John Cena's retirement tour is about to end this year. As the most surprising heel of the WWE, Cena has delivered a wave of energy and a splash of controversy.

Along with promos and fun matches, however, Cena's recent pipebomb might have struck a little too close to home for some past WWE Superstars. According to Rob Van Dam, Cena may have been the reason why three former superstars were fired.

Cena Drops Names in Viral 'Pipebomb' Promo

John Cena Retirement Tour Sparks Rumors He Got Former WWE John Cena Retirement Tour Sparks Rumors He Got Former WWE
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One of the highlights of Cena's recent stretch occurred before his Night of Champions encounter with CM Punk. In a promo mimicking Punk's classic 2011 "pipebomb," Cena fired at several former WWE competitors: Matt Cardona, Nic Nemeth, and Claudio Castagnoli.

At first blush, this seemed to be a witty reference to Punk's initial promo, in which he challenged Colt Cabana. But the implications might cut deeper.

RVD Suggests Cena Might Have Had Something to Do with WWE Layoffs

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam poured gasoline on the fire on his podcast, 1 Of A Kind With RVD. While discussing Cena's promo, RVD stated, "Maybe those were guys that Cena got fired from WWE."

There is no public evidence to support this, but it's a strong theory that's already gaining popularity with wrestling fans online.

Whether uttered jokingly or earnestly, RVD's remark has fueled speculation about backstage politics and Cena's authority in WWE throughout his peak years.

Matt Cardona Punches Back with Vintage Put-Down

Of the three wrestlers Cena named, Matt Cardona was the first to retaliate, according to ITR Wrestling.

At a GCW show after Cena's SmackDown promo, Cardona ascended to the turnbuckle, stared into the camera, and playfully greeted Cena with a "Hi." The spot, plainly mocking Cena's callout, went viral on wrestling social media.

Cardona's lighthearted jab reminded everyone that he's still paying close attention to the WWE product and still has a knack for staying in the spotlight.

Heel Cena Is the Highlight Fans Didn't Know They Needed

For more than a decade, fans have been demanding that John Cena break free from his clean-cut, babyface persona. Now that he's embracing full-on heel mode, Cena is flaunting a sharp-lipped, unrepentant attitude that brings a new level of depth to his already legendary career. His retirement tour is looking like one of the hottest WWE storylines in years.

However accurate the rumors of Cena's participation in backstage firings may or may not be, they've served to add depth to an already sensational sendoff.