Matt Cardona has responded to the groundswell of fan support that reached a peak during the WWE Night of Champions post-show on June 28. The former WWE star took to social media to acknowledge the moment, capping off a week where his name was unexpectedly thrust back into the company’s programming.
“Thanks Saudi Arabia… I heard you,” Cardona wrote on X.
The renewed attention began on the June 20 episode of SmackDown, during a heated segment between John Cena and CM Punk. In a promo mirroring Punk’s own 2011 “pipebomb,” Cena attacked his rival’s character before turning to a different camera to directly address several wrestlers outside of WWE.
“Hey, Claudio Castagnoli. Hey, Nick Nemeth. Hey, Matt Cardona. How you guys doing?” Cena said, referencing a 2013 critique by Punk to add a layer of reality to their feud.
This single line from Cena sparked a significant reaction that carried over to Saudi Arabia. During the post-show for Night of Champions, fans in Riyadh began chanting Cardona’s name during an interview segment with WWE executive Triple H. While Triple H and the panel did not acknowledge the chants, the live audience made its voice heard.
Cardona, who was wrestling at a Game Changer Wrestling event when the initial promo aired, was informed of the mention by his wife, WWE superstar Chelsea Green. He quickly capitalized on the moment across social media and with new merchandise, using the unexpected publicity to his advantage.