Johnny Gargano addresses his future on WWE NXT

Image: WWE

With his WWE contract set to expire imminently, Johnny Gargano addressed his future on tonight’s NXT before being attacked by Grayson Waller.

“I don’t know what my immediate future holds,” Gargano said. “That’s up in the air right now still. I may do some things here and there. But I do know one thing for sure — and that’s in February I’m going to start the most important job of my life. Because I’m going to be a dad.”

Gargano and Candice LeRae are expected to welcome their first child into the world in February. Gargano said he’s so excited for that because he’s going to love that little guy so much.

The show-closing angle then saw Waller attack Gargano. Waller hit Gargano with a steel chair, sent him into the steel steps with a chair wrapped around his neck, and powerbombed him through the announce table. Waller ended the show by saying this is his house now and not Gargano’s.

Gargano’s contract with WWE is expiring on December 10. It was originally scheduled to be up on December 3, but Gargano signed a short-term extension. Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Pete Dunne & LA Knight lost to Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo & Waller in the men’s WarGames match at NXT WarGames on Sunday.

Gargano spoke to the crowd after WarGames and said he would tell them everything that’s going on with his status on this week’s NXT. He began his promo tonight by saying that Shawn Michaels told him that he could go as long as he wants. Gargano said he didn’t think about what he was going to say because he wanted to live in the moment with the fans.

Gargano said the one regret he has over the past six years is that he didn’t enjoy this more. He was always so worried about if what he was doing was good enough. Gargano said the fans deserve wrestling they can be proud of, and he hopes that he’s given them that.

Gargano said he was told at his WWE tryout in 2015 that he would never be in NXT, but — because of William Regal — he was brought back to do a dark match. Gargano credited the fans’ reaction for why WWE brought him back every week after that, and he thanked the fans for helping him live his dream. Gargano said he’s dealt with self-confidence issues his entire life, but the ring is the only place where he’s ever felt important or special.

People have asked Gargano why he’s been in NXT for so long, but it’s because he truly loves it and believes in it. Gargano said his family may be in Cleveland, Ohio, but he also has family in NXT.

Gargano said change is scary, but sometimes it needs to happen. Gargano told the fans the one message he wants to leave them with is that you’ll never fail if you bet on yourself.