Pro wrestling fans view Johnny Gargano as the "face" of WWE NXT because of both his tenure with the brand and his remarkable in-ring ability that has earned him the nickname "Johnny Wrestling.
The former NXT North American and NXT heavyweight champion has had a series of phenomenal matches against the likes of Adam Cole, Andrade and Tommaso Ciampa. However, it's his ongoing feud with the latter that has been widely recognized as the best in the history of NXT. The animosity between the former tag team partners runs deep and the score will be settled once and for all when Gargano battles Ciampa on Wednesday night (8 p.m. ET, USA Network).
Before the big match, Gargano sat down with Sporting News to discuss his rise as an underdog to become one of the best wrestlers in the world, the chemistry between himself and Ciampa and why the developmental label needs to be shed from NXT.
(Editor's Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
SPORTING NEWS: I remember seeing you before you were even signed to a full-time contract to NXT when the brand came to Chicago for the first time. You went from that moment to quite arguably one of the best wrestlers in the world and competing in arguably the top promotion in all of wrestling.
JOHNNY GARGANO: I grew up a fat kid with horrible self-esteem issues. I always believed in my own abilities. I think you have to believe in your own abilities. But for me, I was always just such a competitor. I am ultra-competitive. I need to win. I need to do good. I need to make people happy. I need to put smiles on faces, and I need just to do whatever I can to make that happen to be the best. So no matter how I feel about myself, I hate watching my matches. I hate my own work. But as long as other people enjoy it, and other people are saying good things about it, that's great. That's all that matters to me. For me to look back in that time period, this was always my goal. When you grow up a wrestling fan, your goal is to be in WWE and be the wrestling at a top-level.
Did I imagine this would happen? No. I always wanted it to happen. I always believed it would happen. But could I have predicted it? Absolutely not. I think that's what makes me and Tommaso who we are. Tommaso is also an uber competitor, ultra-competitive. When you are ultra-competitive going out there against each other, you get nothing but the best because we both want to produce the best possible outcome. I think that's why our feud, our angle, our matches, I think that's why people talk so much is because of our competitive nature.
SN: When you and Tommaso are together, going one on one, a tag team match, or even a segment, it's pure magic. What is it about you two that make everything so special?
JG: See, I think a lot of people talk about Triple H and Shawn Michaels when they talk about me and Tommaso, which is the ultimate compliment for both of us. It's two guys who are just made to wrestle each other. I think we need to either team, wrestle, or just be paired together because we're just so polar opposite and so different in certain ways. We also have the same mind and the same way of going about things. It's almost like we're a perfect match for one another both in the ring and out. I cannot say this enough -- we are completely opposite human beings. You look at us, and we look like opposite human beings. But as people too, we are opposite human beings. But we have the same wrestling mind. I think that really is the perfect combination there, where we bring out the best in one another whether we're teaming in the ring, telling a story, or a promo. We bring out the best in each other. The vibe is just different. It's a different atmosphere when we're in the room together. We did a live event in Michigan recently and the atmosphere in the room changed when we were in the ring together. It's just a weird feeling. You can feel the mood in the building change whenever we're in the same room together. It's pretty cool.
SN: Have you talked to either Triple H or Shawn Michaels about what into their storied feud to get a grasp on how to handle your program with Ciampa?
JG: I've always been a huge Shawn Michaels fan. I've always been a huge Triple H fan. Their feud was the main feud of my childhood. With NXT, I get to work side by side with Triple H with Shawn Michaels. They are two of the best minds in wrestling. To have that kind of chance to work side by side with them on a feud like this, it's invaluable. I can't put into words how much it means to me as a performer and as a person to be able to work with people that I look up too. The best part about them is they are so open and giving. They are very open to me and Tommaso's suggestions if we feel something or if we think something should be a certain way. I think that's what makes NXT great. They take talented people and let talented people be talented. You do not want to stifle talented people, and they do not think they are smarter than anyone. They do not think they are better than anyone. They're open to any and every suggestion. That is the best thing about them. They give artists a canvas to paint on, and I truly appreciate that.
SN: I covered an NXT Takeover: War Games back in November. I talked to Triple H a little bit after the show and I asked him if he hates when people still refer to NXT as a developmental brand. In his mind, it is the third brand and a main roster brand. But there are people out there who view that differently. Do you feel now that the developmental labels should be shed of NXT?
JG: Yeah. I hate it. I think it devalues everything we're doing in NXT. It puts us a step below everyone else, and I think that's wrong. I think that's BS to do that. I believe everything is developmental when you want to look at it that way. I think if you're going to consider NXT developmental than RAW and SmackDown are developmental as well. I believe we are all learning. We're all growing. I don't think just because you're in a certain brand that doesn't mean you're progressing or growing any more than any other brand.
I think that's a garbage thing that some people will try to label NXT and devalue it. I think people should look at NXT as a third brand. I think our track record speaks for itself. Our talent speaks for itself. You can put any of us on RAW and SmackDown. You could put anyone from RAW and SmackDown on NXT. I think everything goes hand in hand and in unison. I don't think you'd miss a beat. I think the three brands are very much intertwined. If you're still using the term developmental to evaluate NXT in any way, shape, or form, I think you need to get over yourself (laughs). Wrestling is fun. Enjoy it. If you don't like it, you don't have to like it. It's fine. But don't devalue everyone's hard work. Don't devalue what everyone's doing here. Don't devalue what a lot of people are sacrificing things for. Just enjoy wrestling. Wrestling is fun, and just have fun with your life.
