WWE champions to appear at independent wrestling show

Absolute Intense Wrestling Against the World took place on August 1, 2024 and former AIW Absolute Champion Johnny Gargano made his return to the company.
Not only was the current WWE Tag Team Champion in attendance, but he brought his tag team partner, Tommaso Ciampa, with him, as can be seen in the fan footage shared below this news story.

Earlier in the evening, Gargano had given a bit of a tease suggesting that he was looking for something to do, tweeting:

Anything cool happening in Cleveland, OH tonight?

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) August 1, 2024

After appearing on the show, Gargano reacted to his return to AIW on Twitter, posting:

Surprise!

I wouldn't be where I am today without the places I've been and the people who have supported me from the ground up.

I had to start Summerslam weekend in Cleveland off by going back where it all started..

Thanks for having us, @aiwrestling
pic.twitter.com/YTG1rz30oJ

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) August 2, 2024

He debuted for AIW in February 2006 and would go on to be a two-time Intense Championship, alongside holding the Absolute Championship.
With WWE SmackDown coming from Cleveland on August 2, #DIY faces The Bloodline in a Tag Team Championship match.