Johnny Gargano appeared revitalized upon his arrival at a recent WWE SmackDown, only for Oba Femi to abruptly derail his momentum with a powerful attack. After this setback, footage reveals Gargano’s wife, Candice LeRae, lifting him onto her back and carrying him toward the dressing room as the audience cheers their resilience. Though visibly struggling, LeRae’s determination helps them retreat from the ring area, blending a moment of vulnerability with a touch of humor in the heated atmosphere.
Gargano: “It was a bad idea.”
LeRae: “That was bad, I didn’t expect that.”
Gargano: “I wanna lay down, I wanna lay down.”
Gargano’s Battle with Adversity Intensifies
Gargano’s mood had brightened after playfully stealing Axiom’s mask and roaming backstage with newfound confidence, especially since his former tag team partner, Tommaso Ciampa, had departed for AEW. However, his momentum faltered following a loss to Axiom on SmackDown in late January, which plunged him into a prolonged slump that sparked widespread online attention and memes reflecting his defeated posture.
Nearly two weeks ago, while Candice LeRae wrestled Jordynne Grace, Gargano showed signs of recovery, standing up and leaving his seated position. He made a bold return the following Friday by issuing an open challenge to anyone backstage. Oba Femi accepted, swiftly defeating Gargano and pushing him back into a state of discouragement.
Fan Reaction and Future Directions for Gargano’s Storyline
This evolving storyline continues to engage fans across social media and earned a warm reception from the live crowd in Portland. For now, it serves to elevate Oba Femi’s growing status in WWE as a formidable competitor, while highlighting Cipango’s ongoing struggles in a compelling and relatable manner. The direction Gargano’s character will take next remains uncertain, but his resilience—and LeRae’s steadfast support—signal promising developments moving forward.
That's one way to be helped to the back 😂 pic.twitter.com/e4LMXURazV
— WWE (@WWE) March 8, 2026
@JohnnyGargano my nephew is your biggest (littlest) fan pic.twitter.com/FVgiJyu2Sq
— JJ Thomson (@Swag_HashiraSLC) March 1, 2026
