Johnny Gargano & Kyle O'Reilly Reportedly Set For WWE SmackDown Dark Match
A chance to check out the NXT talent
Nov 5, 2021
Two of NXT 2.0's biggest stars are reportedly set to compete in a dark match ahead of tonight's episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown.
According to John Pollock of POST Wrestling, Johnny Gargano and Kyle O'Reilly will be in attendance for tonight's showing of the blue brand in Evansville, Indiana, with the duo wrestling a dark match ahead of SmackDown going on air.
Dark matches traditionally allow the WWE higher-ups and officials to get a feel for a talent in a main show setting, under the lights and with the presentation of a main roster event.
The timing of the decision to give Gargano and O'Reilly an opportunity on SmackDown - albeit in a dark match - is interesting, given the announcements of 18 releases of wrestlers across Raw, SmackDown and NXT on Thursday.
Reports have indicated that both Gargano and O'Reilly will see their respective NXT contracts expire in December, but there has been no indications regarding talks over new deals for either individual.
