Re-Booking Johnny Gargano’s Main Roster Run [Part 6]

RAW: January 9th, 2023

The Miz vs. Johnny Gargano {Falls Count Anywhere Match}

Winner: Johnny Gargano

Gargano throws Miz over the top rope, and to the outside of the ring. Gargano gets the crowd behind him, as he settles himself on the middle of the ring. As he sees Miz struggling to get back up, he runs towards the ropes and bounces off of them to dive through the middle rope for a ‘suicide dive!’ Miz is sent flying to the barricade, back-first, due to the impact. The crowd cheers for Gargano. Gargano isn’t quite done yet, because he delivers a ‘super-kick’ right to Miz’s jaw. Miz stumbles to the floor, and Gargano goes for the cover.

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Kick out, at the last millisecond! The crowd can’t believe it, Gargano can’t believe it. Following the action, Gargano gets Miz inside the ring. While Miz recovers, Gargano searches under the apron, and pulls out a steel chair. He brings the chair with him inside, and sets it flat on the mat. Gargano pulls Miz up, but he isn’t quick to realize that Miz played possum on him. Miz turns him around for the ‘Skull Crushing Finale’ on the chair! This must be it!

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Good God almighty! Gargano keeps things alive! Miz is stunned, while the cheers intensify. Quickly, Miz gets up and grabs Gargano’s legs. Thinking of putting him in the ‘4 Figure Leglock.’ As Miz is about to turn and twist the legs of Gargano, Gargano counters and kicks Miz off of him. Gargano is up and Miz launched towards him, but Gargano kicks Miz’s knee which makes him drop to his knees. Without further hesitation, Gargano hits a low roundhouse kick to Miz’s head. Miz hits the mat, allowing Gargano to get him set up near the steel chair.

Gargano goes under the middle rope, and stands on the apron. The WWE Universe know what’s coming next. Slowly, Miz is getting up but his body is still leaning forward. Before Miz can position himself upright, Gargano dives to the inside of the ring from the middle rope for the ‘One Final Beat’ onto the chair!

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3! The WWE Universe cries in cheers, celebrating a triumphant win from Gargano in his return to in-ring action after three weeks out.

RAW: January 16th, 2023

Backstage Segment; The Miz and Johnny Gargano

Gargano walks inside Adam Pearce’s office, but there he finds an unpleasant surprise. Seems like Miz and Pearce had an important discussion, which explains Miz’s annoyance towards Gargano. Sensing the tension, Pearce welcomes in Gargano and tells him to have a seat. Gargano takes a seat, beside Miz. Pearce tells Miz to continue on where he stopped. Without wanting to but having no choice, Miz tells Pearce that it would be a great idea if he got a good spot in the Royal Rumble match. I mean, being a cinema star is more than enough to bring the excitement to the Rumble. Specially now that WrestleMania is headed to Hollywood.

Gargano interrupts Miz from going any further. He tells Pearce that he came in to talk about getting a spot for the Royal Rumble as well, since he’s been gaining a lot of momentum in recent months. However, Gargano expresses that it would be a TRAVESTY having Miz participate just because he’s a so-called “movie star.” He hasn’t even come close to touching Hollywood, since all his movies only ever come out straight to the DVD’s. Miz isn’t taking any more offense, so he gets up and hits Gargano with a punch! Gargano definitely isn’t going to let Miz have the last laugh, so he strikes back. A brawl ensues between both men, making Pearce having to get up and separate both men from each other.

Pearce tells them to stop. If they really want a spot at the Royal Rumble, then they sure as hell will have to earn it. And they’ll do just that next week. It’ll be The Miz versus Johnny Gargano, one more time in a Royal Rumble qualifier match. Whoever wins will get a high spot in the Rumble. As for the loser, he’ll be coming in as the #2 entrant.

RAW: January 23th, 2023

The Miz vs. Johnny Gargano {Royal Rumble Qualifier}

Winner: Johnny Gargano

The Miz tries to go for a discuss punch, but Johnny Gargano gets out of the way just in time. Now that Gargano is behind Miz, Gargano jumps up for a jumping neckbreaker. Gargano backs away towards the nearest corner, waiting for Miz to get up. Miz gets halfway up, kneeling on the mat, but soon enough Gargano strikes him down with a ‘basement forearm smash.’ Gargano covers him.

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Kick out by Miz. Both men have fought valiantly, throughout this match. Getting the close counts on each other, but haven’t been able to seal the victory. Gargano is up on his feet, and he gets out to the apron. There, he gets the crowd behind him as he waits for Miz to get back up again. Miz is now fully up, and Gargano dives for a ‘slingshot spear.’ However, Miz realizes Gargano’s attack and so he kicks him right to the face! Gargano falls flat to the mat. Quickly, Miz grabs Gargano by the neck to pull him up for his signature ‘snap DDT.’ Miz goes for the pin, and maybe the win.

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3- Wait! Oh my God, Gargano kicks out at the last second! Keeping the match, STILL alive. It’s as if he kicked out at 2.99! Miz is definitely furious. He thought that would put Gargano away. Miz pulls Gargano back up, and irish whips him to the corner. Without wasting any time, Miz runs towards him for his ‘flying corner clothesline.’ At the last moment, Gargano gets out of the way so that Miz collides with the turnbuckles. Hurting, Miz gets himself untangled from there, but he is lifted up and thrown towards the middle turnbuckle. Face-first! Gargano just landed the ‘lawn dart’ onto Miz. Miz falls to the mat again, and Gargano wastes no time in locking him up for the ‘Gargano Escape!’ Miz has nowhere to go!

Miz tries to crawl towards the ropes with Gargano on top of him, but it is no use. He’s got no other choice than to tap out, and he does! Gargano wins and puts this feud to rest, while also guaranteeing himself a high spot in the Royal Rumble match! That’s how you welcome the Road to WrestleMania.

Royal Rumble: January 28th, 2023

30-Man Royal Rumble Match

Winner: Cody Rhodes

We’ve reached the last six competitors of the Royal Rumble match. Gargano, Austin Theory, Logan Paul, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther are battling it out. Rollins has Cody trapped in the corner, kicking him down. Gunther is pushing Logan over the top rope, but Logan is quick to capitalize with a standing neck breaker using the ropes. This keeps Logan alive in the Rumble. Meanwhile, both Gargano and Theory share strikes. Relieving their past and heated rivalry from last year’s Clash at the Castle. Theory gets the upper hand on Gargano, when he hits him with an uppercut. This sends Gargano backwards, close enough towards the ropes. Rapidly, Theory clotheslines him out of the ring, but Gargano is able to hold on by grabbing on the top rope with both hands. However, both of his feet are dangling away from the apron! Is this it for Gargano’s dream to go on, and main event WrestleMania?

Frustrated by Gargano’s heroic attempt, Theory goes towards him once again. As if on instinct, Gargano pulls his body up against gravity to grab Theory’s neck with both of his legs. Then, Gargano pulls his lower body in a downwards motion that sends Theory over the top rope and down to the floor! Gargano has just eliminated his former protégé and heated rival, with a ‘reverse rana!’ The fans go ballistic, cheering on Gargano. Maybe, just maybe.. Gargano actually has a chance! In the meantime, Rollins has Cody against the ropes, trying to get him eliminated. From behind comes Logan, and pulls both men over the top rope! Cody is able to hold on by the ropes and gets a hang of his body by kneeling on the apron. As for Rollins, he is officially eliminated! The arena erupts with boos, not liking the fact that Logan just cost Rollins a main event opportunity at the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Gargano gets back inside the ring, but gets struck down with a big boot to the face from a recovered Gunther. Gunther pulls Gargano up to his feet again, and sets him on the nearest corner. From there, he begins to deliver chops straight to Gargano’s chest. Each chop, coming with greater force. Gunther is loving the punishment he is inflicting, but he sure didn’t like the slap that Gargano gave him. Gunther isn’t going to take any disrespect like this so he tries to punish Gargano some more, but Gargano shoves Gunther off with a dropkick. Though he doesn’t fall onto the mat, Gunther is caught by Cody and is put through a ‘Cross Rhodes!’ That’s not enough though, Logan is up on the top turnbuckle and dives off to deliver his signature ‘Frog Splash!’

In unison, Cody and Gargano agree to work together to eliminate Gunther. Both men get Gunther up, and both toss Gunther over the top rope! We’re down to three men! The fans are going nuts. Out of nowhere, Gargano attacks Cody, by hitting him with a ‘super kick.’ Cody is out cold. Nonetheless, Gargano doesn’t see Logan coming for him and he gets hit with a massive ‘flying forearm smash!’ This is it for Gargano, and it definitely is when Logan sends him to the outside. Oh but so close for Gargano. The WWE Universe definitely isn’t having any of that.

Now we’re just down to the final two competitors. Logan looks on to Gargano’s direction, waiting for him to be visible. In the meantime, he picks Cody up. Once Gargano recovers, Logan looks right at him with a smirk and he pulls Cody up to attempt the ‘Three Amigos.’ So much time wasting from Logan, that Cody was able to counter him and set him up for the ‘Cross Rhodes!’ Quickly, Cody picks Logan up once again and tosses him out of the ring! Cody is your winner of the 2023 Royal Rumble, and he is headed to WrestleMania! As Cody celebrates, Gargano continues to walk up the ramp. Before going backstage, he looks on towards Cody’s direction. Gargano knows that could’ve been him, standing tall. Nevertheless, there is always next year.