John Cena made headlines on WWE SmackDown when he openly referenced Claudio Castagnoli, a current AEW star, during his promo, setting the wrestling community abuzz online. The moment where John Cena mentions Claudio Castagnoli on WWE SmackDown has quickly become a major talking point, sparking intense reactions across social media and among industry observers.
Cena’s Surprising Reference to Rival Wrestling Stars During a Heated SmackDown
This week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown featured a high-stakes main event, where reigning Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena faced Ron “R-Truth” Killings. The match ended in a disqualification after Cena used his championship belt against Truth. Following the contest, Cena got into a physical altercation with CM Punk, ultimately leaving Punk laid out after slamming him through a table in a dramatic escalation.
As tensions ran high, Cena delivered an intense promo targeting CM Punk, reminiscent of Punk’s iconic 2011 “pipebomb” speech. In his fiery address, Cena accused Punk of hypocrisy in the lead-up to their anticipated clash for the title at WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Notably, during his speech, Cena made direct mention of three former WWE wrestlers now active in other organizations: TNA’s Nic Nemeth, AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli, and Matt Cardona, known as “The Indy King.”
Online Reaction to Cena’s Name-Dropping of Claudio Castagnoli
The wrestling fanbase quickly reacted online to Cena’s mention of Castagnoli, known to many as “The Swiss Superman,” who currently performs for rival promotion AEW. Fans used platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) to voice their astonishment and debate Cena’s decision to reference Castagnoli while he remains under contract with AEW, a Jacksonville-based company.
Some social media users suggested Cena could have mentioned The Young Bucks and Jack Perry, key AEW executives with notable history involving CM Punk, but the spotlight remained on the rare cross-promotional nod to Castagnoli. Another layer of intrigue came from fans referencing the private coffee group chat said to involve Cena, Castagnoli, and Seth Rollins, which many viewed as a lighthearted in-joke reflected in the promo.
“Really want Claudio to shout out Cena next Dynamite.”
—fan
“Wonder how many [All Elite Wrestling] fans will come out and say they love cena lol,”
—user
“Cena said hi to his coffee group text buddy Claudio!!”
—fan
Claudio Castagnoli’s AEW Status and Recent Absence
Currently, Claudio Castagnoli is a core member of The Death Riders alongside AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, adding to his prominence within the All Elite Wrestling roster. However, Castagnoli was notably absent from a high-profile match at AEW Grand Slam Mexico. He was originally set to team up with Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and The Young Bucks in a ten-person tag team match, but was unexpectedly pulled from the lineup just before the event.
In his place, The Beast Mortos joined the heel alliance in their matchup against Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, and The Opps. The contest culminated in a victory for The Bucks and The Death Riders, with Jon Moxley pinning Swerve and sealing the win for his team.
The Growing Impact of Crossover Moments in Wrestling
John Cena’s on-air mention of Claudio Castagnoli underscores the shifting dynamics in the world of professional wrestling, where cross-promotional references are still rare and often spark considerable discussion. WWE, AEW, and other organizations are increasingly interconnected, with key figures like CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Matt Cardona maintaining personal and professional ties that sometimes cross company boundaries. These moments fuel speculation, intensify rivalries, and keep fans deeply engaged in every twist on both television and social media.
The effect of this mention remains to be seen, but the anticipation for potential responses—perhaps even on AEW programming—continues to drive conversation, with the wrestling world eagerly watching for the next development in the ongoing saga of its biggest stars.
