During Friday night’s SmackDown episode, WWE delivered several segments that advanced storylines leading to the Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 42 events. A backstage moment raised speculation that a wrestler currently on the Blue brand might soon move back to NXT. Johnny Gargano was seen laying on a travel case in visible despair after losing Axiom’s mask, with his wife Candice LaRae noticing his mood.
Tag teams Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns taunted Gargano, celebrating the retrieval of Axiom’s mask. While Gargano remained silent, his sorrow seemed focused on the lost mask, which was notably not his. Intriguingly, his head rested just beneath an NXT sticker, a detail fans interpreted as a hint toward a potential Johnny Gargano NXT return. Following the segment, Gargano posted on X, captioning an image with “Hello darkness my old friend.”
Context on Gargano’s Career and Current Status
Johnny Gargano has been part of WWE’s main roster since 2022. After an earlier stint from 2019, he had returned to NXT before moving up again. Recently, he teamed with Tommaso Ciampa on SmackDown, who departed WWE to join AEW last month. At 38 years old, Gargano has struggled to replicate the major success he found in NXT, where he earned a reputation as one of the most beloved babyfaces in the brand’s history and a key figure during the Black and Gold era.
This potential return to NXT could mark a significant shift, bringing back a well-known and respected name to Tuesday night programming for the developmental brand.
Why Returning to NXT Could Benefit Gargano and WWE
With Ciampa’s departure, Johnny Gargano’s prospects of rising to the top tier on SmackDown appear limited. The DIY tag team’s breakup means Gargano is likely to remain involved in midcard feuds. Returning to NXT might revitalize his career and provide a boost for the brand itself. Recently, Shawn Michaels has seen several prominent talents like Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans move from NXT to the main roster after holding key spots in the NXT main event scene.
Currently, NXT faces a shortage of male stars, making a veteran presence like Gargano’s especially valuable. Joe Hendry’s recent win of the NXT Championship in a six-man ladder match highlights the shifting landscape. Should Gargano come back, he would be positioned perfectly to support up-and-coming performers while possibly reclaiming a central role for NXT. Given that Ethan Page and Ricky Saints are leading as top heels, a babyface turn for Gargano would likely be the right narrative move.
The Potential Impact of Gargano’s Return on NXT’s Future
A Johnny Gargano NXT return could reshape the developmental brand’s landscape, filling a void left by rising stars who have advanced to the main roster. His experience and legacy might reinvigorate interest and add depth to the male division, offering fans a new reason to invest in NXT programming. For Gargano, it represents an opportunity to reclaim his standing and perhaps reach new heights in a familiar environment, while WWE could benefit from restoring star power to its third brand heading into WrestleMania season and beyond.
