Johnny Gargano Felt He Would Always Return To WWE After Short Stint Away

Johnny Gargano talks his return to WWE in 2022.

The former NXT Triple-Crown Champion departed from the company after his contract expired in 2021, but was back by summertime the next year. During an interview with Chris Van Vilet, the DIY member explains that even though he was gone he always felt like he would return before revealing some goals he would still like to accomplish.

I had an idea. I always had an idea. People ask me all the time, did you think about going other places? Obviously, we all entertain the idea. But when I left, I always felt like I had unfinished business in WWE. And when the conversations were being had, it was one of those things where when I was a little kid growing up, I watched WWE. I dreamed of wrestling at WrestleMania. I dreamed of becoming Intercontinental Champion. I think all these things I said in my return promo, pretty much. They’re all very real, very true. Those are very real dreams I still do have to this day and I can only do that one place. And I am very lucky to call WWE my home because if you’ve watched my last night in the company it was sad for me because I spent so much time in NXT around those people. I saw them almost every single day for almost seven years and I wasn’t gonna have that anymore. And that was my own choice because I felt like I needed to move on. And I needed that time away to be with Candice, to be with the baby. And just step away from wrestling for a bit and just recharge. But luckily everything worked out. And I think everything happens for a reason. We’re back.

Elsewhere in the interview, Gargano revealed that he was not under contract to WWE when he returned back in 2022. You can read about that here.