When Johnny Gargano unexpectedly rejoined WWE on Monday’s episode of Raw, the wrestling world was shocked. The surprising aspect wasn’t his reappearance. People were surprised by WWE’s execution technique. Instead of building the seeds for a major return that night or teasing it with video packages, WWE just had Johnny Wrestling come out after a random ad break. The Toronto crowd nearly didn’t know how to respond to his entrance song being played until he eventually came out on the stage.
The packed arena of fans broke out in cheers once he became visible, and it became clear that he was truly back. After months of rumors about where he would go after leaving NXT in December, the 35-year-old Superstar made a comeback with the largest promotion in the world. There are a ton of opportunities for fresh feuds now that Gargano appears to be on the main roster, numerous NXT storylines that can be revived, and countless fantasy matches. Here are some potential contenders for the former NXT Grand Slam champion who would make for pay-per-view-worthy matches.
Here are Johnny Gargano Dream Matches:
Mustafa Ali
If we ignore celebrity influence and focus just on an event’s potential in the ring, Gargano vs. Mustafa Ali would be a dream match for many fans. Twelve years ago, in an event named International Wrestling Cartel, they had their only singles encounter. Since then, the 2019 men’s Royal Rumble was the only other time they participated in the same match.
This would not only be excellent from a ringside standpoint, but it might also provide Ali with a platform for a fresh push. Both guys would leave this match with the respect of the crowd since Johnny Wrestling is renowned for his ability to make his opponents appear as good as he makes himself look. They will undoubtedly create the Match of the Night if given 15 minutes in the ring on any given show.
The Usos vs. DIY
Although the majority of the people on this list will be singles opponents, many fans are hoping for a DIY reunion with Ciampa. The Usos would make the ideal opponents if it happened. For more than ten years, Jimmy and Jey have not only been among the best WWE teams, but they have also worked with almost all of the teams. DIY would be a brand-new feud for all parties involved.
Over the past few years, The Bloodline has crushed WWE flat. The Usos or Roman Reigns have been the targets of numerous failed attempts to steal the gold; thus, it may take a challenger they have never faced before to ultimately defeat them. With the twin brothers, Gargano and Ciampa would be able to have fantastic matches and revitalize the tag team division at the same time, a win-win situation.
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Kevin Owens
Gargano and Kevin Owens have battled each other on the independent scene, so they are not complete strangers despite never having a significant singles encounter in the WWE. In fact, their shared love of pandas led to a brief friendship that they developed while competing in Absolutely Intense Wrestling. There is one video on the internet involving the two that contains some language that is NSFW, but it is still hilarious and definitely worth watching. WWE must at some time get these two into the ring for a high-profile match because doing so makes perfect sense.
Hardcore fans would be excited to see another match from both men eight years after their last meeting in 2014—a six-man tag match for PWG that also featured Cedric Alexander, The Young Bucks, and Trevor Lee. Both men spent years developing themselves on the independent scene before joining WWE. It has been over ten years since they last faced off in a single match; they only had two singles matched against one another in 2013. They must now decide which indie hero is better.
Rey Mysterio
Since Rey Mysterio is a living legend in professional wrestling, it goes without saying that fans want to watch him compete against the greatest whenever possible. The WWE Universe is sure to enjoy having the Master of the 619 in the ring with someone like Gargano, and Mysterio will have the rare chance to compete against someone who is a little smaller like himself.
Johnny Wrestling and the 5’6″ Mysterio could push the pace to the limit and never let up since Johnny Wrestling is taller at 5’10” and heavier by a little bit, but he is still on the smaller end of the pro wrestling physique spectrum. This would be particularly entertaining if we got to see Gargano turn heel and use his little-size advantage to intimidate the legendary luchador throughout the match.
Cody Rhodes
Gargano had only been with the business for six months when Cody Rhodes initially left in May 2016, so their paths had never crossed. The American Nightmare is unquestionably the larger of the two competitors, yet their wrestling techniques are more similar than you might think. Both of them are praised for their technical ability, but they can also perform in the air when they need a big pop. It will be a very interesting match if you put these two in the ring together.
The tale that WWE could create with a feud is its strongest feature. In contrast to Gargano, who has had to work his way to the top without any significant connections he could have used to get noticed earlier, Rhodes is the family star who was born into this business. It’s a tried-and-true formula that will grab the audience since this is the kind of story we’ve seen told many times with various wrestlers.
AJ Styles
Only twice have Gargano, and AJ Styles competed together. Their first meeting took place back in 2007, when Gargano was still a newcomer to the industry. Seven years passed before the subsequent match. Both times, Styles came out on top. Fans would naturally be thrilled to see Johnny Wrestling and The Phenomenal One return to the ring for another fight because they are two of the best all-around performers in the world.
Few people ever got to see them square off since their first two fights were on little independent promotions. For the great majority of viewers, this would be a completely new feud, and WWE can always take advantage of that while setting up the match. Having traveled the world and tested their abilities against the best the industry has to offer, both guys are now seasoned veterans. Let’s see what happens when they test each other’s abilities using those skills.
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Roman Reigns
WWE has positioned Reigns as a force that is practically unstoppable. Since he has already beaten everyone who has challenged him in the past few years, whoever manages to dethrone him for the Undisputed Championship will receive a huge push as a result. Few people better represent the idea of the underdog than Gargano, who is featured in some of pro wrestling’s best storylines about underdogs who defy the odds to achieve gold.
In addition to becoming a match WWE could advertise as a first-time encounter, it would also provide Gargano with the largest stage of his career. Nothing before it would compare in terms of headline value. If WWE books Johnny Wrestling properly, he might become as well-known as Bryan Danielson was during the height of the Yes Movement. It’s no doubt that defeating Reigns would be a terrific way to start him down that road.
Seth Rollins
You would have a difficult time naming a WWE Superstar in 2022 who has been as consistent as Seth Freakin’ Rollins. His past achievement is self-evident. He is one of the best heels in the entire industry, a machine in the ring, a genius on the mic, a style icon, and more. A storyline involving The Visionary would be advantageous to just about everyone. Gargano and Rollins competed against each other twice in singles action in AIW back in 2008. The first match ended in a time limit draw, and the second saw Johnny Wrestling defeat the former Tyler Black to claim the AIW championship.
Although Rollins is taller, their styles and abilities are very comparable. WWE would be wise to save this feud until a major show like ‘Mania or SummerSlam since there is no doubting that they could deliver a Match of the Year contender at the drop of a hat. WWE has many excellent Superstars on its roster. Now that Gargano is back, who do you want to see him battle?
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