Johnny Gargano says “last night was the beginning” after WWE title match – POST Wrestling

Johnny Gargano has signaled the end of his months-long “planking” storyline following his WWE Championship match against CM Punk.

Gargano posted on Instagram on Saturday after challenging Punk in the main event of Friday’s SmackDown from Rocket Arena in his hometown of Cleveland.

He reflected on facing Punk in the building where he first became a wrestling fan and thanked those who continued supporting him during the lengthy storyline in which he was largely unresponsive on WWE television.

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.

The angle with Gargano lying face-down on equipment cases began early this year following the breakup of DIY and a storyline involving Axiom.

Gargano and wife Candice LeRae had stolen Axiom’s mask during a feud with Fraxiom. On January 30, Axiom defeated Gargano under a stipulation that allowed him to reclaim it. By the following week, LeRae was shown trying to help an apparently despondent Gargano, who lay face-down on an equipment case.

The change in character coincided with longtime DIY partner Tommaso Ciampa leaving WWE after his contract expired in January. Ciampa subsequently joined AEW.

Gargano occasionally returned to action during the storyline. He briefly regained his motivation in March before issuing an open challenge and being defeated by Oba Femi in 63 seconds on SmackDown.

Candice LeRae later brought him back to NXT in an attempt to restore his confidence. Gargano earned an NXT North American Championship opportunity and had a competitive match with Myles Borne at Stand & Deliver, but failed to win the championship.

His most recent match before Friday came in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17. Even there, the storyline continued, with Gargano lying face-down in the ring before Otis eliminated him.

On Friday’s SmackDown, Punk encountered Gargano backstage and asked whether he had worked his entire career to lie on a box or to become world champion. After initially receiving no response, Punk walked away before the camera returned to show Gargano standing. He accepted Punk’s offer of a title match.

The Cleveland crowd rallied behind Gargano during the main event, which lasted just over 13 minutes. Despite interference involving LeRae and Sami Zayn, Punk ultimately retained with the GTS.