Johnny Gargano Returns To WWE NXT, Earns North American Title Match

Johnny Gargano has returned to WWE NXT, winning a shot at the NXT North American Championship on this week’s episode. Gargano was announced as a surprise entrant in the NXT North American Championship Gauntlet Eliminator match on Tuesday’s show. The WWE star picked up the win to earn a shot at Myles Borne and the title at NXT Stand & Deliver.

Gargano came in as the number five entrant in the gauntlet match and seemed initially unsure about being in the match, with Candice LeRae having to coax him out to the ring. Gargano, who has depressed in his current character arc on WWE Smackdown, came in after Jackson Drake, Shiloh Hill, Dion Lennox, and Charlie Dempsey had already entered. He survived to the end and LeRae was able to push him onto a downed Hill after Birthright assaulted Hill, resulting in Gargano getting the win. You can see highlights below.

Gargano, who is a three-time North American Champion, will now challenge Borne for the title at Stand & Deliver, which takes takes place on April 4th from The Factory at The District in St. Louis, Missouri. We’ll have an updated card for the show after tonight’s NXT.

JOHNNY GARGANO is the 5th entrant…@JohnnyGargano | @CandiceLeRae pic.twitter.com/XvqlCoJ9dW

— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2026

Dion Lennox is the first man eliminated from the Gauntlet! 😮@shiloh_wwe pic.twitter.com/UHfSTk9wcH

— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2026

Jackson Drake ARE YOU KIDDING?? @JacksonDrake03 pic.twitter.com/Tq3oKwqoTp

— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2026

JOHNNY WRESTLING WINS THE GAUNTLET!!! @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/QoQQGMPmlK

— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2026