WWN sent out the following:

Johnny Gargano has made the decision to leave the independents. Gargano started with the WWN Family in the Bonus Match on the first Dragon Gate USA event. He rose to become called The WWN Icon.

WWN VP Of Talent Relations Gabe Sapolsky has made this statement about Gargano’s impending departure:

“I knew the look in Johnny Gargano’s eyes when he returned to the locker room after his battle against Drew Galloway at EVOLVE 65 last Sunday. He realized it was time to go. We have grown to depend on Gargano over the years. He is our ace. However, EVOLVE is not meant to be a destination point in a wrestler’s career. It is meant to be a place for pro wrestling and pro wrestling to evolve. In order for that to happen, change is necessary. The last several months have seen Johnny become more prominent in NXT, gain success in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic and become engaged in an intense war in EVOLVE. It was too much and something had to give. In order for Johnny to grow in this industry, he had to leave WWN. In order for new stars to rise in EVOLVE, Johnny had to move aside from the road he paved. It all leads to what will be the most emotional weekend in EVOLVE history. We say farewell to our icon at EVOLVE 68 in Deer Park, NY on September 10th and EVOLVE 69 in Queens, NY on September 11th. Thank you, Johnny.”

Tickets for both EVOLVE 68 and EVOLVE 69 are now on sale in the DGUSA.tv Store. It will be Gargano vs. Cody Rhodes at EVOLVE 69. His opponent for EVOLVE 68 will be determined in the upcoming weeks. Join us for the biggest going away party in WWN history.

This announcement has sent shockwaves through the EVOLVE locker room. The structure of the EVOLVE roster is now in disarray. The icon is gone. Who will fill his shoes? Who will rise to face Drew Galloway and his cohorts? Who will be the new ace? We hope to get answers when EVOLVE returns on August 19th in Joppa, MD and August 20th in Brooklyn, NY.