Matt Cardona had an epic tenure at WWE where he performed as Zack Ryder from 2006 to 2020, when he was released from his contract on April 15. Following his departure from the promotion, went on to make appearances on several major promotions and the independent circuit, bagging an array of titles along the way.
Thanks to his incredible run at the independent circuit, Cardona has established himself as one of the most influential personalities in the industry, and is now contemplating a comeback to a major wrestling promotion.
“I know if I was back, I’d make a f*cking difference,” declared Matt Cardona
In a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel on September 28, 2024, Cardona got candid about a possible return to a major promotion, all the while reminiscing about his phenomenal days at WWE. Cardona begins, “It’s been a wild year, celebrating 20 years in the business, 20 years since my first match, four years since I was fired from WWE. Now, I’m just coming back from injury. The doctors said six to eight months, I did it in four. Time is not on my side. I’m not getting any younger, but I feel like right now, I haven’t even hit the prime of my career. I feel like my best years are ahead of me.”
The Evolution of Matt Cardona (PART 1)
“I’ve done it all on the indies. Winning titles, cover of magazines, all over the world, and it’s been fun, and I needed it, I needed to find myself, both as a performer and as a man. I did, I did it all. The time is now to go back. Where do I go? Do I go back to WWE? Do I go to AEW?” contemplates Cardona.
He goes on to reflect on his future in the industry and what lies ahead of him in his career. Cardona finally declares that if he does make a comeback, it has to be a meaningful one. He said, “I didn’t dream as a little kid to just be a pro wrestler. I dreamed of being a top guy, the top guy. You have to have that goal to be successful in this business. I’m very fortunate in my career, 20 years, highs and lows.”
Cardona continues, “But I never got the big one. I never won the WWE World Title. That has to be the goal. Because if that’s not the goal, what are we doing? What am I doing here? What am I working towards? I might never achieve that goal, but I’m gonna die trying. I love the indies, I love everything about it…It’s not just like, ‘I want to be back there.’ Everyone wants to be back there. But I know if I was back, I’d make a f*cking difference.”
This year, Cardona returned to TNA Wrestling on the March 28 episode of Impact, in 8-4-1 Match alongside Steph De Lander. His most recent appearance at the promotion was on August 1 when he attacked PCO at Impact, and interrupted his wedding with De Lander.
Also Read: Seth Rollins teases a possible comeback from recent hiatus
