Paul Heyman Recalls John Cena Saying He Could Main Event WrestleMania With Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro)
John Cena felt he could main event WrestleMania with the former Cesaro.
Guest appearing on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet was Paul Heyman. As he was speaking about past talent he’s worked with on-screen, he began speaking about Claudio Castagnoli, f.k.a. Cesaro.
Heyman recalled a time when John Cena returned backstage and told former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon that he could main event a WrestleMania with Castagnoli.
“You look at Cesaro, and he checked — especially at that moment in time, he checked every box to become a top star. Everyone who got into the ring with him came back into Gorilla saying, ‘Give me him.’ Everyone. I remember John Cena worked with him on television and came back and looked at Vince (McMahon) and said, ‘I could main event WrestleMania with him,’ and probably could have and should have.”
Castagnoli has been signed to All Elite Wrestling since 2022. Cena mentioned Castagnoli’s name on WWE television while he was feuding with CM Punk in the summer of 2025.
