SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) stars Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa – known as #DIY – have joined forces with… Ending with Kor and Tor To talk about their team’s legacy, NXT Homecoming, and the dream matches that could define the next chapter of their careers.
Since their early days as unsigned underdogs 2015 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic To their emotional return to Full Sail for Homecoming NXTthe duo talked about their journey, the evolution of NXT, and why they still believe anything can happen in wrestling.
Read the full interview below and watch the clip in the video player above.
the end: Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa — #DIY — Thank you so much for joining us today.
Champa: Thanks for having us, man.
Gargano: definitely.
the end: You guys have won multiple tag team titles in WWE NXT. You got your big start with WWE in 2015 at the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic as a tag team. At that point, did you see your career blossoming into what it has become today?
Gargano: Yes, no way. People don’t remember, I think it’s kind of a bit revisionist history, but we started out as a temporary team. We were two men still in the Indies. We didn’t sign to WWE. We were honestly told no in our experience maybe weeks before. So it wasn’t like we were brought in with all this pomp and circumstance. We were given an opportunity and a foot in the door. We both dreamed of being here, knew how talented we were, and all we wanted was a chance. We got one in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and the rest is history.
the end: You’ve been working there without a contract for a while, haven’t you? Didn’t that happen until around 2016?
Champa: Yes. I think we had been working without a contract in NXT for about a year at that point. We were not in the performance center. We were literally only brought in to do TV and some live events. This didn’t make us many friends at the Performance Center as we would come home and sleep in our beds all the time.
the end: One of the first things I remember about you guys is the Cruiserweight Classic tournament and your opening match – Ciampa vs. Gargano. What a great match.
Gargano: The Cruiserweight Classic was a special time. It looked like a turnaround in NXT. It brought attention to the men who had been grinding for years in the Indies. It was great because a lot of us in that tournament had wrestled together around the world and never thought we would all be here. There’s a great photo somewhere with the entire Cruiserweight Classic set – just one of those “let’s take one for the memory” shots.
Champa: Funny story – During that time everyone was all about the “100 dot picture”. When you debut in NXT, you’ll be given a 100-point image. As for our debut, we didn’t get it because we weren’t under contract. We didn’t get our title shot until after the Cruiserweight Classic match. It was like, ‘Okay, that game went well, maybe we can ask now.’ That picture with Hunter was right after that game, it was kind of an exclamation point when we finally arrived.
the end: I grew up a huge fan of tag team wrestling – Midnight Express, Arn and Tully, the Steiners, and Doom. What bands inspired you to do what you do today?
Champa: You’ve named a lot of good things. We’re both students of the game – we go back and watch everything.
Gargano: For me, rock bands were huge growing up. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express too – guys that look like us, smaller and faster, and make you think, ‘Maybe we can do that.’ Hart Foundation – I was a big Brett guy. And then Attitude Era bands like the Dudleys, Edge, Christian and the Hardys – especially the first TLC. This is what we’ve kind of modeled after our main roster careers – honoring them but doing it our own way.
the end: Speaking of The Hardys, they just won the NXT Tag Team Championship. When you think about your return to NXT Homecoming, you guys stole the show against Trick and Melo. How emotional was that comeback?
Gargano: It was surreal. We haven’t been at Full Sail in about five years. So many amazing parts of our story happened in that building. Let’s go back to the original theme, “Rebel Heart,” dressed in our original attire – the entire Homecoming show was a love letter to a very special time in NXT.
Champa: We hear it all the time – what the black and gold era meant to people. It’s great to see how much NXT has grown and is now on The CW. When we left, our hope was always to leave it better than we found it. Seeing where he is now makes us really proud.
the end: What are your thoughts on the current working relationship between WWE and TNA? Could we see #DIY become TNA Tag Champions?
Champa: #DIY has never faced The Hardy Boyz – a dream match, a bucket list one for sure. I’ve shared locker rooms with them, but never a ring. Watching them win the NXT Titles definitely opened a door I wasn’t expecting. Kudos to them – they are two of the best. Whether it’s TNA, NXT, or SmackDown — if we’re invited, we’ll be there.
Gargano: That’s the great thing about wrestling now, anything can happen. Every door feels open. You can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, and this is an exciting time for both wrestlers and fans.
the end: The Sharks host a WWE-themed night (on October 11). Are you two hockey fans?
Gargano: My wife, Candice Leary, is a huge Ducks fan, so she makes sure I watch hockey all the time. I’m from Cleveland – we don’t have a team – but by marriage, I’m a hockey fan.
Champa: I’m a Disney on Ice guy – it’s one step below.
the end: Who is tougher: hockey players or wrestlers?
Champa: If we’re ice skating, we make clapping sounds. But in the ring? We can handle ourselves.
Gargano: Depends on the scenario.
the end: What if you wear hockey shoes to the rink?
Gargano: If I’m booked to win, I win.
the end: Let’s wrap up with a quick word association game. First: NXT TakeOver.
Gargano: TakeOvers have been the best time of my career. My nickname is “Johnny Takeover”.
Champa: He gave that to himself.
Gargano: I didn’t give it to myself! But yes, those crowds were different from any other crowds. NXT was really taking over wrestling at that time – I will hold that close to my heart forever.
the end: War games.
Champa: Kevin Owens – That’s the first thing that comes to my mind. He was a surprise entrant one year. War Games was my last match as an official member of the NXT roster. And a shout out to Candace – she’s the “War Games Lady”.
Gargano: If you hear wargaming, you should say Regal.
the end: Dusty Rhodes.
Champa: legend. I wish we got to NXT earlier to sit under that learning tree. He had a way of bringing out the best in people like no other.
the end: AJ Styles.
Gargano: enormous. AJ was my favorite wrestler growing up. I wrestled him when I was 19 – a complete dream come true. He is undoubtedly one of the best generation.
the end: Johnny, this one’s for you – action figures.
Gargano: I just bought two X-Men figures yesterday! The action figures are a time capsule of my childhood – a dopamine dose of nostalgia. Every time we get new figures from Mattel, it’s so great. My son plays with minifigures of his mom and dad, which is weird.
Champa: My characters live in a Barbie doll house. They’re always up to something.
the end: Gulf region.
Gargano: I think of Bayley immediately.
Champa: Yes, and I remember the great NXT live events in San Jose. The crowd was electric. I think there might be a #DIY reunion there, actually – someone is checking me out on that.
the end: One last question before we get started – what is the story behind Bobby Roode and the “Glorious” videos?
Champa: During rehearsals for the Cruiserweight Classic, they kept playing “Glorious,” and we thought it was the official song of the tournament. We were all singing it. It turned out to be Bobby Roode’s debut. It became an inside joke – we started doing “Glorious Bombs” to impress the boys and try to get Bobby to break down. To his credit, he was always playing.
the end: Final question – with Halloween right around the corner, what songs get you pumped up before a big game?
Gargano: “A Kiss from a Rose” by Seal.
Champa: This is not real.
Gargano: It’s a great song! Batman, my dear.
Champa: I don’t have one.
Gargano: “Kiss from a Rose” – the official theme of #DIY.
the end: Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa – Thank you so much for your time.
Gargano: Thank you man.
Champa: appreciate it.
New episodes of WWE NXT air every Tuesday at 8pm on The CW.