How John Cena’s Pipe Bomb Really Went Down With Ex-WWE Star

John Cena recently delivered a pipe bomb of his own on WWE television, but how did one former star of the company really feel about being name-dropped?

Before his WWE Championship match with CM Punk at Night of Champions, John Cena turned the clock back and got a measure of revenge against his rival. Back in 2011, as Cena lay in the ring uncomfortably as he possibly could, Punk dropped a pipe bomb in WWE as he laid bare his unhappiness in the company.

This time, it was Cena’s turn to tell his truth to Punk and just as Punk had given a shout-out to his one-time friend Colt Cabana, Cena chose to say hello to Nic Nemeth, Matt Cardona, and Claudio Castagnoli. And it’s safe to say, at least one of those stars was thrilled.

Matt Cardona Milked John Cena Mention For All Its Worth

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Matt Cardona revealed there was only one thing on his mind when he heard about Cena name-dropping him on WWE television:

Matt Cardona’s gonna milk this for all its worth. I have a t-shirt right now, ‘Hey Matt Cardona’, right away…that weekend at GCW the turnbuckle I said ‘Hey, John Cena.” Got that clip going viral on the internet. I’m all about milking any moment I can till there’s no milk left. I had no idea that was coming, no idea why he did it, I certainly appreciate it. John I consider a friend, so maybe he was throwing me a bone.

There was a theory that did the rounds online that John Cena was careful in his choice of names he mentioned in front of CM Punk. Many noted that Claudio Castagnoli shares his initials with Colt Cabana, while Matt Cardona and Nic Nemeth share first names with Matt and Nick Jackson – The Young Bucks – who Punk infamously had a backstage fight with in AEW. But no matter the reason, Cardona does not care:

I don’t care, he said my name. And I milked it. I don’t care what the reason is.