DIY’s Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa reunite on WWE Raw

Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa reunited as DIY in the closing segment of Monday’s WWE Raw episode. 

Gargano made his return to WWE Raw for the first time since May in saving Ciampa from a beatdown at the hands of Imperium in Raw’s final segment as the duo reformed their DIY tag team. 

Ciampa had just unsuccessfully challenged Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship in Raw’s main event when Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci began a two-on-one attack against the former NXT Champion. Gargano’s music then hit and he hit the ring for a spear on Kaiser, and hit hit both Kaiser and Vinci with superkicks. 

Gargano & Ciampa then set Vinci up for their Meeting in the Middle tag team finisher, but the show ended before the duo could be shown connecting with the move. 

Prior to Monday’s return, Gargano’s last in-ring appearance on WWE TV came on the May 15 Raw where he competed in a battle royal. He has since wrestled on four house shows, with two in July and two in September, all in losing efforts against Omos. 

As DIY, Gargano & Ciampa are former NXT Tag Team Champions, holding the titles in 2016 and 2017. 

North American title rematch set for WWE NXT

A rematch for the North American title is set for Tuesday’s NXT.

During Raw on Monday, Rhea Ripley made her return and addressed the recent struggles within the Judgment Day, first directing her attention towards Damian Priest, who responded by asking where Mysterio’s title was. Ripley revealed that she had obtained a rematch for Dominik Mysterio against Trick Williams on this coming Tuesday’s NXT. She threatened Mysterio, however, by saying that if he didn’t bring the title home, he shouldn’t bother coming home at all.

Ripley had been written out of Raw for the last several weeks after Nia Jax laid her out following a title defense. Since then, Mysterio has had to fend for himself. In a match where Dragon Lee was the special guest referee on Saturday, Williams managed to pin Mysterio and win the North American title for the first time.

Here is the updated lineup for Tuesday’s show:

  • NXT North American title: Trick Williams defends against Dominik Mysterio
  • Gigi Dolin vs. Blair Davenport
  • Gallus vs. Butch & Tyler Bate
  • The NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament begins

NXT faction reunites on WWE Raw

Monday night’s episode of Raw featured the reunion of a former NXT faction.

The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Dexter Lumis) appeared together in a backstage segment on last night’s show. In the segment, The Way refused to sign Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville’s petition for a Women’s Tag Team title shot against Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan.

There was also a tease during the segment that someone else could soon be returning. Gargano told The Way that “he’s coming back soon.” Gargano said he thought it would be great, but LeRae didn’t agree.

Though WWE hasn’t revealed who Gargano was talking about, it may have been his former NXT tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa has been out of action since last September. He underwent hip surgery in October of last year.

Gargano, LeRae, Hartwell, and Lumis were all selected by Raw in the WWE Draft. Hartwell was called up from NXT in the draft. She was NXT Women’s Champion when she was drafted, but Hartwell relinquished the title last week.

United States Champion Austin Theory was formerly a member of The Way in NXT. Theory is currently a heel on the SmackDown brand.

Gargano, Waller stipulation contract signing set for next WWE NXT

A stipulation contract signing will take place on next week’s NXT.

Tuesday’s show had Johnny Gargano come out and attack Javier Bernal, who was mocking Gargano. Gargano said that he had a contract for an unsanctioned match at Stand & Deliver. Waller, who appeared backstage, said he would only agree to sign the contract if Gargano was barred from the building and announcer Vic Joseph signed the contract on behalf of Gargano. Gargano agreed, giving the contract to Joseph for safe keeping.

The final spot in the North American title match will also be up for grabs next week in a battle royal. On Tuesday’s NXT, stars such as Dijak, Jinder Mahal, and Dabba-Kato made their intentions for next week, confronting Lee backstage.

Eddy Thorpe will also be making his debut on next week’s show. A vignette aired on Tuesday showing Thorpe, the former Karl Fredericks, talk about his heritage before playing music on a DJ stand.

Here is the lineup for next week’s show:

  • Contract signing for Waller/Gargano match at NXT Stand & Deliver
  • Battle Royal for final spot in North American title match at Stand & Deliver
  • Eddy Thorpe debut
  • Last chance match for NXT Women’s title match at Stand & Deliver: Sol Ruca vs. Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile

WWE NXT live results: Johnny Gargano appears

After making his return at Roadblock, Johnny Gargano is back on NXT tonight.

We’ll hear what Gargano has to say as he addresses his upcoming match against Grayson Waller. The two are facing off at NXT Stand & Deliver in Los Angeles over WrestleMania weekend next month.

Shawn Michaels revealed Gargano as Waller’s Stand & Deliver opponent last Tuesday. Waller challenged Michaels to come out of retirement to face him at the event, but Michaels said there was someone who wanted to whip Waller’s ass even more. Michaels then introduced Gargano, who ran out and brawled with Waller.

Waller was the person who attacked Gargano in what was Gargano’s final appearance for NXT in December 2021.

WWE will follow up on last week’s angle where NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez collapsed after facing Meiko Satomura. There will also be a contract signing for Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes’ NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver.

The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line as Gallus defend against Pretty Deadly tonight. Also announced for the episode is a grudge match between Apollo Crews and Dabba-Kato.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show begins with a recap of NXT Roadblock from last week, concluding with the surprise return of Johnny Gargano and the cliffhanger where Roxanne Perez collapsed in a post-match angle.

Opening the show live from the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando is a “Johnny Wrestling” monologue. Out comes Johnny Gargano to address the audience. He first asks them to watch his back for a Grayson Waller sneak attack. 

Last time he was in the NXT ring he promised to teach his son to be the best man he can be, and to do that you have to finish what you start. Gargano is back in NXT to finish his story. On NXT 15 months ago his story ended on a cliffhanger, after an injury angle where Waller attacked Gargano. That was Gargano’s swan song with WWE for the time being, before he recently returned as part of the main roster on Raw. 

Gargano notes he won the NXT Championship, whereas Waller failed on two attempts. Gargano says that Waller then began blaming everyone but himself for his losses. Waller disrespected the fans and the roster, and “most importantly” Waller started disrespecting the NXT brand. Gragano takes most exception to that.

“No matter what brand I am on,” Gargano says, “NXT is my home.”

Gargano says Waller should not “screw with a man’s home.” A producers rushes over to ringside to tell Gargano that Waller is at Gargano’s house. Waller is apparently livestreaming from the Gargano house, so Gargano leaves in a hurry. Gargano is later seen speeding away from the building in a SUV. To be continued…

Earlier today, Axiom shows up to follow around North American Champion Wes Lee. Axiom wants to answer the open challenge later tonight, and he doesn’t want anyone to steal away his chance. So, Axiom is following Lee around all day. The match is eight hours away at this time, so they go eat.

NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) to retain their titles

Coffey pinned Wison to win the match and retain the titles. Good match. 

Gallus were the protagonists in the match, in a bruising babyface role. Gallus is rolling before the show cuts to a commercial break. Pretty Deadly is working over Mark as the show returns from the break. That builds to a hot tag where Wolfgang cleans house.

When the fighting spills outside, Wolfgang is thrown over the announce desk by Pretty Deadly. The heel challengers then grap the championship belts. Prince distracts the referee while Wilson hits Coffey with a belt shot for a near fall.

Gallus fights back after the near fall, as Wolfgang low bridges Prince to counter Spilt Milk. Coffey then nails Wilson with a flying uppercut. Tandem combo finisher by Gallus, and Wolfgang covers Wilson for a pinfall. 

Fallon Henley and Josh Briggs break into Kiana James’ office. There is some comedy, including Briggs dressed in camo. They find out James has dinner plans with someone labeled “Sebastian.” 

Shawn Michaels tweeted that Roxanne Perex is out of the hospital, but her health is still in question ahead of Stand & Deliver. Michaels has an “obligation to announce we possibly have to crown a new NXT Women’s Champion.” In case of that, Michaels is booking a series of qualifying matches. The winner advance to a ladder match for the women’s title at Stand & Deliver.

A medical doctor says he there is no timetable for Perez’s return.

Zoey Stark defeated Sol Ruca to qualify for the ladder match at Stand & Deliver

Stark pinned Ruca. In winning, Ruca quailfies for the championship ladder match over WrestleMania weekend.

Ruca continues to greatly improve with every match. Stark seems beyond ready for the main roster with her ability. Ruca made a comeback during the match, and she does a moonsault to the floor off the middle turnbuckle. She stuck the lady for a big pop.

As they head home, Ruca goes to follow up. She springboards back into the ring where she is caught by Stark. Ruca takes Stark’s modified GTS finisher, and Stark pins her to win the match. Stark is the first to qualify for the ladder match at Stand & Deliver. 

Scrypts has a cryptic message about wearing masks.

Up next is a triple threat women’s tag match, where the winners get a title shot at Stand & Deliver against NXT Tag Team Champion Kiana James & Fallon Henley.

Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre defeated Kayden Carter & Katana Chance and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley in a triple threat tag team match

Fyre pinned Nile to win the match, after Paxley turned on Nile. 

In winning, Fyre & Dawn earn a title shot at Stand & Deliver. Three wrestlers in the ring at once, meaning one member of each team. So, there was a lot happening in the match. Chance & Carter were strong favorites according to Booker T, but they were thwarted by Fyre & Dawn.

Paxley turned on Nile at ringside, blindsiding her with a kick and a sneak attack. Paxley then rolled Nile into the ring, where Nile takes a tandem finisher. Dawn gives her a backstabber as Fyre leaps off the top rope with a swanton bomb. Fyre then covers Nile for a pinfall.

NXT Champion Bron Breakker is in a comedy skit with Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. This would lead to D’Angelo saying he and Stacks plan to win the tag team titles.

Ilja Dragunov is in the ring for a monologue. He wants to rid himself of JD McDonagh. Out comes McDonagh for a confrontation. They argue with each other as they have a bitter feud. A bit of melodrama here as they face off in the ring. 

Despite McDonagh insisting their feud will never in, Dragunov warns it will end next week when they make it official. A brawl erupts and a slugfest ensues. They brawl their way out of the soundstage. 

Pretty Deadly in a backstage interview with McKenzie Mitchell decide they should be the ones to host Stand & Deliver. Off they go to meet with a special person to get the okay. 

McDonagh and Dragunov are still brawling backstage. Referees and producers break them up. North American Chamion Wes Lee is headed to the ring when he has to pass through the pull-apart. He has words with McDonagh and they come to blows. They trade punches and are seperated. Personally, I popped for a Norman Smiley cameo during the skit.

Grayson Waller is at Johnny Gargano’s house according to a video posted on Twitter.

A huge brawl is happening backstage as wrestlers are fighting their way to the ring looking to answer the open challenge. Axiom fights his way into the ring, but his is blindsided by Scrypts in a sneak attack.

As a bunch of wrestler brawl at ringside, McDonagh rushed into the ring to hit Lee with a lariat. Dragunov follows McDonagh into the ring and they are brawling once again. It is a huge melee. An angry Lee does a running flip dive over the ropes on a pile of bodies on the floor. 

Dragon Lee is interviewd by McKenzie Mitchell, and Lee says he is going to love it here in NXT. He aims to prove he is a special talent.

In another backsatge interview, Jacy Jayne is wearing a sling on her right arm. Jayne says she eperated her shoulder early in her match last week against Gigi Dolan. Jayne warns Dolan that she will break her heart and face when Jayne returns from the injury.

Dabba-Kato defeated Apollo Crews

The match goes through a commercial break, so it was rather long. Heat on Crews as Dabba-Kato work him over until a Crews comeback. They tease a countout when Crews takes a tree slam on the ring steps. Crews barely breaks the ten count as he jumps into the ring after nine. 

Crews is able to break the count, but that was the beginning of the end. Dabba-Kato with a sit-out tree slam, and Crews is pinned by Dabba-Kato.

In a skit with Shawn Michaels and Wes Lee, a fatal five way for the NXT North American Championship at Stand & Deliver. Lee at first wanted to defend agaisnt ten wrestlers, but Michaels offers a compromise where they book four against the champ in fatal five way. Michaels will allows Lee to pick the challengers.

Gigi Dolan defeated Kiana James to qualify for the ladder match at Stand & Deliver 

Dolan pinned James after a cobra twist into a crucifix bomb. Dolan advances to the championship ladder matcha at Stand & Deliver. James being in a qualifer is kind of silly, and it telegraphed the finish, since James was already booked in a tag title match at Stand & Deliver.

Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn jump James after the match, and Brooks Jensen runs out to make a save.

Johnny Gargano finally returns home, where Grayson Waller is waiting for him in an angle similar to other home invasions on WWE television over the years. Steve Austin and Brian Pillman had an infamous home invasion angle on Raw in 1996. Others followed throughout the years, including a great angle with Edge and Randy Orton. Tonight’s angle was not the best, but the angle tonight includes the WWE TV debut of an infant that some on Twitter are already dubbing “Baby Wrestling.”

Waller attacks Gargano when Gargano arrives home. They brawl in the yard, and the fight on the steps of the front door. Candice LeRae is heard hollering at Gargano. She walks onto the porch holding her and Gargano’s infant child. Waller is breaking a rake over Gargano’s back as LeRae pleads with Waller to stop.

LeRae continues to pleas with Waller as the child is in tears. Gargano takes a curb stomp, and Waller taunts LeRae. Waller leaves Gargano laid out face down in the yard, and Waller leaves the property. LeRae, still holding the child, rushes to Gargano. 

Brooks Jensen is consoling Kiana James in the locker room when Fallon Henley and Josh Briggs enter the scene. Henley and James bicker with each other.

NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes are face-to-face in the ring for a contract signing. They sit behind a table, and they are about to sign a contract for a title match at Stand & Deliver when Pretty Deadly interrupts.

Pretty Deadly just wants to host the contract signing, as they are also looking to be the hosts of Stand & Deliver.

Hayes and Breakker compliment each other while also throwing shade at the same time. Trick Williams flanks Hayes. Breakker and Hayes both vow to win the title in a rambling segment. Hayes does a good job on the microphone, and Breakker holds his own.

The champion and challenger go nose-to-nose, but they shake hands. The ending seems anti-climatic, so Pretty Deadly chimes in. They want to see some drama and action. Breakker and Hayes tear their shirts off, and Pretty Deadly gets giddy at the thought of some drama. The joke is on them, as Breakker and Hayes put Pretty Deadly through the table set up in the ring.

Breakker and Hayes then have a staredown as the show goes off air. 

Two tag team matches announced for WWE Raw

A pair of tag team matches have been made official for Monday’s episode of Raw.

WWE has announced that The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) will take on Maximum Male Models (Mace & Mansoor) on Raw this Monday. Johnny Gargano teaming up with Dexter Lumis against The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio has also been confirmed for the episode.

This will be the first time Gallows & Anderson have wrestled on Raw since January. They’ve wrestled house show matches and dark matches since then, along with appearing on a couple episodes of WWE Main Event.

“Since AJ Styles was taken out with an injury, it has been a minute since we have seen The O.C., but they look to make their triumphant return by dehydrating the always thirsty Maximum Male Models,” WWE wrote.

Gallows & Anderson defeated Maximum Male Models on the most recent episode of Main Event.

Maximum Male Models are currently involved in a storyline where they’re trying to recruit Otis.

Gargano defeated Judgment Day’s Finn Balor on Raw earlier this week. Gargano was able to get the win after Edge interfered to cost Balor the match.

A face-to-face between Balor and Edge will take place on this Monday’s Raw. Balor has challenged Edge to face him at WrestleMania 39.

The updated lineup for Monday’s Raw is listed below:

  • Brock Lesnar & Omos face-to-face
  • Edge & Finn Balor face-to-face
  • Non-title match: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green
  • Elias vs. Bronson Reed
  • The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. Maximum Male Models (Mace & Mansoor)
  • Johnny Gargano & Dexter Lumis vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)

Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller set for WWE NXT Stand & Deliver

A match between Johnny Gargano and Grayson Waller has been made for NXT Stand & Deliver.

On Tuesday’s NXT, Waller confronted Shawn Micheals on his Grayson Waller Effect show. Michaels and Waller got into an argument, with Micheals becoming upset that Waller thought he was bigger than the brand. Waller issued a challenge to Micheals for Stand & Deliver. Micheals said as much as he would like to “whip his a**”, there was someone else that wanted to do it more. That brought out Gargano, who attacked Waller and sent him out of the ring.

Back in December of 2021, Gargano was in the ring saying goodbye to NXT as his contract was set to expire. After he finished the promo, he was attacked from behind by Waller. When Gargano returned to WWE in 2022, he was brought up to the main roster as a Raw superstar.

It was later announced on Tuesday’s NXT that Gargano would be on next week’s show. A North American Championship match was also announced, with Wes Lee defending the title against Axiom. Gallus will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against Pretty Deadly, and Dabba-Kato will face Apollo Crews.

Three qualify for WWE United States title Elimination Chamber match

Three men have already qualified for the United States title Elimination Chamber match that will take place at next month’s premium live event.

It was announced on Monday’s Raw that Austin Theory will defend the United States title inside the Elimination Chamber on February 18 in Montreal, Canada. Bronson Reed, Seth Rollins, and Johnny Gargano all qualified on Monday to advance. Two other qualifying matches, Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest and Montez Ford vs. Elias, will determine the final two spots on next week’s Raw.

Reed defeated Dolph Ziggler, Gargano defeated Baron Corbin, and Rollins defeated Chad Gable to qualify.

A women’s Elimination Chamber match was also announced. That will determine Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania 39 challenger.

The current card for Elimination Chamber is as follows:

  • Men’s Elimination Chamber match for United States title: Austin Theory (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano vs. ??? vs. ???
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber match (winner gets Raw title match at WrestleMania): Raquel Rodriguez vs. Asuka vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Cross vs. ??? vs. ???

WWE’s Johnny Gargano gives update on timeline for return from injury

Johnny Gargano has revealed when he expects to return from injury. 

It was announced on Raw this Monday that Gargano recently suffered a grade two AC sprain and would not compete in that night’s tag team turmoil match. He later elaborated that he suffered the injury on WWE’s house show in Toronto on December 30, 2022. 

Gargano appeared on WWE The Bump on Wednesday and revealed that he was told the injury will keep him out of action for five to six weeks. However, the 35-year-old says he’s hopeful to return sooner. 

Gargano said:

I tweeted out that I injured my shoulder at a live event in Toronto, which is ironic because I came back in Toronto and that’s where I injured my shoulder. I got rammed into the steel steps and I sprained my AC joint. Doctors say, originally, about five to six weeks. I’m going to do everything in my power to cut that time down and that’s the most transparent I can be there.

We’re going to see what can happen and I’m going to work very, very hard to come back as soon as possible. 

Gargano will need to return sooner than projected in order to take part in the Royal Rumble on January 28, 2023. 

The night he was injured, Gargano teamed with Dexter Lumis and defeated The Miz and Baron Corbin in Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum. He hasn’t wrestled on WWE programming since the November 21, 2022 edition of WWE Raw. Gargano was defeated by Omos in singles action on the show.  

WWE’s Johnny Gargano out of action with shoulder injury

Johnny Gargano is currently out of action with a shoulder injury.

It was announced during Monday’s Raw that Gargano is currently out of action with a grade two AC sprain. On Twitter, Gargano elaborated that he had injured his shoulder at a recent WWE house show in Toronto, Canada.

“I injured my shoulder at a live event in Toronto (ironic?), and the medical team is going to protect me from myself for a bit,” Gargano wrote. “But you better believe I’m going to do EVERYTHING I can to get back in that ring so I can be that guy you all know I can be. Just let me in that Rumble!”

During Raw, Candace LeRae said Gargano was disappointed he couldn’t compete in Monday’s tag team turmoil match, but the goal right now is to get him to 100%.

Gargano last wrestled on December 30, teaming with Dexter Lumis to defeat Baron Corbin and The Miz. Gargano & Lumis have continued their alliance with one another from NXT in recent months, feuding with The Miz over money he owes to Lumis.

WWE SmackDown video highlights: McIntyre teams with Owens & Gargano

Drew McIntyre got some help from Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano on last night’s episode of SmackDown.

Owens and Gargano made surprise appearances on SmackDown last night, helping McIntyre even the odds against Austin Theory and Alpha Academy. A singles match between McIntyre and Theory ended in a disqualification when Chad Gable and Otis got involved. Theory, Gable, and Otis then tried to beat McIntyre down, but Gargano and Owens made the save.

That led to McIntyre, Owens & Gargano facing Theory & Alpha Academy in a six-man tag match later in the show. After Owens and Gargano took out Gable and Otis, McIntyre hit a Claymore on Theory and pinned him to get the victory.

McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross in a strap match is set for WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view on October 8. Following last night’s main event, McIntyre sent a message to Kross by hitting Theory with a strap.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Ricochet & Madcap Moss vs. Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa

Karrion Kross explains why he’s targeting Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre vs. Austin Theory

Hit Row vs. Los Lotharios

Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya

Ronda Rousey and Liv Morgan brawl

Imperium lay out Sheamus ahead of next week’s Intercontinental title rematch

Shotzi vs. Bayley

Max Dupri cuts ties with Maximum Male Models

Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens & Johnny Gargano vs. Austin Theory & Alpha Academy

SmackDown fallout: Liv Morgan is counting down the days to Extreme Rules

Owens and Gargano vs. Alpha Academy set for next week’s WWE Raw

Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano will team up on the September 26 episode of WWE Raw. 

In a match announced on this week’s show, Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano will face Alpha Academy’s Chad Gable and Otis.

In his return match to WWE on the September 12 Raw, Gargano defeated Gable. Gargano got involved in Owens’ match against Austin Theory on this week’s Raw, distracting Theory and allowing Owens to pick up the win. 

Also set for next week’s show, Matt Riddle will face The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest in singles competition. 

Riddle’s feud with Seth Rollins continued on Raw, with a Fight Pit match between the two now set for Extreme Rules on October 8. Damian Priest and Finn Balor teamed against Rey Mysterio and Riddle on this week’s Raw, with Balor scoring a pinfall on Mysterio. 

Here is next week’s announced Raw lineup: 

  • Kevin Owens & Johnny Gargano vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis)
  • Matt Riddle vs. Damian Priest

Johnny Gargano says WWE return was a ‘no-brainer’ after regime change

Johnny Gargano says that after Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over as head of WWE creative, he knew there was only one company he wanted to sign with. 

Gargano appeared on an episode of Out of Character released on Wednesday and was asked how soon he began talking to WWE about coming back following the company’s recent management changes. 

“It was pretty quick,” Gargano responded. “I’m trying to think of the exact timeline of it cause it went by pretty fast. The one thing I will say is in my downtime, everyone was extremely respectful of my time away. They understood that I kind of wanted to focus on the dad thing for a while.” 

He continued to say that he has a team around him who had conversations with other companies during his free agency.

“I do have a team around me that were having discussions, that were having conversations different places but as soon as the changes happened, as soon as everything went the way it did, communication definitely increased in abundance.”

“I have a different relationship with Hunter and Shawn than a lot of other people. I’ve known them for a long time now at this point and I’ve always said they are like my wrestling dads because they are.” 

Gargano continued to talk about his team having discussions with other wrestling companies.  

“There were conversations, for sure. We’d be dumb not to have those conversations, right? Especially given everything that was going on, the uncertainty around everything.”

“I watch everything, I’m a fan of wrestling, and for me, it just felt like I wanted to go to the place that not only could utilize me best but also a place where I already have a relationship with Hunter and a relationship with a lot of people backstage. That was the big thing for me, I’m all about relationships, I’m all about the familiarity and as soon as the change happened, I think there was only one option in my head.”

“The fact that I could take my time, wait it out, and kind of just pick my spot in the place I’ve dreamed of working since I was a little kid, it seemed like a no-brainer and it seemed like a home run.” 

Number one contender’s match set for next week’s WWE NXT

A number one contender’s bout, four additional matches, plus the debut of Oro Mensah are set for the September 20 episode of WWE NXT. 

Tyler Bate will face JD McDonagh in a match to determine the number one contender to Bron Breakker’s NXT Championship. Bate dropped the NXT UK Championship to Breakker in a unification match at Worlds Collide earlier this month, while McDonagh lost a title bout to Breakker on August’s Heatwave episode of NXT.

The former Oliver Carter will re-debut in NXT next week as Oro Mensah. Carter held the NXT UK Tag Team titles with Ashton Smith before an injury to SMith caused them to vacate the belts. 

Also announced, the best-of-three series between Axiom and Nathan Frazier will continue. Axiom won the first match of the series on the September 6 episode. 

Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne will take on Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley on next week’s episode in a tag team contest. 

A women’s division match between Cora Jade and Wendy Choo, plus a Von Wagner vs. Sanga singles bout have also been announced for the show. 

Next week’s NXT episode will be taped on Wednesday, September 14. 

The lineup: 

WWE NXT, Tuesday, September 20, 8 p.m. Eastern time on USA Network —

  • Number one contender’s match: Tyler Bate vs. JD McDonagh
  • Best-of-three series: Axiom vs. Nathan Frazier (Axiom leads 1-0)
  • Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) vs. Diamond Mine (Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley)
  • Cora Jade vs. Wendy Choo
  • Von Wagner vs. Sanga
  • Oro Mensah debuts