Kazuchika Okada has just referenced a WWE icon during his promo against a popular AEW star tonight via a backstage interview on Dynamite. The icon in question would be John Cena.
The Rainmaker and Claudio Castagnoli met face-to-face before their match for the Continental Championship next week when Dynamite comes to Cardiff, Wales. Renee Paquette mediated the backstage encounter.
Castagnoli had a heartfelt response when asked how much the title meant to him. He felt that it was his to lose, and although it was disappointing for him to be unsuccessful last year, he still bounced back and earned a title shot.
Kazuchika Okada called it a "nice speech" while sarcastically clapping his hands. This was seemingly a nod to what John Cena does to his rivals during promo battles, where he shuts them down by sarcastically praising their promos against him before verbally decimating them.
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Okada mocked Claudio's passionate promo and claimed that it got his heart thumping. See the full clip below.
After Kazuchika Okada responded, Claudio had one last thing to say. He hoped that for their bout next week, he was getting the real Rainmaker and not the comedic joke the EVPs had created.