10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (April 20)

2. Gargano's "Johnny Wrestling" Moniker Was Inspired By American Football

Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

Johnny Gargano told WSVN-TV this week that wrestling fans have either forgotten or didn't know the reason why he began referring to himself as "Johnny Wrestling" in the first place.

The nickname was inspired by American Football star Johnny Manziel. As Quarterback for the NFL's Cleveland Browns, Manziel would often call himself "Johnny Football". One day, Gargano tweeted out that he should then be known as "Johnny Wrestling" and the joke stuck with him.

Fans were in on the gag and chanted the moniker that weekend. When the same thing happened the following weekend, Gargano knew he was onto something and decided to pattern merchandise after his new name. Now, he believes fans don't make the correlation between Manziel's tag and his.

Why would they? The NFL player wouldn't have torn the house down with Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver: New Orleans...

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.