Johnny Gargano Addresses Crowd After WWE SmackDown Taping, Praises CM Punk, Cody Rhodes & Candice LeRae

Johnny Gargano spoke to his hometown crowd.

There was a double taping of WWE Raw and SmackDown on August 28th in Cleveland, Ohio. On the SmackDown end, the show closer was Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk versus Cleveland’s own Johnny Gargano.

Punk and Cody Rhodes were about to send the crowd home, but they invited Gargano back to the ring to do the honors. Gargano mentioned that when he’s debating significant career decisions, he goes to Rhodes. He also spoke highly of his wife Candice LeRae and his opponent for the night, CM Punk.

“As a Clevelander, I wanna say one thing: Back when I was just a fan sitting in those stands, I vividly remember a moment where a young CM Punk had a dark match here in Cleveland, Ohio, and as a fan, I remember seeing that and going, ‘That’s CM Punk. He’s one of the best in the world. He belongs here,’ and to be able to get in this ring in my hometown with the best in the world, with WWE Champion CM Punk, and main event SmackDown, guys, I am living proof for anyone out there in the crowd. If you have a dream, if you wanna do something, if you work hard enough, you can make anything happen in this lifetime.” Gargano continued, “I put over CM Punk enough. I’m also standing in the ring with QB1. Cody Rhodes — a lot of people don’t know this because we don’t publicize it — but when I’m going through significant career choices, I reach out to this man right here, because he and CM Punk both have paved the way for guys like me and it is an honor — Candice too — I’m not gonna forget her by the way. I’m talking a lot. Let’s give it up for Candice everybody. What a great wife! She stood by my side for eight months while I planked on a box and she never gave up on me. Just like I have never given up on you, Cleveland, Ohio. At the end of the day, I’m just a chubby eight-year-old kid with a dream and I’m living it every single day because of you guys.”

Johnny Gargano addresses the crowd after Smackdown ended. (After his match with CM Punk.) #smackdown pic.twitter.com/qKIzID9erS

— 💀 Boogeyman 💀 (@DeathByAxe) August 29, 2026

The bout against Punk was Gargano’s first match since April 2026. He has been featured in backstage segments and has not spoken as he lies on a box while the wrestlers in the segments with him and LeRae spoke.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit the original source with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.