Johnny Gargano wants to return as soon as possible so he can take his run on WWE Raw to the next level.
Gargano left WWE when his contract expired at the end of 2021, but he returned on the August 22 episode of WWE Raw. He briefly feuded with Autin Theory,and he then aligned with Dexter Lumis as part of Dexter's feud with The Miz. On the January 9 episode of WWE Raw, the broadcast team announced that Gargano is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and the former NXT Champion confirmed the news in a tweet.
Speaking on the January 11 episode of WWE's The Bump, Gargano commented on his injury and noted that doctors told him he'd be out for five or six weeks, but he plans to work as hard as he can to cut that time down. Gargano admitted that he's not happy with the way things went leading up to his injury, and he wants to show the world what he can do.
“I tweeted out that I injured my shoulder at a live event in Toronto, which is ironic because I came back in Toronto. 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 gonna see what can happen, and I’m gonna work very, very hard to come back as soon as possible. [There’s] a lot of things I still want to accomplish, a lot of things I still want to do. I am far from happy with how things have gone for me recently, and I want to right those wrongs and show everyone out there; that believe in me, what Johnny Wrestling is truly capable of doing," Gargano said.
When asked if he felt like he has followed a typical path for a Raw Superstar, Gargano agreed and pointed out how he has faced a range of competitors. He then emphasized that he's excited to return and prove his fans right. Gargano also made it clear that he wants to return for the Royal Rumble, but he doesn't know if he'll be back in time.
“It feels that way. A lot of big guys as well. Baron Corbin, big dude. Otis, big dude. Omos, the biggest dude. But I’ve also had matches against Chad Gable, matches against Austin Theory, so I’ve had kind of a cornucopia of different sizes and shapes and whatnot. But I am very excited to be able to get back in that ring and really show everyone what I’m capable of. I know there’s a lot of people out there that still believe in Johnny Wrestling, still believe in what I’m capable of, and I’m gonna prove all of them right, I promise you that. It’s Rumble season, and I know a guy like me, I pride myself on my tenacity [and] my heart. If I can get cleared for that Rumble, I’ll be super pumped. I don’t know. My doctor said five or six weeks, so I don’t know what that means. But I am very lucky that we do have a medical team that’s gonna protect me from myself. If it was up to me, I’d be out there right now, and I’d be in a whole bunch of pain [laughs]. I think that things have gone pretty well, but I’m excited to take things to the next level," Gargano said.
It is currently unclear when Gargano will return to the ring. Fightful will continue to monitor the situation and provide information as it becomes available .
Gargano previously named AJ Styles and Seth Rollins as two of his dream matches. Check out his comments here.
In a previous interview, Gargano described how being a fan of superheroes sparked his interest in wrestling. Click here to see what he had to say.
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