Backstage Notes from *SPOILERS* appearance on Raw

[Dale]

As noted, Johnny Gargano returned to WWE during tonight’s RAW from Toronto.

WWE put effort into keeping Gargano’s return a secret at the arena tonight. A new report from Fightful Select notes that most of the talent at RAW didn’t know Gargano was returning, and most of the production crew wasn’t briefed on his appearance.

When Gargano walked through the backstage area at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is when most people found out he was returning. Furthermore, Gargano’s name was not listed on the internal run-down sheet that is given to WWE Producers before the show.

It was reported earlier this month how Gargano was expected to return to WWE now that Executive Vice President of Talent Relations & Head of Creative Triple H is running the show, and it was reported that Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels was tasked with reaching out to Gargano shortly after the recent WWE management shake-up. This new report from Fightful Select notes that WWE maintained a continued interest in re-signing Gargano through his free agency period, which began last December when his WWE NXT contract expired. During that process, WWE officials were said to be patient and respectful of Garganao’s wishes and time off.

There’s been no talk of serious negotiations between Gargano and AEW, and Impact Wrestling was never a serious consideration, despite Gargano’s cameo appearance earlier this summer. Gargano did have several people within AEW pushing for him to join the company, but sources there did not think he would end up signing with the company this year.

There’s no word yet on if Gargano’s wife, Candice LeRae, will be returning to WWE. She has been a free agent since May. Candice and Johnny welcomed their first child on February 17 of this year, a baby son named Quill.

WWE has not added Gargano to the RAW roster as of this writing, but it looks like he will be feuding with Theory.





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Not only am I super glad he's back but the way HHH has managed to keep these returns secret makes it that much better. The momentum keeps on rollin'.

 

[Dale]

By Mike Johnson on 2022-08-23 09:20:00
Obviously, the big news overnight was the return of Johnny Gargano. He has been officially added to the company's Raw roster as a babyface.

Gargano was hidden from everyone all day and was never mentioned on the run sheet for the show. Most, if not all, were unaware he was there until he was brought to the gorilla position.

The talk after the show was that Gargano was flown in by WWE on their corporate jet into Canada so that he wouldn't be spotted by fans. If so, it was a smart way for the company to keep him hidden.

There were also a lot of people inside the company who noted that Gargano was brought back and didn't have a name change, a sign that the old Vince McMahon edict that real names and previous independent wrestling ring names were forbidden is gone.

Candice LaRae was not backstage with Gargano.​

 

[Chris]

posted in the Raw thread as well but

 

[Canadian Dragon]

thank fuck they used Rebel Heart

 

[Dale]

Trips bringing back his guy, to go against Vince's last chosen guy. Pretty poetic.

 

[Jimmy King]

The return was so perfectly done, I loved it so much.

So happy he’s back.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Happy for Gargano and putting him with Theory which I think has tons of potential to be a multi-time World Champion will help both guys for sure.