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Johnny Gargano isn't your prototypical WWE Superstar. That perhaps is his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. Gargano toiled on the independent scene for years before signing with WWE, and he immediately proved that he belongs in the promotion.
Gargano is inherently a likeable character. He fits in perfectly as the underdog babyface that WWE seems to be running out of. In the short amount of time he has been in the WWE, Gargano's popularity skyrocketed, making him one of the most popular Superstars on the NXT roster.
Let us now look at why he can be a great Superstar on the main roster.
#5 Ability to connect with the audience
At NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, Gargano, at least for the evening, was the most popular Superstar in town. Akin to the Rocky Balboa-Apollo Creed fight, where the Philly crowd got behind the hometown hero, willing him to take the fight to Creed, the fans at NXT TakeOver wished and willed Gargano to bring the fight to Andrade 'Cien' Almas.
Gargano doesn't have the chiselled physique that has, for many years, remained as the main criteria to become a big name in the company. The one thing Gargano has, and which has worked for him throughout his wrestling career, is his ability to connect with the fans. The wrestling fans want to see themselves in the WWE Superstars and live vicariously through them.
Johnny Gargano might not be the biggest or the strongest Superstar in the WWE locker room, but when it comes to heart, Johnny 'Wrestling' will stand out every single time.
#4 Gargano's in-ring skills
With Gargano's matches, the fans can be guaranteed of leaving the arena satisfied. While there are many top-notch performers in wrestling promotions around the world, very few have the ability to compete at the highest level every time they step into the ring.
Whether it was against his former partner, Tommaso Ciampa during the Cruiserweight Classic, or a high stakes match at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia for the NXT title, Johnny Gargano always brought his best version.
Almas and Gargano ensured that the fans went through a roller coaster of emotions at NXT TakeOver, and their match received a five-star rating, the first in WWE since the John Cena-CM Punk encounter at Money in the Bank in 2011.
Gargano thrives under pressure and is tailor-made for the big occasions. There is a reason why he earned the nickname of 'Johnny Wrestling' on the independents. Gargano gives the fans their money's worth, which is the hallmark of every top Superstar.
#3 His chemistry with Candice LeRae
Not since the days of 'Macho Man' Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth have the WWE fans seen a genuine couple on WWE programming, that tug at their heartstrings. The fans shed tears of joy as Randy Savage and 'The first lady of professional wrestling' got back together many years ago, forever becoming the fans' 'dream couple'.
In Gargano and Candice LeRae, the fans have found a worthy replacement. While many couples have come and gone in the promotion, no one quite achieved the legendary status that Savage and Miss Elizabeth managed to achieve.
Candice, for years, has been one of the best female wrestlers on the independent scene, and the image of LeRae tending to a heartbroken Gargano at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia moved the WWE fans. If the adage of a woman being behind every successful man holds water, the duo of LeRae and Gargano will achieve great things on the main roster.
#2 An ideal replacement for Daniel Bryan
A few years ago, a golden goose fell on WWE's lap, which they chose to ignore until the fans voiced their displeasure. Daniel Bryan wasn't supposed to be a WWE Champion. He wasn't buffed, wasn't tall enough, and with his scruffy beard and long, unkempt hair, he was a far cry from what the WWE Champions normally looked like.
While the WWE machine tried its best to brush him under the rug, the fans wanted to see Bryan succeed. Bryan was arguably the most popular WWE Superstar since Steve Austin, and every time he performed, the entire arena erupted in 'Yes' chants.
But with Bryan forced to retire due to years of taking damage, there has been no one that has succeeded in filling the void left by his departure. However, Johnny Gargano is an ideal replacement for Bryan. In fact, there are many similarities between Gargano and Bryan. And if Gargano's time so far on NXT is any indication, he will do remarkably well on the main roster.
WWE finally has the chance to replace Daniel Bryan in the company, and that could and should bode well for Johnny Gargano.
#1 The humble man in the land of Superstars
It is often said that humility is a man's greatest virtue. Being a professional wrestler – especially in a cut-throat company like the WWE often pushes the Superstars to be self-involved and step on a few toes. The larger than life characters of the performers can sometimes spill into real life, leaving them unable to grasp the idea of being humble.
Gargano, however, is the exact opposite. The reason why Superstars such as Gargano, Bryan, and Sami Zayn are popular among the fanbase, is because of their ability to stay down to earth, in spite of all the accolades and success they achieve in the wrestling business.
The one thing that separates the good from the great is their ability to appeal to the primary emotions of the fans. Every great Superstar in the past has been able to do just that, and very few in today's world have that intrinsic quality. That separates Gargano from the rest of the locker room and makes him an ideal candidate to become a true WWE great.
