Matt Cardona on John Cena ‘pipe bomb’ name-drop: ‘I certainly appreciate it’

Matt Cardona doesn’t care why John Cena gave him a shout-out.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, the former Zack Ryder said he was working a TNA taping during Cena’s promo on CM Punk last month. Once he heard about it, only one thing was on his mind.

“Matt Cardona’s gonna milk this for all its worth,” he said. “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.”

Jimmy Traina pushed further on why Cena name-dropped Cardona, with both referencing some online theories. But Cardona said at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.

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

Since being released from WWE in 2020, Cardona has made a name for himself on the independents, wrestling for GCW and NWA while also making sporadic appearances in AEW and TNA. In an interview from earlier this year, he said he was surprised he hasn’t made a return to WWE yet.