Johnny Gargano put his WWE persona aside to share a deeply personal update with fans. The SmackDown star opened up about his father's ongoing cancer battle and the difficult time his family has been going through.
Gargano has been playing a down-and-out, "depressed" character on Friday Night SmackDown for the past six months. He broke character on social media for the first time during that stretch, making it clear that what he was about to share had nothing to do with his television storyline.
“Gonna take a break from staying true to my TV bit on social media for a minute to share some important real life stuff that's been weighing on me with you all,” Gargano wrote.
The former NXT Champion revealed that his father is 84 years old and was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung and prostate cancer this past year. Gargano said he had kept the diagnosis private for several months and admitted that he had not fully processed everything, particularly following the death of his dog, Pawdme.
But Gargano made it clear that the post was not meant to be about himself.
“This is a post about my Hero.. My Dad,” he wrote.
He went on to explain why his father has always been such an important figure in his life. Before Gargano became a WWE Superstar, his dad was already supporting his passion for wrestling.
When Gargano was eight, his father ran an independent wrestling show in the parking lot of his restaurant simply so his son could get inside a wrestling ring. He also waited in line for tickets so Gargano could attend WWF shows at The Gund Arena.
“A lot of what I have today is because of my father. He ran an indie show in the parking lot of his restaurant when I was 8 years old just so I could get in a wrestling ring, he waited in line for tickets for me to WWF shows at The Gund Arena. He always wanted the best for me, and I hope I made him proud,” Gargano wrote.
Gargano recently got the chance to spend more time with his father in Cleveland because of his upcoming schedule. He said his father was in the middle of finishing chemotherapy and radiation when they were able to see each other.
Despite dealing with his own health battle, Gargano said his father was still focused on him.
“He still just worried if I was doing okay, how work was going, and when my next match would be.”
The post also touched on Gargano's relationship with his four-year-old son, Quill. Gargano said seeing his father spend time with his grandson during such a difficult period was something he would always remember.
The star also reflected on becoming a father himself. Gargano noted that his dad was 45 when he was born and admitted that raising a four-year-old had made him appreciate even more what his own father did for him.
The 38-year-old star acknowledged that he struggled to put his feelings into words before leaving fans with a simple message.
“This is a rambling and I'll have much more to say at a later date, and I definitely need to get better at expressing my feelings but I guess the moral in all of this is cherish the moments you have with the people you love. They won't last forever. I know that's cliche' and I'd like to think I've always known that but have somehow learned to appreciate it even more so recently. ❤️.”
Check out his post below:
Fans and Wrestlers Quickly Showed Their Support for Johnny Gargano
The former WWE Tag Team Champion's message prompted an immediate response from fans and members of the wrestling community. Several WWE stars shared messages of love and support after reading about his father's health battle.
Bianca Belair praised Gargano's father while highlighting the influence he had on his son's personality.
“🙏🏾so this is where you get your bada*s-ness from!!! I know he is so proud of you! And so blessed to have time with Quill! Family is everything!" Belair commented.
Blake Monroe also showed her support with a simple “🙏🏼” in the comments.
Alexa Bliss responded to Gargano's post on X, writing, “Sending so much love.”
Karmen Petrovic also shared her support with four heart emojis: “❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
The messages offered Gargano and his family encouragement as his father continues through treatment. For Gargano, the focus remains on spending meaningful time with his father and appreciating the moments they have together.
