Johnny Gargano: I Take Pride In Helping To Make Other Guys In WWE NXT

Johnny Gargano says he takes pride in how he was able to use the North American Championship to help give a spotlight to other NXT talent. 

As NXT North American Champion, Gargano worked with the likes of Leon Ruff, Damian Priest, Kushida and, most recently, Bronson Reed, helping them to become recognisable names on WWE's black-and-gold brand. 

The 33-year-old dropped the Title to Reed in a Steel Cage Match on Tuesday's NXT and, speaking before the show, Gargano believes he has enjoyed his best run as a champion because of the work he's done with these talent.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Gargano said: "I was very open about having a run with the title, and it’s my chance to make other guys, too. Now Leon goes into something with Swerve, and he’s taken more seriously. He can do so much; he’s so talented.

"Having a 24-minute TakeOver match with Kushida and being able to show the world what he’s capable of doing, that’s something I take very seriously. He’d shown that all around the world, but this was his chance to show it here, so I really wanted that match with him. He works incredibly hard and deserves that spotlight. 

"And Priest is amazing. He’s incredibly talented, and he’s a guy that takes opportunities and runs with them. He’s gone to new heights, and everything he did with Bad Bunny at WrestleMania was next-level.

"I do think this is my best run. I take pride in the fact that I can give certain spotlight to guys and bring others up. I can make other guys along the way, and I think that’s my role now. We have such a talented locker room, so that’s incredibly easy for me to do."