Johnny Gargano update (Patreon)

Johnny Gargano hasn’t appeared on WWE programming since NXT Stand and Deliver, leading many to wonder where he’s been.

Fightful Select has learned that Gargano re-aggravated the shoulder injury that had him sidelined for much of January. After only having a couple of matches his first few weeks back, Gargano ended up wrestling a dozen matches after March 4.

We’re told that the shoulder injury got worse after his Royal Rumble return and by the time of the NXT match with Grayson Waller he was severely hampered and using one arm. The hope from the company is that he can repair the injury with physical therapy as opposed to surgery.

There was speculation that Vince McMahon returning to the fold led to Gargano’s absence, but that isn’t the case. McMahon actually was directly involved with communicating to Gargano in late 2021 that he wanted Gargano to remain in the company.