10 Dream Matches for Johnny Gargano on WWE's Main Roster

During Monday's Raw, Johnny Gargano shocked the wrestling world when he returned to WWE after an almost nine-month absence. His return wasn't the shocking part. It was how WWE did it that caught people off guard.

Instead of planting the seeds for a big return that night or teasing it through video packages, WWE simply had Johnny Wrestling walk out after a random commercial break. The Toronto crowd almost didn't know how to react to his entrance music being played until he actually came out on the stage.

Once he was visible and people knew he was really back, the arena full of fans erupted in cheers. After months of speculation about where he might end up following his exit from NXT in December, the 35-year-old Superstar returned to the biggest promotion in the world.

Now that it looks like Gargano is officially on the main roster, there are tons of possibilities for new feuds, several storylines from NXT that can be revisited, and dream matches galore.

Let's take a look at 10 potential opponents for the former NXT grand slam champion that would be pay-per-view-worthy matchups.

Ricochet

Ricochet is one of those guys who is going to end up on a list of dream opponents for just about anyone in pro wrestling. That's how good he is.

Not only can he perform aerial feats that seem to defy the laws of gravity, but the former intercontinental champion can also work a technical match on the mat.

These two have only been in the ring together a few times in WWE, but the match everyone will probably remember was their North American Championship bout at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in 2019.

They put on a fantastic performance that night and would likely exceed that effort with their next encounter. Even without any buildup or story behind it, this pairing has the potential to steal the show at any event.

Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio is a living legend in pro wrestling, so naturally fans want to see him face the best in the business whenever possible.

Putting the Master of the 619 in the ring with a guy like Gargano is not only guaranteed to produce something fun for the WWE Universe, but it will give Mysterio the rare opportunity to fight someone who is a little closer to his own size.

Johnny Wrestling is taller at 5'10" and weighs a bit more, but he is still on the smaller end of the spectrum of pro wrestling physiques, so he and the 5'6" Mysterio would be able to put the pedal to the metal and never slow down.

This would be especially fun if we got to see Gargano work as a heel so he could use what little size advantage he has to bully the famed luchador throughout the match.

Cody Rhodes

When Cody Rhodes originally departed WWE back in May of 2016, Gargano had only been with the company for six months, so their paths never crossed.

While The American Nightmare is definitely the bigger of the two competitors, they actually have a lot more in common than you might realize when it comes to their wrestling styles.

Both of them can do the high-flying stuff when they need to get a big pop, but they are also lauded for their technical ability. If you were to put these two in the ring together, it's guaranteed to be highly entertaining.

The best part is the story WWE could build with a feud. Rhodes is the legacy star who was born into this business while Gargano has to scratch and claw his way to the top without any major connections he could use to get noticed earlier.

This is the kind of story we have seen told many times with countless wrestlers, so it's a tested formula that will get the crowd invested.

The Usos vs. DIY

While most of the people on this list will be individual opponents, one thing a lot of fans are hoping for is a DIY reunion with Ciampa. If that were to happen, The Usos would be the perfect opponents.

Not only have Jimmy and Jey been one of WWE's top duos for the better part of a decade, but they have worked with just about every team the company has to offer. DIY would be a completely fresh feud for everyone involved.

The Bloodline has been running roughshod over WWE for the past couple of years. Everyone who has tried to take gold from The Usos or Roman Reigns has failed, so it might need to be someone they have never faced before that finally beats them for the belts.

Gargano and Ciampa would be able to have incredible matches with the twin brothers and breathe new life into the tag team division at the same time. It's a win-win.

Kevin Owens

Gargano and Kevin Owens have never had a big singles match in WWE, but they have faced each other on the indie scene, so it's not as if they are total strangers.

In fact, during their time in Absolutely Intense Wrestling, they formed a shortlived bond over their love of pandas. The clip above has some NSFW language, but it is well worth watching for the hilarity that ensues.

Putting these two in the ring together for a high-profile showdown makes too much sense for WWE not to do it at some point.

Both men spent years building themselves up on the independent scene before coming to WWE, so there are some hardcore fans who would be excited to see another match from them eight years after their last encounter in 2014—a six-man tag match for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla that also included The Young Bucks, Cedric Alexander and Trevor Lee.

They only had two singles bouts against each other in 2013, so it has been almost a decade since they squared off one-on-one. It's time for them to see which indie darling is better.

AJ Styles

Gargano and AJ Styles have only been in the ring together twice. Their first encounter was all the way back in 2007 when Gargano was still a rookie in this business. They next match didn't happen until seven years later. On both occasions, Styles was the victor.

Johnny Wrestling and The Phenomenal One both have the reputation of being two of the best all-around wrestlers in the world, so naturally, fans would be excited to see them step back into the ring for another fight.

Their first two bouts were in small indie promotions, so few people ever saw them mix it up. This would be a totally fresh feud for the vast majority of viewers, and that is something WWE can always use to its advantage when building the match.

Both men are now seasoned veterans who have traveled the world and honed their skills against the best the business has to offer. Let's see what happens when they put those skills to the test against each other.

Former Tag Team Partner Ciampa

Before anyone says anything, we know Ciampa and Gargano have faced each other several times in NXT, but seeing them fight on a bigger stage is a different story.

Their history in NXT dates back to the beginning of both of their times with the promotion. They quickly formed DIY and became a fixture in the tag team division.

After a heartbreaking betrayal by Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017, the two became bitter enemies before eventually reuniting on a short-term basis.

With their shared history in NXT and the love the crowd has for both men, giving them a spotlight match at an event like WrestleMania would create a lot of interest because the WWE Universe would expect them to try to outdo all of their previous performances.

So in this case, the dream match is more about the time and place than the opponents themselves. We've seen this combo several times, but there is always something different about seeing two people lock horns at the biggest event of the year.

Mustafa Ali

If we take star power out of the equation and just look at the in-ring potential of a specific match, Gargano vs. Mustafa Ali would be a dream come true for many fans.

Their only singles encounter happened 12 years ago in a promotion called International Wrestling Cartel. Since then, the only other time they have been in the same match was during the 2019 men's Royal Rumble.

Not only would this be fantastic from an in-ring perspective, but it would potentially give Ali a launching pad for a renewed push. Johnny Wrestling is known for being able to make his opponents look as good as he makes himself look, so both men would come away from this with the respect of the crowd.

Put them in the ring for 15 minutes on any show and they will produce the Match of the Night, no question.

Roman Reigns

Reigns has been built up as a nearly unstoppable force in WWE. He has defeated everyone who has stepped up to him for the past couple of years, so whoever does finally dethrone him for the Undisputed Universal Championship is going to get a monster push as a result.

Some of the best stories in pro wrestling are about underdogs overcoming the odds to win gold, and there are few men who embody the concept of the underdog better than Gargano.

Not only would this be a match WWE could bill as a first-time encounter, but it would give Gargano the biggest spotlight of his career. Nothing that came before it would measure up in terms of marquee value.

Johnny Wrestling could be as popular as Bryan Danielson was at the height of the Yes Movement if WWE books him the right way. Beating Reigns would certainly be a great way to put him on that path.

Seth Rollins

In 2022, you would be hard-pressed to name a WWE Superstar who has been as reliable as Seth "Freakin'" Rollins.

His track record speaks for itself. He is a machine in the ring, a master on the mic, a style icon and one of the best heels in the entire industry. Just about anyone would benefit from a storyline with The Visionary.

All the way back in 2008, Gargano and Rollins had two singles matches on the indie scene in AIW. The first ended in a time-limit draw and the second ended with Johnny Wrestling winning the AIW title from the former Tyler Black.

While Rollins has a size advantage, these two are quite similar in style and skill. There is no denying that they could produce a Match of the Year candidate at the drop of a hat, so WWE would be wise to save this feud for a big event like 'Mania or SummerSlam.

WWE has a large roster of talented Superstars. Who do you want to see Gargano face now that he is back?