WWE‘s internal name for the September 4 SmackDown was “Johnny…Wrestling?”
According to Fightful Select, the name was a nod to Johnny Gargano and the spotlight he got on the episode. It fit the night’s main storyline. The show took place at Rocket Arena in Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, and ended with him challenging CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Before the match, Punk ran into Gargano and Candice LeRae backstage while he was talking to Nick Aldis about a new challenger. Punk needled Gargano about whether the old “Johnny Wrestling” still existed, then suggested he take the title shot that night.
Fightful Select also reported that the segment with Punk, Aldis and Gargano was written by Colin Clark. The later conversation between Gargano and LeRae was Clark’s as well, while Michael Hayes and Robert Roode produced the title match.
In the main event, Gargano came close to winning the title, including after interference from Sami Zayn and Candice LeRae. Kevin Owens, Gunther and Finn Balor got involved before Punk survived and hit the GTS for the pinfall win.
