With reports that NXT will soon be going live on FS1, and head-to-head with All Elite Wrestling in a Wednesday night cable television battle, it seems like a time when WWE would want to keep their biggest stars on the black-and-gold brand.
NXT Triple Crown champion Johnny Gargano is one of their biggest stars, having main evented seven TakeOvers since the start of 2018. But he’s a special case. He’s also someone who was called up once already before Tommaso Ciampa’s injury forced adjustments to their storyline. And he had main evented seven TakeOvers since the start of 2018, so there’s some question as to what else he can do on the brand.
Initial word from fans at Scotiabank Arena for TakeOver: Toronto on Sat., Aug. 10 was that Gargano was getting the farewell treatment after losing his trilogy bout with Adam Cole. WWE is also giving that impression, posting the video above... a clip that was tweeted from the official NXT account with “THANK YOU JOHNNY”. The Ohioan doesn’t seem to be dissuading anyone of the notion he’s main roster bound, either:
No regrets. https://t.co/N4TSKfMKUK
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) August 11, 2019
Is this the end of Johnny NXT? If he is Raw or SmackDown bound, might he return from time-to-time to help his “home brand” in the ratings war?
Triple H didn’t address it in either of his post-show interviews, the shoot conference call with press or the (mostly) kayfabe one with Cathy Kelley.
Guess we’ll have to tune in on Monday, and maybe Tuesday, to see what happens.