Uploaded May 2010 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
For a number of months, PWO has been plagued by a series of severe and mysterious backstage attacks that have left many of PWO's top stars laying. Ongoing investigations turned up little in the form of clues or hints, and it seemed the one common theme of the attacks were that every single one of the victims were attacked shortly following having a match against PWO Champion Johnny Gargano. With this one singular constant, and Gargano's past reputation from the early days of his career, many were quick to point the finger at Gargano.
While many still doubted Gargano would revert back to his old ways so heavily, even the biggest skeptics seemed to be silenced after our cameras found "M-Dogg 20" Matt Cross injured, the latest victim of the mystery attacked. Found on the scene near Cross was a hammer (the weapon famously used by Gargano to injure Cross on PWO TV in late-2007), and one of Gargano's wristbands (which Gargano later claimed was stolen from his bag). With the evidence on the scene, coupled by the insistence that Cross actually SAW Johnny attack him, something no other victim has been able to claim, seemed to cement Gargano as the guilty party. Gregory Iron, who has a violent past with Gargano that was just recently mended, angrily lashed out at Gargano, while Jason Bane, a longtime locker room enforcer, took it upon himself to kick Gargano out of the locker room for his alleged dishonesty. Johnny was forced to dress in dark corners, next to trash cans and janitor's closets, while M-Dogg smugly looked on. However, this past Sunday night on PWO TV, everything changed.
During our opening segment, a package was delivered to the PWO announce desk. In it, was a DVD and a note explaining the situation - the package was sent from a spectator on-hand at the Cleveland Autorama, documenting the experience on-camera for his own personal use. Upon leaving the building, he captured footage that he didn't understand at the time, but upon tuning in to PWO TV, felt it was footage we all needed to see, and footage that would clear up any and all confusion.
Vic Travagliante was dispatched to find Gargano and show him the footage immediately. After scouring the building, Vic found the PWO Champion and led him to the tech area. What Gargano saw changed everyone's perception. You can view the footage for yourself here -
To those with the perceptive eye, it is clear to see Cross' plan. If you pay close attention, you can see Cross staring at the wristband of Gargano before placing it onto the ground (apparently explaining who stole the wristband from Gargano), then using the hammer to strike the guardrail, creating the noise that caught the attention of our staff who rushed over to help. Johnny Gargano clearly had nothing to do with the attack whatsoever, and it seems the attacks have been the brainchild of Matt Cross all along.
But why? Has the frustration of being unable to regain the PWO Title driven him this far? It has been over a year and a half since Cross wore PWO gold, and it seemed every time Cross set his sights on earning a match against PWO Champion Johnny Gargano, bad luck would always come his way - From the title tournament to the gauntlet battle royal, to his #1 contender bouts - every time Cross came close, he ended up still so far away. While Gargano had promised Cross a title match months ago, Gargano has become overwhelmed by no less than a dozen contenders relentlessly chasing him for his title, to the point it has taken everything Gargano has just to maintain the schedule forced upon him by PWO. These factors have inevitably delayed the Gargano vs. Cross title clash, however was it frustrating enough for Cross to attempt to sabotage the name and reputation of Johnny Gargano, something Gargano has worked hard for an entire year now to establish and repair? Was it frustrating enough for M-Dogg to attack every other athlete who received a title shot or match against Gargano before he did?
The sharp eye will also notice Cross nonchalantly leave the building as Vic was talking to Gregory Iron in the locker room. Did he make a sharp exit once he realized video evidence of his plot existed?
Word has it Johnny Gargano has been irate since this revelation, and is in a different state of mind than we've seen in quite some time. Both Gargano and Cross are scheduled to be in attendance this Sunday night at 10 on PWO TV. What will happen when these two men meet for the first time since this footage has surfaced?
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For a number of months, PWO has been plagued by a series of severe and mysterious backstage attacks that have left many of PWO's top stars laying. Ongoing investigations turned up little in the form of clues or hints, and it seemed the one common theme of the attacks were that every single one of the victims were attacked shortly following having a match against PWO Champion Johnny Gargano. With this one singular constant, and Gargano's past reputation from the early days of his career, many were quick to point the finger at Gargano.
While many still doubted Gargano would revert back to his old ways so heavily, even the biggest skeptics seemed to be silenced after our cameras found "M-Dogg 20" Matt Cross injured, the latest victim of the mystery attacked. Found on the scene near Cross was a hammer (the weapon famously used by Gargano to injure Cross on PWO TV in late-2007), and one of Gargano's wristbands (which Gargano later claimed was stolen from his bag). With the evidence on the scene, coupled by the insistence that Cross actually SAW Johnny attack him, something no other victim has been able to claim, seemed to cement Gargano as the guilty party. Gregory Iron, who has a violent past with Gargano that was just recently mended, angrily lashed out at Gargano, while Jason Bane, a longtime locker room enforcer, took it upon himself to kick Gargano out of the locker room for his alleged dishonesty. Johnny was forced to dress in dark corners, next to trash cans and janitor's closets, while M-Dogg smugly looked on. However, this past Sunday night on PWO TV, everything changed.
During our opening segment, a package was delivered to the PWO announce desk. In it, was a DVD and a note explaining the situation - the package was sent from a spectator on-hand at the Cleveland Autorama, documenting the experience on-camera for his own personal use. Upon leaving the building, he captured footage that he didn't understand at the time, but upon tuning in to PWO TV, felt it was footage we all needed to see, and footage that would clear up any and all confusion.
Vic Travagliante was dispatched to find Gargano and show him the footage immediately. After scouring the building, Vic found the PWO Champion and led him to the tech area. What Gargano saw changed everyone's perception. You can view the footage for yourself here -
To those with the perceptive eye, it is clear to see Cross' plan. If you pay close attention, you can see Cross staring at the wristband of Gargano before placing it onto the ground (apparently explaining who stole the wristband from Gargano), then using the hammer to strike the guardrail, creating the noise that caught the attention of our staff who rushed over to help. Johnny Gargano clearly had nothing to do with the attack whatsoever, and it seems the attacks have been the brainchild of Matt Cross all along.
But why? Has the frustration of being unable to regain the PWO Title driven him this far? It has been over a year and a half since Cross wore PWO gold, and it seemed every time Cross set his sights on earning a match against PWO Champion Johnny Gargano, bad luck would always come his way - From the title tournament to the gauntlet battle royal, to his #1 contender bouts - every time Cross came close, he ended up still so far away. While Gargano had promised Cross a title match months ago, Gargano has become overwhelmed by no less than a dozen contenders relentlessly chasing him for his title, to the point it has taken everything Gargano has just to maintain the schedule forced upon him by PWO. These factors have inevitably delayed the Gargano vs. Cross title clash, however was it frustrating enough for Cross to attempt to sabotage the name and reputation of Johnny Gargano, something Gargano has worked hard for an entire year now to establish and repair? Was it frustrating enough for M-Dogg to attack every other athlete who received a title shot or match against Gargano before he did?
The sharp eye will also notice Cross nonchalantly leave the building as Vic was talking to Gregory Iron in the locker room. Did he make a sharp exit once he realized video evidence of his plot existed?
Word has it Johnny Gargano has been irate since this revelation, and is in a different state of mind than we've seen in quite some time. Both Gargano and Cross are scheduled to be in attendance this Sunday night at 10 on PWO TV. What will happen when these two men meet for the first time since this footage has surfaced?
-- FOLLOW PRIME WRESTLING ONLINE --
Official Website: PRIMEwrestling.com
Official WebStore: PRIMEwrestling.com/store.php
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