Johnny Gargano

It started with Dragon Gate USA, where I started as a guy on the pre-show and wasn't promised anything. I kept coming and doing what I do and ended up on the main show and eventually won their championship.

Growing up, I was a socially awkward kid who didn't know where he fit in, and I didn't have many friends, but I always had wrestling. I always had what was in between those ropes, and that always put a smile on my face no matter what.

I think NXT is kind of like the Cleveland, Ohio, of professional wrestling. We're that underdog whose hungry, who's always out to prove people wrong, and that's kind of what our locker room represents.

I saw 'Infinity War' in theaters four times.

I've said this numerous times: I've been in the ring with Daniel Bryan, and he's the best wrestler in the world, bar none.

I've wrestled Rich Swann countless times. I've faced Akira Tozawa in Japan and America. Zack Sabre Jr. is another guy I've faced many times.

I'm kind of a smaller guy in my given profession, and people always told me I'm too small, so I know how it feels to have people tell you you'll never be anything.

I am super happy and super proud that Candice LeRae is in the WWE Performance Center.

I'm very open and very honest about my actions, especially to the NXT universe. I never lie to them. I never do. I am very real with them.

NXT in my head is something I'm trying to help build, get it to its peak. I will do whatever I have to: I will strap NXT to my back and carry it up a cliff if I have to.

My mom made me a Shawn Michaels costume when I was a kid. I wore it every day and ran around the house dancing like him.

I'm still that indie kid at heart. I'm still that guy who wrestled in front of 15 people and never knew he'd make it to WWE. I'm still that person.