Kemo
10-07-2023, 09:59 PM
DIY are back together as part of WWE Monday Night Raw, but the reunion of Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa could've happened far sooner.
During this week's Raw, Ciampa battled Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER in the main event with the title on the line. After GUNTHER retained, Imperium delivered a post-match attack which was interrupted by the returning Gargano. Ciampa had been on the hunt for his friend who had been missing from TV for months.
Fightful Select reports that Gargano and Ciampa were originally supposed to reunite in June before plans were changed for the pair. The original plan was for Ciampa to answer the open challenge of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on the June 19, 2023, show. The plan was for Ciampa's match to be interrupted by the Judgment Day, before being broken up by the returning Gargano. The show took place in Gargano's hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Plans changed heavily in the days prior to the show, before being nixed entirely. Those who spoke to Fightful said that several involved were frustrated by the change. Gargano would remain off of TV until this week's Raw. At the time, it was reported that the decision for Ciampa to not answer the open challenge was because WWE didn't want him to lose his first match back after his own hiatus due to an injury.
During his absence, many believed that Gargano was off with an injury, due to incorrect rumors about him not being cleared. WWE sources told Fightful that Gargano had been cleared since last April and was simply not being used. Gargano returned to action in July in a losing effort to Omos at a WWE live event.
During this week's Raw, Ciampa battled Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER in the main event with the title on the line. After GUNTHER retained, Imperium delivered a post-match attack which was interrupted by the returning Gargano. Ciampa had been on the hunt for his friend who had been missing from TV for months.
Fightful Select reports that Gargano and Ciampa were originally supposed to reunite in June before plans were changed for the pair. The original plan was for Ciampa to answer the open challenge of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on the June 19, 2023, show. The plan was for Ciampa's match to be interrupted by the Judgment Day, before being broken up by the returning Gargano. The show took place in Gargano's hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Plans changed heavily in the days prior to the show, before being nixed entirely. Those who spoke to Fightful said that several involved were frustrated by the change. Gargano would remain off of TV until this week's Raw. At the time, it was reported that the decision for Ciampa to not answer the open challenge was because WWE didn't want him to lose his first match back after his own hiatus due to an injury.
During his absence, many believed that Gargano was off with an injury, due to incorrect rumors about him not being cleared. WWE sources told Fightful that Gargano had been cleared since last April and was simply not being used. Gargano returned to action in July in a losing effort to Omos at a WWE live event.