NXT Champion Johnny Gargano Threw Out The First Pitch And Pinned A Giant Hot Dog In Cleveland

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... to Cleveland!

It’s been a good month for Johnny Gargano. He won the NXT Championship in a 2-out-of-3 falls match with Adam Cole on the best show of WrestleMania weekend, and now the native Clevelander is checking off another “huge item off his childhood bucket list” by getting to throw out the first pitch before a Cleveland Indians game.

You may recognize the 2019 Indians squad as a bunch of really enthusiastic minor leaguers who’ve put a win-hating robot in charge of their bullpen. Here’s what Johnny Baseball had to say before his big moment.

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) April 24, 2019

He also got to “bring a championship home to Cleveland,” which is only something you get to say if you’re LeBron James or The Miz.

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 23, 2019

Before getting to throw out the first pitch, Gargano faced off against a new opponent for the NXT strap: Mustard, one of the racing Hot Dogs (capitalized, because anthropomorphism) from Progressive Field. Like a true coward, Gargano won after using a foreign object on the man-sized tube of processed beef-product.

— The Tales of Turrington (@DougTurrington) April 24, 2019

After that, it was time to throw out the first pitch. The verdict Well, he didn’t bounce it.

— John Hall (@JohnHall60) April 24, 2019

After defending his title belt against Mustard, @WWENXT champion @JohnnyGargano threw out the first pitch.

When asked how it went, he responded: "Didn't bounce it. Didn't 50 Cent it." #RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/zBH4ihPekb

— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) April 24, 2019

The title of “greatest first pitch by a WWE Superstar at a Cleveland Indians game” remains with The Miz, and let’s be honest, that’s not a knock on Gargano. It’s just impossible to throw a better first pitch than The Miz.