Who Is Johnny Gargano? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Johnny Gargano, born on August 14, 1987, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American professional wrestler who has made a significant impact on the wrestling scene since his debut. Known for his incredible agility and technical skills in the ring, Gargano has garnered a massive following. His journey through various promotions, particularly WWE, has solidified him as one of the top talents in professional wrestling. He is highly regarded for his storytelling abilities within the ring and has earned a reputation as a fan-favorite performer.
| Occupation | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1987 |
| Age | 37 Years |
| Birth Place | Lakewood, Ohio, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Johnny Gargano's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
- Body Measurements: 40-30-35 inches (Chest-Waist-Hips)
Johnny Gargano maintains a strong physique that complements his high-energy wrestling style. He regularly trains and follows a strict fitness regimen, allowing him to perform at his best in the ring.
Gargano made his main roster debut on the February 18, 2019, episode of Raw, where he and Ciampa defeated former rivals Raw Tag Team Champions The Revival in a non-title match. The next night on their SmackDown debut, Gargano and Ciampa defeated The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus).
On the March 13 episode of NXT, after Gargano and Ciampa were eliminated from the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Ciampa attempted to attack Gargano, similar to his original betrayal at TakeOver: Chicago two years prior, before Gargano reversed it and attacked him, thus turning face.
On the March 20 episode of NXT, it was revealed by Triple H that Gargano and Ciampa were to compete at NXT TakeOver: New York for the NXT Championship, but due to Ciampa needing real-life neck surgery, he was removed from the match and forced to vacate the title; therefore, it was announced that Gargano would still be in the match for the now vacan
t title, and his opponent would be Adam Cole, who won a fatal five-way match later that night to earn the right to replace Ciampa.
At the event on April 5, Gargano defeated Cole in a critically acclaimed two-out-of-three falls match to win the NXT Championship for the first time in his career, which also made him the first ever NXT Triple Crown Champion. At the end of the show, Ciampa came out to celebrate Gargano's successful title win with Candice LeRae as well.
The match between Gargano and Cole was rated five and a half stars by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, making it the first WWE match to break the five star rating and Gargano's third five star-rated match overall.
On the April 17 episode of NXT, Gargano was celebrating his championship victory until he was confronted and attacked by The Undisputed Era. A rematch was scheduled between Gargano and Cole to take place at NXT TakeOver XXV on June 1, where Gargano lost the title, ending his reign at 57 days.
Gargano's rematch on August 10 at NXT TakeOver: Toronto was then scheduled by William Regal to be another two-out-of-three falls match, with each wrestler allowed to pick a stipulation, with Regal deciding the final fall's stipulation.
At the event, Gargano won the second fall, but was ultimately unsuccessful in regaining the title after losing the final fall, which was in a steel cage match, after both men fell from the top of the cage through a table.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Johnny Gargano is happily married to fellow professional wrestler Candice LeRae. The couple announced their relationship publicly in 2016 and tied the knot in 2018. They welcomed their first child in February 2022, and the family enjoys sharing glimpses of their life on social media platforms. Gargano and LeRae continue to support each other in their wrestling careers while balancing family life.
He is of Polish descent through his mother and Italian descent through his father. Gargano entered a professional wrestling ring for the first time at age eight, when Cleveland All–Pro Wrestling (CAPW) owner J.T. Lightning, who ran shows behind Gargano's father's catering business, allowed him to roll around in the ring. While studying in St.
Edward High School, he decided to enter CAPW's professional wrestling school in order to become a professional wrestler. At age 16, Gargano began training at the Cleveland All Pro Training Center under J.T. Lightning and Josh Prohibition.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Johnny Gargano's estimated net worth is approximately $4 million. His earnings primarily stem from his wrestling contracts, merchandise sales, and various appearances in wrestling promotions. Gargano is known to be savvy with his finances and has made several investments, contributing to his rising net worth.
While wrestling for Chicago-based All American Wrestling (AAW), Gargano ran into Colt Cabana, who suggested he get in touch with former Ring of Honor booker Gabe Sapolsky, who was looking for talents for Dragon Gate USA and Evolve Wrestling, and tell him that Cabana sent him.
Gargano received a tryout match for Dragon Gate on July 25, 2009, at the tapings of the Enter the Dragon pay-per-view, wrestling in an eight-way elimination dark match won by Lince Dorado.
On November 28 at Freedom Fight, Gargano made his pay-per-view debut by entering the tournament to crown the first Open the Freedom Gate Champion, but was eliminated in the first round. In May, Gargano signed a contract with Dragon Gate USA. On July 24 at Enter the Dragon, Gargano lost to Cima.
On September 26, Gargano offered himself to Cima's Warriors International stable. On October 29 at Dragon Gate USA's first live pay-per-view, Bushido: Code of the Warrior, Gargano wrestled in a four-way match won by Chuck Taylor.
After Taylor turned down an offer from Cima to join his Warriors International stable, Gargano offered himself to Cima but was turned down. Gargano confronted Cima again, offering himself to Warriors International, before attacking him and Ricochet, along with Chuck Taylor and Rich Swann, forming the stable Ronin.
Career, Business and Investments
Johnny Gargano's career took off after his appearances in independent promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Evolve. He gained significant recognition in WWE's NXT brand, where he engaged in memorable feuds and matches that showcased his exceptional talent. Gargano's career highlights include multiple reigns as NXT Champion.
Beyond wrestling, Gargano has explored other business opportunities, including merchandise collaborations and potential future ventures in production or coaching within the wrestling industry.
Gargano started his professional wrestling career in 2005, working for the Cleveland All–Pro Wrestling (CAPW) promotion. Over the following years, Gargano worked for some of the top promotions on the American independent circuit, including Chikara, Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), Evolve and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).
Titles Gargano held include the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas, the Evolve Tag Team Championship and DGUSA's Open the Freedom Gate Championship, which he held twice with his first reign lasting a record 873 days.
During his independent days, Gargano also made appearances for national promotions Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Social Network
Johnny Gargano is active on various social media platforms, where he connects with his fans and shares insights into his personal life, career, and fitness journey. You can follow him on:
- Twitter: @JohnnyGargano
- Instagram: @johnnygargano
- Facebook: Johnny Gargano
Gargano made his debut for Philadelphia–based Chikara on June 14, 2008, taking part in the sixth Young Lions Cup tournament, but was eliminated in the first round against Marshe Rockett.
Gargano returned to the company on April 23, 2010, taking part in the 2010 King of Trios tournament with Aeroform and suffering a loss in the opening round against The Colony (Fire Ant, Green Ant and Soldier Ant). On the second night of the tournament, Gargano came out during a quarter-final match between F.I.S.T.
(Icarus, Gran Akuma and Chuck Taylor) and Team Osaka Pro (Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Tadasuke), wearing a F.I.S.T. shirt and witnessed how Icarus, Akuma and Taylor were eliminated from the tournament.
Gargano wrote on his Facebook page that he liked F.I.S.T., but thought that the team might have a weak link, which led to the stable's members pointing fingers at each other. On June 27 at Faded Scars and Lines, Gargano defeated Player Uno to earn a spot in the eighth Young Lions Cup tournament.
On July 26 at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, F.I.S.T. lost a six-man tag team match to Cima, Masaaki Mochizuki and Super Shenglong. After the match, Icarus and Taylor turned on Akuma, kicked him out of both F.I.S.T. and Chikara and gave his spot to Gargano.
On August 27, Gargano entered his second Young Lions Cup tournament, defeating Andy Ridge in the first round but was eliminated from the tournament when he was disqualified in the six-way elimination semi final match. On August 29, Gargano defeated 29 other men to win The Countdown Showdown match and earn a "Golden Opportunity".
With Gargano as a member, the new F.I.S.T. ended their losing streak by defeating Da Soul Touchaz (Acid Jaz, Marshe Rockett and Willie Richardson) and 3.0 (Scott Parker and Shane Matthews) and Soldier Ant in six-man tag team matches on September 18 and 19.
On October 23, Gargano cashed in his "Golden Opportunity" for a Young Lions Cup title match against Frightmare, but lost. On April 15, 2011, F.I.S.T. entered the 2011 King of Trios, defeating Team Australia (Kabel, Percy T and Tama Williams) in the first round. The following day, F.I.S.T.
defeated Team Osaka Pro (Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Ultimate Spider Jr.) to advance to the semifinals. On April 17, F.I.S.T. scored a major upset in the semifinals of the tournament by defeating Team Michinoku Pro (Dick Togo, Great Sasuke and Jinsei Shinzaki) but lost in the finals of the tournament to The Colony.
Education
Johnny Gargano attended Cleveland State University, where he studied criminal justice while simultaneously pursuing his passion for wrestling. He trained under notable wrestlers and honed his skills during his studies, eventually leading to his breakout in the wrestling industry. Gargano's educational background has contributed to his disciplined approach to both wrestling and life.
In conclusion, Johnny Gargano continues to shine both as an athlete and as a family man in 2025. His journey is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the importance of balancing personal and professional life. Stay tuned to see what this remarkable athlete achieves next!
