Johnny Gargano Calls Match With CM Punk ‘A New Beginning,’ Says ‘No More Laying Down’

During last night’s WWE SmackDown, Johnny Gargano finally came out of his comatose state to challenge WWE Undisputed Champion CM Punk for the title in Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Johnny Gargano has since commented on the match via social media. He wrote the following:

“Last night was for the people who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. I went toe to toe with the @WWE Champion in the main event of Smackdown in the arena where I first fell in love with professional wrestling as a child. Cleveland, I love you. You had my back against the best in the world, and all I’ve ever wanted to do was be your guy and make you proud.

For an indie kid like me.. it was an absolute honor, and dream to finally get in there with @CMPunk(who was the very first indie merch shirt I ever bought in High School) I’d love to tell you I was at my best, but that’d be a lie. After laying around feeling sorry for myself for 8 months.. Mentally and physically.. I’m a work in progress.. But I guess we all are.

No more laying down. Last night was the beginning.. not the end. It’s time to stand up, be myself and put in the work to become the man I was always meant to be. For you. For me. For those who still believe in Johnny Wrestling.”

Based on Gargano’s comments, he doesn’t plan on going back to lying down, depressed, and feeling sorry for himself anymore. Hopefully, this is a new beginning for the former NXT and WWE Tag Team Champion.

Last night was for the people who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself.

I went toe to toe with the @WWE Champion in the main event of Smackdown in the arena where I first fell in love with professional wrestling as a child.

Cleveland, I love you.. you had my back… pic.twitter.com/ctw76EIlK3

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) September 5, 2026