Johnny Gargano & Kyle O'Reilly Expected To Leave WWE

A major update on O’Reilly and Gargano following NXT WarGames 2021.

by Andy H Murray
Kyle O'Reilly Johnny Gargano
WWE

A number of people within WWE believe that Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly will be done with the promotion after this week.

The NXT stalwarts are both currently working under contracts expiring in December. For Gargano, that means the 10th, following his decision to sign a one-week extension allowing him to work through yesterday’s WarGames event, while O’Reilly is due to become a free agent later in the month.

While WWE has made efforts to retain both men, a new Fightful Seleect report notes that WWE personnel are operating on the assumption that KOR and Gargano are on the out.

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The WWE talent that Fightful spoke to hadn’t yet said their goodbyes to Gargano and O’Reilly as they expect them to be backstage at this Tuesday’s NXT show.

Currently, it is expected that both contracts will expire, with at least one of the duo straight-up leaving WWE in order to pursue other options. A “worst-case scenario” has been described as one of them taking time off in the event that they both re-sign.

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Both wrestlers lost at WarGames last night. O’Reilly and Von Wagner failed to defeat Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championships, with KOR beating down Wagner, who had attempted to turn on him after the bell, before putting up the Undisputed Era hand gesture while leaving. Gargano was a part of the Black & Gold group that fell to Team 2.0 in the titular main event, though he didn’t take the fall.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.