Johnny Gargano

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Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano in 2013

Johnny Gargano in 2013
Data
Surname John Anthony Nicholas Gargano
Ring name Johnny Gargano
Cedric von Haussen
Additions to names Johnny Wrestling
The Whole Shebang
Johnny Takeover
height 178 cm
Fighting weight 90 kg
birth August 14, 1987
Lakewood , Ohio , United States
debut 2005

John Anthony Nicholas "Johnny" Gargano (born August 14, 1987 in Lakewood , Ohio ) is an American wrestler . He is currently under contract with WWE and is currently active there at NXT . His greatest successes at WWE to date have been receiving the NXT Tag Team Championship , the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship. This made him the first Triple Crown Champion at NXT.

Wrestling career

Beginnings

Johnny Gargano completed his first matches in wrestling in 2005. Initially, he mainly appeared for Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling and Absolute Intense Wrestling . On March 20, 2007 he made his debut with the WWE under the ring name Cedric von Haussen when he lost a singles match against Montel Vontavious Porter on SmackDown . However, it stayed with this one-off appearance in a promotion show for the time being.

He had already won the previously vacant CAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship in a fatal four-way match against Josh Prohibition, M-Dogg 20 and Zach Gowen on October 8, 2006 at Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling . He held this until February 11, 2007, when he had to hand it over to Gowen.

Independent Leagues (2007-2016)

In the following time he rose to various organizations in the ring, such as continued for Absolute Intense Wrestling or Pro Wrestling Ohio . At Absolute Intense Wrestling , he held the AIW Intense Championship twice for a total of 263 days between May 2008 and May 2009 .

From July 2010 Gargano belonged to Chikara Pro Wrestling together with Icarus and Chuck Taylor of the stable team FIST . Here he replaced Gran Akuma as part of the storyline . Together with Taylor Gargano received the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas Championship twice .

At an event hosted by Dragon Gate on November 13, 2011, Gargano won the Yamato Open the Freedom Gate Championship . He then held this for 873 days until April 4, 2014, when he handed it over to Ricochet . The length of the reign is a record in the history of the title, which was introduced in November 2009 and discontinued in August 2015.

WWE (since 2015)

NXT and DIY (2015-2017)

In 2015, Gargano made his return to the WWE for the first time since his debut in 2007. As of August, he joined together with Tommaso Ciampa at an as Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic designated tournament for Tag Teams as part of NXT on. There the team was allowed to defeat Bull Dempsey and Tyler Breeze in the first round , before losing to Baron Corbin and Rhyno in the quarterfinals . In 2016 Gargano finally moved to the WWE and continued to team up with Ciampa. From June both participated in the Cruiserweight Classic , with a match between the two in the first round. Gargano was victorious from the duel with his actual partner, but lost in the second round to the eventual winner of the tournament TJ Perkins and was eliminated.

He then went back to compete with Ciampa, now with the team name #DIY . In the second half of 2016 , the two feuded against The Revival ( Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson ) for the NXT Tag Team Championship . On August 20, 2016, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II saw the two teams' first title match on a TV show, but Ciampa and Gargano were not allowed to win the title at that time. At the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2016, the team was eliminated in the semifinals against The Authors of Pain ( Akam and Rezar ).

In NXT TakeOver: Toronto , the two finally won the NXT Tag Team Championship from The Revival . They held the titles until January 28, 2017, when they passed them on to The Authors of Pain on NXT TakeOver: San Antonio . On NXT TakeOver: Orlando , The Authors of Pain retained the title in a triple threat elimination match against #DIY and The Revival . The feud was closed with a ladder match for the titles at NXT TakeOver: Chicago on May 20, 2017 and another win for the Authors of Pain . After the match, Gargano was attacked by his partner Ciampa, who performed a heel turn . The #DIY team was thus dissolved.

Feud against Tommaso Ciampa and NXT North American Champion (2017-2019)

Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa at the TakeOver: New Orleans event.

The planned feud program between the two now former partners could not be implemented after NXT TakeOver: Chicago , because Ciampa had torn a real cruciate ligament at the event and therefore had to pause for a few months. Because of this, Gargano disappeared from TV shows for some time. On November 18, 2017, he competed at NXT against Pete Dunne for the WWE United Kingdom Championship , but had to lose the match.

Candice LeRae and Gargano after his match on NXT TakeOver: New Orleans

He then began a feud with Andrade Almas for the NXT Championship . On January 27, 2018, he lost a title match against NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia . Gargano also had to lose a title match against Almas in an NXT edition recorded on February 1 and broadcast on February 21, 2018. Since he had used his further stay on NXT for this according to the storyline , he had to leave the show. On NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7, 2018, he returned to the TV shows with a win in a match against his returning former partner Ciampa. On June 16, 2018, the feud against Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II , which began in May 2017, was interrupted because of the injury, was later resumed and therefore lasted more than a year, ended with a defeat for Gargano. In the NXT broadcast on July 25, 2018, however, Gargano intervened in a title match between Ciampa and Aleister Black and attacked his former partner. He also hit the reigning champion Black hard with the title belt, so that Ciampa, taking this chance, was able to win the match and become the new NXT champion . For the following major event NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV, a match between Gargano, Ciampa and Black for the title was then scheduled. However, due to a real injury, Black had to be eliminated from the match. His time-out was explained within the storyline that he was knocked down by an unknown assailant in the parking lot of Full Sail University , where the NXT shows mostly take place. The match between Ciampa and Gargano was converted to a last man standing match , which Gargano lost again. After Black returned from his time off, he looked for the person who had knocked him down. In the NXT broadcast on October 24, 2018, Gargano finally confessed to this attack and thus became a heel himself , a change that had been on the horizon for a long time.

At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix on January 26, 2019, Gargano defeated Ricochet and became the new NXT North American Champion . However, he lost this title a short time later, in the NXT program recorded on February 1 but not broadcast until February 20, 2019, to Velveteen Dream .

Appearances in the main roster, reunification with Tommaso Ciampa and NXT Champion (since 2019)

In the two days before, Gargano surprisingly played matches on Raw against The Revival and SmackDown Live against Sheamus and Cesaro , performing again together with his former tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa. Gargano and Ciampa could win both matches. As a result, Gargano and Ciampa appeared again on NXT as Tag Team #DIY and took part in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament in the NXT broadcasts from March 6th and 13th, 2019 . After two matches as a team, however, the alliance broke up again and Gargano was able to successfully defend himself against an attack by Ciampa, which took place after they were eliminated from the tournament. This made him face again and thus "Johnny Wrestling".

At NXT TakeOver: New York on April 5, 2019, Gargano played a 2 Out Of 3 Falls match against Adam Cole for the vacant NXT Championship . His former partner, Tommaso Ciampa , had to give up this title shortly beforehand, as he needed surgery and a longer break after a real spinal injury. The match against Cole could Gargano win 2-1. He became the new NXT Champion and also the first Triple Crown Champion at NXT. After the victory he celebrated it with his wife, Candice LeRae, and finally with Tommaso Ciampa, who also stepped on stage. This reign lasted 57 days and finally lost the title to Adam Cole on NXT TakeOver: XXV on June 1, 2019. On August 10, 2019, he played another match against Cole on NXT TakeOver: Toronto for the NXT Championship , which he lost however.

Life

Gargano has been married to the Canadian wrestler Candice LeRae since September 16, 2016 .

Wrestling successes

Gargano as Open the Freedom Gate Champion in 2013.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Evolve
Dragon Gate USA
  • Open the Freedom Gate Championship (2 ×)
  • Open the United Gate Championship (1 × with Rich Swann )
Chikara Pro Wrestling
  • Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas Championship (2 × with Chuck Taylor)
Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling
  • CAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 ×)
Championship Wrestling Experience
  • CWE Undisputed Championship (1 ×)
International Wrestling Cartel
  • IWC Super Indy Championship (1 ×)
  • IWC Tag Team Championship (1 × with Michael Facade)
Legacy wrestling
  • Legacy Wrestling Heavyweight Championship (1 ×)
Pro wrestling Ohio
  • Prime Championship (3 ×)
Smash wrestling
  • Smash Wrestling Championship (1 ×)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Number 46 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2020

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b WWE NXT Tag Team Champions November 19, 2016 - January 28, 2017 : #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ Andy Datson: New NXT North American Champion Crowned At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. January 27, 2019, accessed February 21, 2019 (UK English).
  3. ↑ NXT TakeOver: New York results - Johnny Gargano wins NXT championship. April 5, 2019, accessed April 7, 2019 .
  4. ^ Johnny Gargano - Matches per league and year in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ WWE Friday Night SmackDown # 396 from the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  6. ↑ CAPW Junior Heavyweight Champion October 8, 2006 - February 11, 2007: Johnny Gargano in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  7. ↑ AIW Intense Champion May 25 , 2008 - November 28, 2008: Johnny Gargano in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  8. ^ AIW Intense Champion 02/28/2009 - 05/15/2009: Johnny Gargano (2) in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Team FIST in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ Open The Freedom Gate Champion November 13, 2011 - April 4, 2014: Johnny Gargano in the Cagematch database , accessed on June 28, 2018.
  11. ^ Open The Freedom Gate Championship in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ WWE NXT # 163 in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  13. ↑ WWE NXT # 164 in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  14. ↑ #DIY in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  15. ↑ NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II (08/20/2016). Wrestling-Point.de, August 21, 2016, accessed on June 28, 2018.
  16. ↑ WWE NXT # 221 in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  17. ↑ WWE NXT "Takeover: Toronto" results & report from Toronto, Canada from November 19, 2016 (incl. Videos & complete pre-show). Wrestling-Infos.de, November 20, 2016, accessed on June 28, 2018.
  18. ↑ NXT “Takeover: San Antonio” results + report from San Antonio, Texas from January 28th, 2017 (incl. Videos + complete kickoff show). Wrestling-Infos.de, January 29, 2017, accessed on June 28, 2018.
  19. ↑ NXT "Takeover: Orlando" results + report from Orlando, Florida from April 1st, 2017 (incl. Videos). Wrestling-Infos.de, April 2, 2017, accessed June 28, 2018.
  20. ↑ WWE “NXT Takeover: Chicago” results + report from Rosemont, Illinois from May 20, 2017 (incl. Videos + complete pre-show). Wrestling-Infos.de, May 21, 2017, accessed on June 28, 2018.
  21. ↑ (...) Tommaso Ciampa fails with a cruciate ligament tear (...). Wrestling-Infos.de, May 30, 2017, accessed June 28, 2018.
  22. ↑ WWE NXT # 275 in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  23. ↑ WWE "NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia" results + report from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA from January 27, 2018 (incl. Videos and complete pre-show). Wrestling-Infos.de, January 28, 2018, accessed June 28, 2018.
  24. ↑ WWE NXT # 288 in the Cagematch database , accessed June 28, 2018.
  25. ↑ WWE "NXT TakeOver: New Orleans" report + results from New Orleans, Louisiana from April 7th, 2018 (incl. Videos and complete preshow). Wrestling-Infos.de, April 8, 2018, accessed June 28, 2018.
  26. ↑ WWE "NXT Takeover: Chicago II" report + results from Chicago, Illinois from June 16, 2018 (incl. Videos and complete pre-show). Wrestling-Infos.de, June 17, 2018, accessed on June 28, 2018.
  27. ↑ Christian Bruns: Title change at WWE: Tommaso Ciampa new NXT champion! In: Power Wrestling. July 26, 2018, accessed on February 21, 2019 (German).
  28. ↑ Tommy Messano: Tommaso Ciampa pens an official statement about Johnny Gargano's heel turn. October 25, 2018, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  29. ↑ Andy Datson: New NXT North American Champion Crowned At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. January 27, 2019, accessed February 21, 2019 (UK English).
  30. ↑ Aleister Black Defeats Andrade, DIY Best The Bar, Ricochet Picks Up A Win On WWE SmackDown Live | Fightful wrestling. Retrieved February 21, 2019 .
  31. ↑ NXT TakeOver: New York results - Johnny Gargano wins NXT championship. April 5, 2019, accessed April 7, 2019 .
  32. ↑ Mike Johnson, Paul Jordan: CONGRATULATIONS TO GARGANO & LARAE, NEW WWE STUDIOS FILM TRAILER RELEASED, OUTSIDERS ON WWE NETWORK THIS MONDAY AND MORE. In: Pro Wrestling Insider , September 17, 2016, accessed June 28, 2018.

Web links

Commons : Johnny Gargano  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Gargano, Johnny
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gargano, John Anthony Nicholas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH August 14, 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH Lakewood , Ohio , United States