Who is Claudio Castagnoli? John Cena mentions AEW star in fiery promo on SmackDown
John Cena stunned fans on SmackDown with his pipe bomb-style promo, name-dropping former WWE star Claudio Castagnoli. Now signed to AEW, Claudio is thriving in the Blackpool Combat Club. His surprise mention has sparked speculation, but for now, the ¡®Swiss Superman¡¯ remains a key figure outside the WWE ring.
John Cena turned heads on SmackDown this week with his fiery promo that had the internet talking. While he was speaking, Cena randomly name-dropped a few familiar stars, and one of them was Claudio Castagnoli. That one mention had fans asking, where is he now, and who exactly is Claudio Castagnogli?
WWE fans may remember him by another name, Cesaro. The former United States Champion was known for his insane strength, uppercuts, and powerful in-ring skills. But since leaving WWE in 2022, Claudio has taken a different path to his wrestling career.
Where is Claudio Castagnoli/Cesaro now?
After leaving WWE, Claudio Castagnogli or Cesaro joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in June 2022. He made his debut at the Forbidden Door event and quickly became a big part of AEW's roster. He joined the Blackpool Combat Club (now named Death Riders), a group that includes top names like Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir.
Protect the asset. Weaken the enemy. pic.twitter.com/A8IyvcMlxQ
¡ª Swiss (@ClaudioCSRO) May 10, 2025
He also won the ROH World Championship and defended it in many tough matches. Besides AEW, Claudio has appeared in the former¡¯s partner company, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), showing that he¡¯s not tied to one company and is open to wrestling anywhere. At 44, Claudio still looks in top shape and is putting on great matches. He hasn¡¯t gone quiet since WWE, but just found a new stage to shine on.
Know about the former WWE and current AEW star Claudio Castagnogli
Born in Switzerland in 1980, Claudio Castagnoli started his career in Europe around 2000. He first gained fame alongside Chris Hero as part of the "Kings of Wrestling," stacking up tag titles across Ring of Honor, Chikara, and other independent promotions. His dominance continued with dozens of championships and standout matches.
Claudio Castagnogli¡¯s WWE Run as ¡®Cesaro¡¯
Castagnoli joined WWE in 2012 under the name Cesaro. His strength and technical skill quickly made him a crowd favorite. He became the first Swiss-born star to hold a title in the WWE, winning the US Championship, Raw and SmackDown tag belts multiple times, and even the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
The reaction when I have a sip of Claudio¡¯s Cafehttps://t.co/kWgmY60ql4 pic.twitter.com/YcBA7vtYoU
¡ª Swiss (@ClaudioCSRO) June 8, 2025
John Cena¡¯s surprise shout-out sparks interest
During SmackDown, Cena delivered a promo many are calling his ¡°pipe bomb¡± moment. In the middle of it, he casually said: ¡°Hey Claudio Castagnoli! Hey Nic Nemeth! Hey Matt Cardona! How you guys doin¡¯?¡±
That short line made fans sit up. It¡¯s rare for WWE stars to mention AEW wrestlers on air. And the fact that Cena remembered Claudio Castagnogli by his real name made things more exciting.
John Cena¡¯s full pipebomb segment.
¡ª Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) June 21, 2025
pic.twitter.com/qXkiiAlc76
John Cena and Claudio Castagnogli had several great matches in WWE, especially during Cena¡¯s open challenge days. Their chemistry in the ring made those matches stand out. So, this reference may have been a personal nod or maybe something more.
Could Cesaro/Claudio Castagnogli return to WWE?
Right now, there¡¯s no official talk about Claudio returning to WWE. He¡¯s doing well in AEW and NJPW. But John Cena¡¯s name-drop has opened the door for speculation. Some fans now believe we might see Cesaro again in a WWE ring someday.