Well, folks, if you had “Fandango challenges for the Heritage Cup” on your 2025 wrestling bingo card, congratulations—you might actually be a time traveler.
That’s right, the artist formerly known as Fandango—now going by JDC (Johnny ‘Dango’ Curtis)—has dipped, twirled, and sashayed back into WWE NXT to throw down a challenge for the Heritage Cup.
Lexis King: New Cup, New Rules, Same Ego
The night was going smoothly for Lexis King, who had just flexed over his British Rounds Rules victory against Charlie Dempsey. In true wrestling villain fashion, he then decided that rules are for nerds and announced he’d be ditching the British Rounds format altogether, instead turning the Heritage Cup into a one-fall championship—because apparently, heritage means whatever Lexis King wants it to mean now.
But just when King thought he was the only one rewriting history, in waltzed JDC—dressed like a man ready to dropkick someone straight into a 2013 meme compilation.
JDC: From Fandango-ing to Title-Hunting
JDC interrupted King’s promo, instantly reminding fans that this wasn’t his first NXT rodeo. After all, back in 2020, he and Tyler Breeze held the NXT Tag Team Championships, adding some much-needed flair to the tag division. But let’s not forget, JDC’s WWE legacy goes all the way back to his shocking WrestleMania 29 victory over Chris Jericho—a win that should have skyrocketed him to an Intercontinental Title run, if not for a badly timed concussion and WWE’s infamous “backstage heat” nonsense.
After his WWE exit in 2021, he danced his way across the independent scene under the name Dirty Dango, making stops in NWA, GCW, and eventually, TNA—where he’s been aligned with The System since June 2023. Now? He’s back where it all started, looking to add “Heritage Cup Holder” to his resume.
What’s Next?
- JDC vs. Lexis King is set for next week’s NXT, marking his official in-ring return to the brand.
- Will King’s no-rules approach backfire? JDC has plenty of experience bending the rulebook himself.
- Is this just a one-time deal, or could JDC be sticking around NXT for more than a quick nostalgia pop?
One thing’s for sure—whether you call him Johnny Curtis, Fandango, Dirty Dango, or JDC—he’s here to steal the show… and maybe the Heritage Cup, too.