Matt Cardona made headlines over the weekend, winning the GCW World Title from Nick Gage in a deathmatch at GCW Homecoming.
The crowd was not pleased with Cardona's victory, throwing bottles and cans at him as he tried to celebrate with the title. The video went viral and Cardona trended all over social media.
Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Cardona discussed how the crowd treated him at GCW Homecoming.
"I'll be honest, there was some fear," he admitted. "Walking through that curtain, you can watch the replay, I couldn't get through the curtain and there were fans in my face. Luckily, GCW had some security for me because I think someone would have taken me out, or tried to. I finally get (to the ring) and you can feel the genuine hate (from the crowd). Not just, 'this is the bad guy we're supposed to boo,' but hate. During the match, the atmosphere was exciting. People just wanted me to die in there. I was getting tweets about people wanting me to die and for Nick to kill Chelsea. Human beings are really typing this, what is wrong with people? Then, when I win, you saw the video. They are just throwing stuff. Bottles, full bottles. Someone threw a fucking pizza cutter. Jesus, come on. I tried to enjoy it, but I was genuinely concerned. This wasn't like NWO with a couple of bottles and you stand there and smile. I didn't know what was going to be thrown. I was in there for as long as I could and tried to get the money shot with the title. The GCW security was like, 'we gotta go, run out the front.' They brought me out and fans were still chasing us out. It was wild."
While many thought the reaction created a genuine moment and was the good kind of heat, some thought it reflected poorly on wrestling and fans. Cardona noted that everyone applauded when fans threw trash at Hulk Hogan and the NWO in 1996 and didn't understand why this was any different, minus a pizza cutter being thrown.
Cardona went on to say, "It's 2021, we all know the deal. To get that kind of reaction, there have been similar reactions before, but I personally have never seen anything like that. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Do I wish fans would have shown me more respect? Cool. Do I wish someone didn't throw a pizza cutter? Cool, but man, I don't regret any of it because it will live forever."
Matt Cardona beats Nick Gage, becomes GCW World Champion, gets absolutely peppered with beer, soda and water bottles then exits the arena with the belt.
— Colby F. of Fightful & WrestleZone (@ColbsMMA) July 25, 2021
Absolute scenes.#GCWHomecoming pic.twitter.com/0JQTazpL5b
Cardona is now calling himself the face of GCW as he celebrates his victory at Disney Land.
Cardona said he would defend the GCW Title, which he wants to rename the GCW Universal Title, and want to help the company grow.
You can find full results from GCW Homecoming by clicking here.
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