Johnny Gargano issues public statement following his loss to CM Punk on SmackDown
As seen during the September 4th 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown, Johnny Gargano lost to WWE Champion CM Punk in the show’s main event. After the match, Gargano issued the following public statement via Twitter/X…
“Last night was for the people who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself.
I went toe to toe with the WWE Champion in the main event of Smackdown in the arena where I first fell in love with professional wrestling as a child.
Cleveland, I love you.. you had my back against the best in the world, and all I’ve ever wanted to do was be your guy and make you proud.
For an indie kid like me.. it was an absolute honor, and dream to finally get in there with CM Punk (who was the very first indie merch shirt I ever bought in High School)
I’d love to tell you I was at my best, but that’d be a lie. After laying around feeling sorry for myself for 8 months.. Mentally and physically.. I’m a work in progress.. But I guess we all are.
No more laying down. Last night was the beginning.. not the end. It’s time to stand up, be myself and put in the work to become the man I was always meant to be.
For you. For me. For those who still believe in Johnny Wrestling.”
Last night was for the people who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself.
I went toe to toe with the @WWE Champion in the main event of Smackdown in the arena where I first fell in love with professional wrestling as a child.
Cleveland, I love you.. you had my back… pic.twitter.com/ctw76EIlK3
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) September 5, 2026