On SmackDown last Friday, John Cena transitioned from fan favorite to all-out antagonist. He promo'd hard, almost reminiscent of the famous „pipebomb“ by CM Punk, while he was dropping the names Claudio Castagnoli, Nic Nemeth, and Matt Cardona, as well as CM Punk. This was huge—not only is Cena quoting history, but he’s also calling out a talent who is under contract with AEW. Cena calling out Claudio by his real name was really exciting for the fans—was it a sign of respect, a tease, or whatever? One thing is for sure, the fans are watching and staying tuned for whatever comes next.
Who is Claudio Castagnoli?
If the name sounds familiar, it's because Claudio Castagnoli is the same powerhouse formerly known as Cesaro in WWE. The 44‑year‑old Swiss wrestler stirred the pot over in AEW when he joined in June 2022, winning the ROH World Championship in the Forbidden Door match when he became a member of the Death Riders (formerly Blackpool Combat Club). Regardless of where he has wrestled (WWE, AEW, NJPW, ROH) he has proven he is a master technician with unmatched strength.
From WWE Icon to AEW Star
Claudio’s history with WWE is one of great success, as he was a United States Champion, won multiple tag titles with partners including Sheamus and Tyson Kidd, and won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in 2014. While Cesaro was likely never going to win WWE’s top world title, he is still loved by fans for his in-ring talent and natural strength. Since leaving WWE in 2022, he has has become a star in AEW's Death Riders faction and the larger international wrestling community.
Cena’s Shout-Out: Respect or Tease?
Using an AEW name on WWE programming is basically forbidden, but Cena did it. Some fans believe it's a sign of respect, paying homage to a top-level performer like Claudio. Others think it could indicate a possible WWE return, and while that's just speculation for now, Cena's promo certainly utilized some of the CM Punk original pipebomb energy, which had fans awake and hanging on every name mentioned from the original moment.
What’s Next? The Wrestling World Reacts
Since the promo aired, social media has been on fire. Matt Cardona and Nic Nemeth both made a comment cryptically on X, but Claudio himself has not said anything- at least publicly. AEW and NJPW fans are waiting to see if WWE is going to say or do anything about it to bring him back, all while Cena prepares for Night of Champions on June 28. One thing's for sure: that one name drop has brought up conversations about cross promotion and wrestler mobility in professional wrestling.
Careers at a Glance
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Claudio Castagnoli |
| Height/Weight | 6′5″, 232 lb |
| Wrestling Debut | December 2000 (Europe) |
| WWE Tenure | 2011–2022 (as Antonio Cesaro/Cesaro) |
| WWE Titles | U.S. Title, tag team championships, André Battle Royal |
| Current Booking | AEW, Death Riders member, ROH World Champion |
| Notable Moves | Gotch Neutralizer, European Uppercut |
| Recent Highlight | Name-dropped by John Cena during SmackDown promo |
Source(Image / Thumbnail): indiatimes
