE Universe that he still has it inside the ring, is a future push in line for him in WWE, or was this just a one-time moment for his hometown to enjoy?
Gargano’s time on the main roster has certainly had its highs and lows. He arrived on Raw unannounced immediately after a commercial break, receiving a huge cheer from the audience in attendance. He was inserted into a feud between The Miz and Dexter Lumis. Afterward, WWE quickly partnered him up with his DIY companion Tommaso Ciampa. They would align for the next few years, even winning the WWE Tag Team Championship on one occasion. After Ciampa departed WWE in early 2026 due to not re-signing with the company, Gargano’s character began falling into a catatonic state, where he would lie down on a pile of boxes, refusing to move or answer anyone. Since then, he rarely made any in-ring appearances.
At one point in his career, he was considered one of WWE’s most popular stars while wrestling on NXT. He received multiple five-star matches against the likes of Ciampa, Adam Cole, and Andrade. A lot was expected of him when he arrived on the main roster, but he was seemingly placed into the Tag Team Division instead of being allowed to display his talents as a singles competitor. It was a puzzling decision to have him placed in a catatonic state, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been competing at all. He issued an open challenge at the end of January 2026, which Oba Femi answered, and he squashed him quickly. He also found his way back to NXT, where he won a gauntlet match, earning him an NXT North American Championship match against Myles Borne, which he challenged unsuccessfully. After four months without a match, the challenge issued by Punk finally got him on his feet and reminded fans who he really was inside the ring. Although the main roster crowds haven’t been able to see a full glimpse of NXT Gargano, his in-ring return brings hope that WWE could be able to use him again in a proper manner. Although there are rumors that he could be on his way out of the company, his usage on SmackDown could have been either to book him more frequently on WWE television or to say goodbye to him.
WWE can still salvage the former NXT Champion's career in the company if they choose to do so. If the company feels there is nothing left for him to do, they should let him leave and pursue other wrestling promotions. However, if the match against Punk was a sign of good things to come, then Gargano might find himself being booked properly as time goes by. Whatever happens to the heart-and-soul underdog, he is sure to show his amazing skills in the ring still.
