Johnny Gargano got WWE fans talking this weekend by sharing the video of his return to the company on social media, marking exactly four years since the August 22, 2022 comeback.
That night on Monday Night RAW at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Gargano made a surprise appearance after nine months away from WWE programming. His contract had expired in December 2021 when he chose not to re-sign, and he stepped away from pro wrestling entirely for a stretch.
Gargano received a huge reaction from the crowd and cut a promo about betting on himself once again to chase goals he hadn’t yet reached on the main roster. The segment ended with Austin Theory, his former partner in The Way, interrupting the promo and eating a Superkick.
WrestleTalk @WrestleTalk_TV Follow 
12:34 PM · Aug 23, 2026Prior to that return, Gargano had already built one of the most accomplished careers in NXT history, becoming the brand’s first-ever Triple Crown Champion. He later reunited with Tommaso Ciampa to reform #DIY and captured the WWE Tag Team Championship on the main roster.
Four years later, though, the picture looks completely different. Ciampa left WWE in early 2026, closing the book on another #DIY run, while Gargano remained on SmackDown.
These days, Gargano is involved in a comedic storyline where he keeps turning up lying on crates and equipment backstage. The bit kicked off in February and has run for over six months now, recently featuring interactions with Candice LeRae, Sami Zayn, and CM Punk.