Johnny Gargano Decided He Was Going To Take Time Off From NXT A Year Ago: I Felt Complete

On the December 7 episode of NXT, Johnny Gargano gave his farewell speech to NXT, saying he wasn’t sure what was next for him as his contract expired. 

Gargano was attacked by Grayson Waller to close the show. Gargano is now a free agent, allowing him to sign with which ever company he would like. He’s previously said that he was going to take time off and be with his family as his wife Candice LeRae is expecting in February. 

Appearing on Iron-On Wrestling with Gregory Iron, Gargano explained that the decision to take time off was made a year ago. 

“I definitely felt very complete. I felt complete for the past year,” Gargano said when asked if he had accomplished everything there was to accomplish in NXT. “This wasn’t a decision that came out of nowhere. This was a decision I decided a year ago. Luckily, it worked out to where me and Candice are having a baby. The baby really finalized my decision on what I wanted to do and how I wanted to take this time. I’m very much a guy where I could have stayed comfortable for a very long time and I love NXT, the door is open, I can go back whenever I want. WWE in general, I can go back whenever I want. I really appreciate that because I’m so grateful that the company I dreamed of working for my entire life still wants me for a very long time, which is really cool. It’s one of those things where I am a competitive person and I feel like I’ve climbed that mountain. There are other mountains I want to climb and other things I want to try and do, not just in wrestling, but life in general. Other avenues I want to try. I’ve always been enamored with creating content and things like that. Now I have free time to try to do that. I’m very lucky to have a loyal fanbase that has followed me and continues to follow me even though I’m not in NXT and am doing my own thing now.”

Gargano launched his Twitch channel after he became a free agent and said he was overwhelmed by the response to his first stream. 

In the interview, he noted that he enjoys chatting on Twitch and that he also wants to do game streams. He also revealed that he and Candice will build a Ginger Bread House on Twitch on Thursday, December 23. 

When asked if he has any plans to wrestle in the foreseeable future, Gargano said, “I’m always a ‘never say never guy’ because you never know, but I don’t plan on it. I planned on having this break and then I planned on having time with the baby. On the other side of that, I’m 34 years old and still in my prime. I’m hoping that this break give me more clarity on things, but I just want time away. I’ve been doing this for 16 years and I’ve never really been out of the bubble. When you’re in the bubble, you’re in it and going and you don’t think twice about it. Only until you’re out are you able to decompress and you think, ‘Wow, maybe this is what I want.’ I’m hoping I have an epiphany like that. Different people are contacting me all the time. You never know which opportunity is going to be the right one.”

Gargano noted that he has been there through every step of the pregnancy process with Candice and wants to continue to be there as she prepares to deliver in February. He also wants to spend as much time as possible with his family once the baby is born. 

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.