Johnny Gargano has offered an emotional explanation for the unusual six-month stretch in which he was seen planking backstage rather than competing regularly in WWE.
For much of the year, Gargano’s on-screen presence was defined by that image: a former NXT cornerstone and one of WWE’s most acclaimed modern in-ring performers lying down backstage, disconnected from the competition around him. The storyline was a striking departure for a wrestler long identified with resilience, persistence and the “Johnny Wrestling” label. Gargano eventually returned to a more active role in August, when he faced CM Punk in his hometown of Cleveland.
In a new video posted to his vlog, Gargano addressed the question that had surrounded his character’s prolonged inactivity. His answer went beyond simply being frustrated by losses. Gargano described the pressure he felt to live up to what others expected of him, as well as the pain of feeling as though he was disappointing people closest to him.
“Everyone wants to know, ‘Why were you laying around and feeling sorry for yourself for six months? What was going on?’” Gargano said. “It’s complicated, but the easy answer is right there.”
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Referencing a wall of championship accomplishments, Gargano explained that he had been trying to match the version of himself that fans and others expected to see. In his view, he was unable to become that person, and the perceived failure weighed heavily on him.
Gargano said he felt as if he was letting people down, a feeling he strongly disliked. That disappointment became even more difficult because of how his WWE results were viewed at home by his son, Quill.
How Losses Affected Gargano’s Family
The former NXT Champion explained that Quill follows SmackDown and loves video games. In the child’s mind, a win carries a simple reward: the wrestler gets the treasure. That innocent interpretation of winning and losing made Gargano’s defeats feel far more personal.
Before Gargano and Candice LeRae would leave for WWE travel, Quill would ask whether his father was going to get the treasure. Gargano said he would promise to try. But after appearing on SmackDown and coming up short, he would see Quill’s reaction through LeRae’s phone.
“Daddy lost. Daddy isn’t getting the treasure,” Gargano recalled Quill saying.
Gargano stated that seeing his son cry after those losses “broke” him. The emotional toll eventually changed how he approached the possibility of competing. Rather than continuing to put himself in a position where he might lose and disappoint people, Gargano said he began to believe it was easier not to try at all.
He did not present that decision as the right response. Instead, Gargano candidly acknowledged it as the choice he made while struggling with the pressure and disappointment surrounding his results.
“In my head, it was easier to just not try than to get up, fail, and let people down,” Gargano said. “I’m not saying that’s right or the way to go about things, but that’s what I did.”
The comments add a much more human layer to Gargano’s recent WWE presentation. His storyline absence was not framed merely as a wrestler lacking motivation or avoiding difficult opponents. Gargano’s explanation centered on confidence, expectations and the emotional consequences of losing in front of a family that is deeply invested in what he does.
Cleveland Marked a Turning Point
Gargano’s match with CM Punk in Cleveland served as the pivotal moment in his return to being “Johnny Wrestling.” Cleveland has long been integral to Gargano’s identity, and the opportunity to wrestle Punk there gave the comeback an added sense of importance.
Although Gargano did not claim that the doubts disappeared instantly, he said the Cleveland experience showed him what was possible when he chose to try. It reminded him that effort could still lead to meaningful moments and that he was capable of making things happen rather than allowing fear of another setback to dictate his choices.
That is a particularly notable perspective coming from Gargano, whose career has so often been built around battling through adversity. Before arriving on WWE’s main roster, he became synonymous with the rise of NXT through a series of highly regarded rivalries and championship pursuits. The “Johnny Wrestling” name was earned through performances that regularly portrayed him as a competitor who refused to stay down, regardless of the opponent or the odds.
The contrast between that established reputation and the man Gargano described in his vlog is central to why this period has resonated. He felt pressure to be the inspirational version of Johnny Gargano that supporters knew from previous chapters of his career. Yet the harder he tried to meet that standard while losses mounted, the more difficult it became to keep putting himself back in the same position.
Gargano’s remarks do not erase the competitive stakes of WWE television, where wins and losses drive opportunities and momentum. They do, however, offer a clear explanation for why a performer who has historically embraced difficult challenges could spend months withdrawn from the fight.
Support From Fans and Sami Zayn
Gargano also used the vlog to thank the fans who continued supporting him through the difficult stretch. Even while his WWE role was defined by inactivity and self-doubt, the response from his audience remained an important part of his journey back toward competition.
He additionally credited Sami Zayn for showing him the way. Zayn is another WWE performer whose career has frequently involved stories of perseverance, uncertainty and the effort to regain belief in himself after setbacks. Gargano’s acknowledgment suggests that Zayn’s example played a meaningful role in helping him rediscover the mindset he needed to move forward.
That connection fits naturally within Gargano’s explanation. His issue was not simply a lack of wrestling ability or a lack of desire to be involved. He had reached a point where trying came to feel more frightening than stepping away. Seeing a path forward, whether through Zayn’s support, the encouragement of fans or the atmosphere in Cleveland, helped him begin to reverse that outlook.
For WWE, Gargano’s return to active competition restores an established talent to the mix at a time when the main roster remains crowded with high-level singles wrestlers. His match against Punk was a significant marker, not only because it took place in Gargano’s hometown, but because it represented his willingness to take a major challenge after months of avoiding the risk of failure.
The personal stakes behind the story also give added meaning to every future Gargano match. A victory may still be a victory and a defeat may still be a defeat, but Gargano has made clear that his recent struggle was about more than the result in the ring. It was about how those outcomes affected his confidence, his family and his ability to see himself as the wrestler everyone expected him to be.
Gargano’s message ultimately was not that failure no longer hurts. Rather, Cleveland reminded him that taking the chance still matters. After spending six months believing that avoiding another loss was safer than trying, Johnny Gargano is once again choosing to get up and compete.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.