9 Johnny Gargano WWE Attires Inspired By Superheroes (And Their Hidden Meanings)

Johnny Gargano had previously succumbed to his former tag partner and longtime enemy’s dark embrace. By TakeOver: Phoenix, he showed little of the pure hero he formerly embodied. Instead, he'd become obsessed with glory in NXT and let his ego run wild. Much like Jean Grey’s fall from grace when she was consumed by the powers of The Dark Phoenix, Johnny had eschewed everything that made him who he was in order to finally capture NXT singles gold.

Adorned in a flame-riddled outfit akin to that of Grey's, it was the unlocked dark and egotistical side which allowed Gargano to overcome Ricochet and take hold of the North American title. Shockingly, the new champion stood beside his former arch-rival Tommaso Ciampa to end the show. The switch in persona was certainly off-putting to fans of the once beloved Johnny Wrestling, but it brought him an accomplishment that was previously beyond his reach. Much like the X-Men character, however, Johnny's Phoenix-like power also proved his undoing as he lost the championship to Velveteen Dream less than one month later.