Wrestler Profile

Johnny Gargano

Johnny Gargano is Johnny Wrestling — the heart of NXT's golden TakeOver era, whose trilogy with Tommaso Ciampa remains the most emotionally complete story in the brand's history. His 2018-19 stretch produced a run of five-star TakeOver matches unmatched in developmental history.

The first NXT Triple Crown winner, his DIY partnership with Ciampa — betrayed, avenged, reconciled — became modern wrestling's defining friendship saga, later revived on the main roster with tag championship success. His matches with Adam Cole, Andrade and Ricochet set NXT's in-ring standard.

Married to fellow star Candice LeRae, Gargano remains WWE's most reliable emotional storyteller. WrestleRanks voters rank Johnny Wrestling on the nickname's promise: the craft, always, delivered.

Promotions

Johnny Gargano is associated with WWE (2025–2026).

PWI rankings history

Johnny Gargano has been ranked in the PWI 500 11 times, first at No. 410 in 2008 and most recently at No. 259 in 2024. The highest placement is No. 34, reached in 2018.

Placements by year: 2008 (No. 410), 2010 (No. 363), 2011 (No. 268), 2012 (No. 59), 2013 (No. 51), 2014 (No. 62), 2018 (No. 34), 2020 (No. 46), 2021 (No. 43), 2023 (No. 227), 2024 (No. 259).

Compiled from the annual rankings published by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. See the 2024 edition.

Teams and factions

Johnny Gargano has competed as part of the tag team DIY.

Johnny Gargano in the WrestleRanks rankings

Johnny Gargano is tracked as a professional wrestler on WrestleRanks. WrestleRanks standings are decided one week at a time, from fan voting and editor input. Read more about how our rankings work, or see the live, interactive profile with weekly rank history and voting on the Johnny Gargano ranking page.

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