WWE NXT star Johnny Gargano recently appeared on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show, and below are some interview highlights, transcription courtesy of Chris Featherstone for SportsIllustrated.com:
On earning his spot in WWE despite being a veteran in the pro wrestling business:
“Everyone needs to earn their spot,” expresses Gargano. “I think you need to pay your dues wherever you go. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been doing indies for, I know from wrestling in NXT, I don’t expect anything. I don’t expect to be treated differently, I expect to be treated like everyone else. That’s just how I’m used to operating.”
On pro wrestlers still needing to be fans:
“When you get to the point that you are not wrestling with your heart, then things start to go south. I think you always have to wrestle with a sense of pride and a sense of passion. Every single time I step in the ring, I have pride in my work. I take pride in what I do, and I know it’s cliché, but it doesn’t matter if it’s 20 people I go to at an indie show, or an NXT taping where there’s thousands of people. It doesn’t matter. I’m gonna give the people their money’s worth. I make it a point to give the people their money’s worth.”
On who a dream WrestleMania 33 opponent:
“Very easily say it could be me and Chris Jericho,” he states. Gargano further explains his booking by stating, “I was a big fan of Chris Jericho growing up, I looked up to him, I idolized him, my first concert was Fozzy and I only went to it because of Chris Jericho. So Chris Jericho is a guy who I kind of pattern my whole career off of, outside of Shawn Michaels. He was my inspiration, my go-to guy.”
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
