Tag: matt cardona

Who should face Drew McIntyre at WWE Clash in Italy? | Opinion 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

On the road to next weekend’s WWE Clash in Italy PLE, Drew McIntyre is advertised for both tonight’s and next week’s WWE SmackDown.

It will be his first televised appearance since his unsanctioned WrestleMania 42 match loss to Jacob Fatu after which have been tumultuous changes in storyline dynamics and rising talents in his absence. 

So what’s next for the former champion? Here’s a few ideas for his direction ahead of next weekend’s big event in Turin.

Ilja Dragunov

Dragunov’s pursuit of the United States title seems to be on hold after Trick Williams’ win at WrestleMania, and Sami Zayn still holding on to hope for another rematch. 

While that develops, Dragunov could pick a feud with McIntyre. Going up against an established name like McIntyre could offer him a fresh rivalry outside of the championship scene. McIntyre’s frustration following the loss to Fatu could create a natural conflict for Dragunov’s relentlessness. 

Even if the rivalry does not have long-term storytelling, one match is enough to appeal to fans. Both men are known for their intense matches making their rivalry a perfect fit for a PLE like Clash in Italy.

Trick Williams

With Williams becoming a breakout star on the main roster in McIntyre’s absence, a rivalry between the two is going to come at some point.

Within six months of his SmackDown debut, Williams not only became a fan favorite, but he competed in his first WrestleMania match and won the United States title as referenced above. That in itself could irk McIntyre to call him out, being unsupportive of his rise to stardom in his time away.

It would create the classic veteran vs. rising star dynamic, enabling Williams to gain further credibility by facing and possibly defending the title against McIntyre. 

Additionally, McIntyre’s persona, along with Williams’ charisma and confidence amid conflicting fan support, could create some fun tension for a rivalry. 

Ricky Saints 

Saints competed in his SmackDown debut against undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Despite their history dating back to their AEW tenure, Saints’ in-ring capability captured the WWE audience’s attention. 

Saints already has the self-assured, verbally sharp and main character energy persona. Meanwhile, McIntyre is brutal, hardened and emotionally driven. He could call out Saints for embodying what WWE values like his charisma. This would provoke a retaliation from Saints, concluding in a verbal confrontation that could lead to a match next weekend.

Matt Cardona 

A similarity between Cardona and McIntyre is that both men reinvented themselves following their WWE exits in early years of their careers.

McIntyre rebuilt himself and become World Champion worthy while Cardona transitioned from a comedy centric undercard talent to self-made independent wrestler. This would lay the foundation for a philosophical clash.

Ever since his return, Cardona has not been featured in a dominant rivalry. He attempted to influence Randy Orton’s decisions during his Rhodes feud for WrestleMania but that did not end well. 

He has lacked a defining feud and storyline upon his return, and a match with McIntyre could reverse the situation, providing Cardona with the platform to showcase that his accomplishments outside of WWE were validated and relevant.

Nic Nemeth reveals WWE contacted him for return multiple times before John Cena tournament 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Nic Nemeth opened up about WWE reaching out to him for a return on numerous occasions before his participation in The Last Time Is Now Tournament. 

Nemeth told That Sweet Pop about his tenure on the independent circuit extending longer than he intended too. He discussed Matt Cardona’s quest focusing on a WWE return which eventually happened six years after his release. 

“Yeah, because there’s people out there like one of my best friends, Matt Cardona, he goes, ‘My goal is to be the best independent wrestler and get to WWE at some point.’ He said that for years and he accomplished that goal. My goal was I’ve been here for 19 and a half years. I overstayed my welcome by a few years, but that’s fine. I’m going elsewhere. I want to see if I was in this bubble with just this certain amount of talent or I’ve talked a lot over the years. Can I back it up in other places where I don’t know the opponents?” 

Nemeth stated he had no ill will towards WWE. He reflected positively on his time there and expressed gratitude for his learnings during his 19 year tenure. 

“And so they (WWE) let me out. I didn’t go ‘Oh, can I come back in two years?’ I go ‘Thank you for everything. This is the greatest job I’ve ever had. Not even close. So many moments. Thank you for this. Now I have to go somewhere else because I have to prove to myself that I don’t just fit in WWE that can adapt everywhere.’”

He revealed WWE reached out to him on several occasions for a comeback but the special request for The Last Time Is Now Tournament was unmissable. 

“They had asked me to come back a couple different times for some other things, and I was like ‘I don’t know. It’s been two years. I don’t really want to,’ and then they said, ‘This is for Cena.’ They said, ‘We’ve had a million matches together. Incredible guy. We’ve done so much. We have a story. We have a history, and I know all the good that he’s done.You could roll down a Santa Claus list of names of everything he’s done, what he’s done for us in the back, what he’s done to help out the guys and girls, what he’s done granting those wishes, everything else on the like, come on. He’s the greatest of all time. We get to call him that. And he’s earned so many things that you’ll probably never even hear about. So now come back for this tournament, ‘Yeah, hell yeah.’” 

On the November 17 edition of Raw in 2025, Nemeth returned to WWE for one match against Solo Sikoa – the first round of the tournament. The spectacle also led to Cardona’s full-time return to the main roster after feuding on TNA and NXT’s crossover matches. 

The tournament was designed to determine John Cena’s final WWE opponent in his retirement match. It featured a mix of former and current WWE wrestlers from the roster, including future prospects to compete on the main stage. 

https://twitter.com/BernardCls/status/1990802050519871664/video/1

Matt Cardona reveals how he can make toy deals with WWE legends

Posted on by Jake Skudder

Matt Cardona made his official return to WWE on the January 2, 2026 episode of SmackDown. But the Indy God hasn’t left behind a lot of the business deals that he put together whilst working independent scene, especially when it comes to his massive toy collection business MAJOR.

Speaking on the latest Have More Money Now w/ John Layfield podcast, Cardona revealed how he is able to put these deals together with legends, even those who used to be in WWE:

“So, so pretty much we can touch anybody who does not have like a WWE nostalgia deal, right, and believe it or not, there’s a lot of guys out there who don’t, for one reason or another” Cardona revealed.

“So, you know, we’d approach them, or unfortunately they were deceased, so we’d approach the family and we just lay out the deal. [It’s all] very simple. It’s pretty much a handshake deal, but in writing, right? We want you [wrestlers and families] to make as much money elsewhere as possible. So there’s non-exclusivity, so if there’s another toy company out there, because now there’s a bunch of these independent toy companies, go sign with all of them!”

Matt Cardona toy company makes millions

Cardona also noted that some of the biggest names in wrestling history aren’t under a WWE deal, so he is able to have his company make them in collectible form: “guys like Flair or Macho Man or Andre The Giant, or independent stars, or guys from ECW like Sabu, pretty much anyone like I said, who doesn’t have a legends deal we can make.”

Cardona would also reveal how he is making millions of dollars from these toy deals: “We’re making millions of dollars a year from these toys, which is just wild. Something that started as a passion project, if I wanted it to be, it could be my only job.”

If you use any of the quotes from this article then please link back to this page with a credit to F4WOnline for the transcription

Cody Rhodes supports Matt Cardona’s pursuit of WWE World title dream

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Cody Rhodes is rooting for Matt Cardona to accomplish a longstanding goal of winning a WWE or World Championship someday.

Rhodes was quick to point out Cardona’s ambition of winning the WWE Championship during their interaction in the latest episode of his ‘What do you wanna talk about? Podcast’. He voiced his support for Cardona to eventually capture the WWE or World Title and said he would hold him to that dream becoming reality.

“There’s something you brought up and I didn’t want to be mushy, if that’s the word, I didn’t want to be emotional but you brought up something. You said you came back to be WWE Champion and like I think it’s okay we got the cameras here to tell you, I hope that happens but also as your friend I’d like to hold you to it cause you were very much of a ‘hold me to it’, and you were a very celebratory person in terms of, I would do something and I knew it was ‘this is big’. I’d go ‘I just beat Brock Lesnar in Puerto Rico’ like ‘this is big.’ And I remember you telling me, you’re always just there for it. So, I’d hope to hold you to it and I hope that happens – a World Championship,  WWE Championship or World Championship or within WWE, I think the flagship of these shows.”

Later in the interview, Rhodes asked Cardona stars he would consider essential for a dream team. 

“If we do let’s say five people, I’ll pick Chelsea Green, need that No. 1. You know, I’ll throw you in there, Cody, you know you can politick for me. Hey, we have the TNA partnership now I’ll say Brian Myers, somebody whose known me since day one. From NYWC to winning tag team titles to podcasts – Major Wrestling Figure Podcast, collectmajor.com, lower third. Let me get, since we also have the TNA partnership, Nic Nemeth, the wanted man. And I can’t believe I’m saying this but ‘Awesome’ The Miz. The Miz can do it all. He’s always there when I need to pick his brain about something.”

“If I had to throw in a little bonus – Kit Wilson I would say in like 2011, 2012, the core would’ve been me, Miz, (John) Morrison, (Dolph) Ziggler and Kit.”

Cardona returned to WWE last year on the NXT brand, five years after being released by the company. He lost to Josh Briggs amidst NXT and TNA’s invasion storyline. In November, he was a competitor in John Cena’s Last Time Is Now Tournament on SmackDown. 

Last week on SmackDown, he confronted Randy Orton backstage. His attempt to reason with Randy Orton for his actions against Rhodes at the contract signing the week prior ended disastrously for Cardona. Orton called him out to the ring under the pretense of an apology only to attack him instead. 

Matt Cardona details how Nick Khan paved way for WWE return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A conversation with Nick Khan is what got the ball rolling on Matt Cardona’s WWE return.

The former Zack Ryder officially returned to WWE at the start of 2026 and is now a member of the SmackDown roster. Before re-signing with the company, he competed in the Last Time is Now Tournament in 2025 and crossed over into NXT as part of the TNA invasion storyline.

On a new episode of Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast, Cardona noted that he was not under contract with TNA when he worked that NXT match in October 2025. His wife Chelsea Green was in Saudi Arabia doing media shortly after and asked WWE President Nick Khan if he saw the match. That conversation resulted in Khan telling Green to have Cardona reach out to him.

“So I’m working for TNA but not technically like under contract. And TNA does the invasion of NXT, and they asked to have me. And I know I’m not under contract, but I’m like, I’m going to sneak in. Sure, I’ll do it,” Cardona said.

“I do that, leads to a match. And Chelsea was doing, I guess, media for [Royal] Rumble in Saudi. And Nick Khan was there. She said to Nick something like, ‘Did you see my husband wrestle on NXT?’ Nick said something like, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet your husband, talk to your husband, give him my number.’ She gave me Nick Khan’s number, you know I’m texting immediately. And then Nick called me right there, said, ‘What do you want?’ I said, ‘I want to come back.’ And the ball kind of got rolling from there.”

Cardona said there were some ups and downs in the process after that, but the conversation with Khan is what paved the way for his return.

After being released by WWE in 2020, Cardona rebuilt himself during an indie run where he starred for promotions like Game Changer Wrestling. Now that he’s back in WWE, Cardona still hopes to accomplish his childhood dream of winning the WWE World Championship.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be the WWE champ. That’s the title. I think you and I are alike,” he told Rhodes. “We didn’t just want to be wrestlers, we didn’t just want to be WWE Superstars — we wanted to be the WWE Champion. So, why not swing for it? That’s the goal ever since I was a little kid.”

Vince Russo reveals status of JCW World title after Matt Cardona’s departure

Posted on by Ian Carey

Vince Russo announced plans for the Juggalo Championship Wrestling World title during this week’s episode of Lunacy.

Matt Cardona had previously held the championship, but with Cardona having re-signed with WWE, Russo revealed that James Storm and Ken Anderson will meet to crown a new champion on next week’s episode. Russo made the announcement during his opening promo alongside Big Vito on Thursday’s show.

Russo said:

“Now I know what you’re saying, ‘Vince, I hope you put that title on yourself.’ Because let’s face it guys, I would make a way better champion than CM Punk. And not only that, I wouldn’t have to wrestle in a t-shirt because I’m 50 years old.”

“Old Triple H purged our JCW Champion. But I’ll tell you what, because the kind of guy that I am, I want to personally thank Matt Cardona. Give it up for Matt Cardona, he was a great JCW Champion.”

“I’ve made an executive decision. Next week right here on this show, there will be a match to determine the new JCW Lunacy Champion and that match will be between ‘Cowboy’ James Storm and Mr. Anderson.”

After announcing the title match, Russo also fired Vampiro and Mad Man Pondo. Vampiro had been serving in an on-screen authority role with the promotion.

“Last week when Mad Man Pondo tried to take the life of Mosh Pit Mike, I ordered Vampiro to fire him. And guess what? My good buddy Vampiro told me to shove it up my a–. So I made another executive decision. I said Vamp, you and your boy Pondo, are both fired and no longer a part of JCW. I make decisions, baby! So guess what? I will be the showrunner until further notice.”

Matches featured on this week’s Lunacy included Big Vito vs. Kongo Kong, a JCW Women’s World Title gauntlet match, and an open challenge issued by Mr. Anderson. Also, Jonathan Coachman debuts a new segment.

The full episode of this week’s JCW Lunacy is available below:

GCW promoter thanks Matt Cardona for helping company

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Cardona is back in WWE now, but he’ll always be one of the most important figures in Game Changer Wrestling history.

GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale tweeted out a thread yesterday thanking Cardona for the impact he had on the indie company. Looking back on Cardona vs. Nick Gage from 2021, Lauderdale called it a masterpiece that cemented GCW as the “most influential indie of all time.”

Lauderdale also praised Cardona for how willing he was to help other talent. He never hesitated to put anyone over and even bought gear and boots for other wrestlers. Lauderdale wrote:

  • Let me tell you a little bit about Matt Cardona in GCW… From day 1 he was a team player. He believed in GCW and believed in our locker room and he wanted to be here. He waved the flag and told everyone that GCW was the place to be. (still does)
  • He was selfless & generous. He bought gear & boots for younger members of the roster, without seeking credit or clout. He worked w everyone and put them all over without hesitation. The memories he created will live forever and ill always be grateful & ill always be a Matt Cardona fan.
  • Thank you Matt

After being released from WWE in 2020, the former Zack Ryder had a five-year run on the indies that included one GCW World Championship reign. He returned to WWE in the Last Time is Now Tournament in November 2025 and is now back as a full-time member of the SmackDown roster. He has a match against Trick Williams on SmackDown this Friday where the winner qualifies for an upcoming fatal four-way number one contender’s bout, which will determine Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship challenger for Royal Rumble.

Cardona had to cancel months of indie dates upon his WWE return but has said there’s been no negativity from the promoters he was scheduled to work for.

Fight Game: Bron, Oba, Trick & Je’Von

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Paul Fontaine joins Garrett Gonzales to discuss the latest happenings in pro wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked it off with Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down and then both brought up two topics each that we wanted to discuss.

Our main topics:

  • What Bron Breakker, Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans could do at WrestleMania
  • Comparing how AEW and WWE brought up Jake Doyle and Matt Cardona
  • New Year’s Dash and a hopeful 2026 for NJPW
  • New Year resolutions

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Matt Cardona responds to criticism over canceled indie bookings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Upon his return to WWE, Matt Cardona had no other choice but to cancel all of the remaining indie dates he had lined up.

Cardona is now a full-time member of the WWE SmackDown roster after returning last Friday. He spoke to Notsam Wrestling about his return and reflected on his five-year indie run, calling it the best time of his career so far. The former Zack Ryder has received some criticism from fans on social media for having to cancel his scheduled indie bookings and vacate the titles he held. He understands that criticism, but there’s no way Cardona could have worked a WWE schedule while fulfilling months of indie shows.

“There’s been a couple of haters online, I totally understand that,” Cardona said. “I was booked until the summer. If I took every indie date that I agreed to, I wouldn’t be able to be in WWE. It’s as simple as that. It’s not like I had one or two. Like, I’m literally booked every weekend until the summer.”

Cardona added that there has not been any negativity from the indie promoters he was supposed to appear for.

“Any promoter who gave me a deposit — they’ve already been taken care of,” he said. “Everybody understood.”

Juggalo Championship Wrestling is one of the promotions that Cardona was champion of. Vince Russo, who is part of the JCW creative team, tweeted that he was “100 percent thrilled” about Cardona getting the chance to go back to WWE.

Orange Crush announced today that Cardona will not be able to appear at their upcoming Superpower Slam event, calling the circumstances “unforeseen but very exciting.”

Cardona’s appearance in WWE’s Last Time is Now Tournament is what got the ball rolling on his return. He officially arrived on SmackDown with a victory over Kit Wilson last week.

Matt Cardona details timeline for WWE return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Before returning on SmackDown last Friday, Matt Cardona’s WWE comeback had been in the works since the end of November.

Cardona made his full-time return to WWE by defeating Kit Wilson on SmackDown last Friday. In a video for his Major Wrestling Figure Podcast YouTube channel, Cardona detailed the timeline of how things came together. His Last Time is Now Tournament match on November 14 is what got the ball rolling with the two sides agreeing to stay in touch. When Cardona was at the WrestleCade convention during Thanksgiving weekend, WWE contacted him to start the contract process. Everything came together quickly with him signing during the week of Christmas.

“That’s when I got the call [at dinner during WrestleCade], ‘Hey, we’re interested. Let’s start talking.’ I was like, ‘Oh, boy. Here we go.’ It was very stressful — in a good way,” Cardona said. “Like, not bad stress. But still like, ‘Is this going to happen? Is this not going to happen?’ And then finally signed Christmas week. So, it was like very sudden. Then it’s like, ‘Okay, am I Zack [Ryder]? Am I Matt [Cardona]?’ So, I’m having both sets of gear made and designed.”

Cardona wrestled his Last Time is Now Tournament match as Zack Ryder but is using his real name for his full-time return. When he signed his WWE contract, he had his GCW World title belt on his lap because of how important the indie promotion was to him.

The stint Cardona spent on his indies is the best time he’s had in his career so far. Still, Cardona’s dream growing up was to be a “WWE Superstar” — and he would have been a little bummed if he never made it back to WWE after his release in 2020. WWE is the promotion he grew up watching and is where his wife Chelsea Green works. They are now both members of the WWE SmackDown roster.

Cardona noted that he will still be doing the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast, though there could be occasional scheduling conflicts with his WWE schedule.

Chelsea Green on Matt Cardona’s WWE return: ‘Waited for this moment for five years’

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Matt Cardona’s return to WWE SmackDown last week didn’t come out of nowhere. His wife and coworker Chelsea Green says it was the result of five years of hard work. 

In an interview with Branson Quirke and Roger Corral of TMZ Sports, Green was asked if she had been nervous for Cardona’s return. “I think I got all my nerves out of the way when he debuted at the John Cena’s last match tournament,” she replied. “So, it wasn’t as much nervousness as it was then in Albany, but it was a different feeling because we’ve now waited for this moment for five years.”

“And I know how hard I worked to get back here. He worked even harder to get back here,” she added. “He worked twice as long on the indies this time around and he really reinvented himself and that was also kind of like where a little bit of the nerves came into play.” 

Green also talked about how Cardona had changed in his time away from WWE. “How are we going to go from transitioning him out of Zack Ryder and into Matt Cardona and still paying respects to who he was and the fact that some fans will only remember Zack Ryder?” she asked. “They won’t have known his indie run. They won’t have known that he trended worldwide for a death match against Nick Gage. They won’t know that he’s now the indie god or that he’s a completely different person, that he that he never was a heel in WWE and now spent the past five years as a heel. 

“All those things are things we need to now introduce the WWE universe to. So it’s kind of a whole new bunch of nerves, but it’s just more excitement than anything.”

Green also talked about losing the WWE Women’s United States Championship to Giulia on SmackDown. “So, full disclosure, I’m lucky to have hair left after that match,” she said. “I was limping on both legs. It was definitely like a Japanese strong style match. And I’ve been to Japan. That was the hardest Japanese strong style match I’ve ever had. Even after living in Japan and wrestling [Kairi Sane] and [Iyo Sky] and [Mayu Iwatani] and all of the Stardom girls. It was really, really rough. I have to give it to Giulia because she beat my ass.”

Matt Cardona vacates independent title after re-signing with WWE

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Matt Cardona has vacated one of his independent titles after re-signing with WWE.

At an ACW event on Saturday, Cardona appeared via video and said that due to re-signing with WWE, he would no longer be able to defend the ACW World Championship and vacated the title. The promotion will instead crown a new champion on tonight’s show.

Appearing as a surprise on Friday’s SmackDown, Cardona defeated Kit Wilson after hitting the Rough Ryder. It was emphasized that Ryder was the newest member of the SmackDown roster and had re-signed with the company under his real name.

Since being released from WWE in 2020, Cardona reinvented himself as a fixture on the independent scene, making appearances in GCW, AEW, and TNA. He had made several appearances in NXT in the months leading to his return and wrestled LA Knight under his old Zack Ryder name as part of The Last Time is Now tournament.

Cardona still holds three independent wrestling titles, the most significant of which is the JCW Lunacy World Championship. The other two titles are the WSW World Heavyweight Championship and the QPW Middle East Championship.

John Cena on Matt Cardona’s WWE return: ‘Making luck through effort’

Posted on by Ian Carey

John Cena has commented on Matt Cardona’s return to WWE.

Cardona was revealed as an official member of the SmackDown roster on Friday’s show from Buffalo. He had previously appeared on the November 14 episode, wrestling under his old Zack Ryder persona in the Last Time Is Now tournament for a chance to be Cena’s final opponent.

On Saturday, Cena posted to social media that both Cardona and his wife Chelsea Green, who previously returned to WWE after her own release, are examples of “making luck through effort.”

Cena wrote:

“Persistence and preparation tend to help manufacture luck. I couldn’t be more proud of both @TheMattCardona and @ImChelseaGreen. They stand as a tremendous example of making luck through effort. Welcome home Matt. ☕️🍸”

Cardona also released a statement on his WWE return on Saturday, saying there are too many people to thank. Triple H, Brian Myers, Joey Janela, and others have also commented. Cardona’s return comes nearly six years after he was released from WWE in April 2020.

Cena’s social media post is below:

Matt Cardona posts statement on WWE return: ‘There’s way too many people to thank’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Matt Cardona has released a statement on his WWE return.

The former Zack Ryder was revealed to be the newest member of the SmackDown roster on Friday’s show in Buffalo. He defeated Kit Wilson in singles competition.

On Saturday, Cardona posted a statement to social media noting there were too many people to thank.

He wrote:

“April 15, 2020…Zack Ryder was released from @WWE. It had to happen. Being a WWE Superstar was my lifelong dream. I had been signed for 14 years…on TV for 13. I traveled all over the world, had action figures, won championships, and experienced everything else that came with living the dream. I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. While it was a heartbreaking day, I was grateful for my time in WWE. 
I knew I had 3 options. I could feel sorry for myself, become bitter, and fade into obscurity. I could coast off my WWE name and make some money for the rest of my life playing the greatest hits. OR I could reinvent myself, work my ass off, try to outwork every motherfucker out there, and create my own path. I chose option 3.
These past 5 years on the indies have been the greatest time of my career…so far. I have to thank every promotor who booked me, every opponent I wrestled, and every fan who supported me in some way. There’s way too many people to thank. I love you all. There’s no way to wrap up these 5 years in a social media post…it’ll have to wait for the book. 
From the moment I got released, I knew I couldn’t focus on proving people wrong. I wanted to prove myself and my fans right…and I believe I did that. 
I’m often asked for advice. My advice is don’t quit. You might make it if you don’t. You definitely won’t make it if you do. I took my own advice. I never quit.
My goal was to get back to WWE. And as of last night, January 2, 2026, I am back in WWE…MATT CARDONA is in WWE. I am Alwayz Ready and I’M NOT FINISHED! (Buy my new shirt on http://WWEShop.com 😉)”

Following his release from WWE in April 2020, Cardona wrestled for multiple promotions around the world, winning several titles including the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, the GCW World Championship, and the WSW World Heavyweight Championship in Australia. He is also the reigning world champion for Juggalo Championship Wrestling.

Cardona previously returned to WWE on the November 14, 2025 edition of SmackDown as part of the Last Time Is Now tournament. He was defeated by LA Knight on the show.

Cardona’s post is below:

Triple H, Brian Myers, Joey Janela, more react to Matt Cardona’s WWE return

Posted on by Ian Carey

Triple H and others have commented on Matt Cardona’s WWE return on SmackDown.

Cardona returned on Friday’s show in Buffalo, defeating Kit Wilson in an unadvertised singles match. He wrestled under his real name, Matt Cardona, rather than his previous WWE ring name, Zack Ryder. On commentary, Michael Cole noted that Cardona was officially a member of the SmackDown roster.

Following Cardona’s return, Triple H posted to X, “A lesson to learn for everyone going into 2026: Stay Ready. Congrats and welcome back home @TheMattCardona. #SmackDown.”

Cardona posted after the match, “I’m not finished!”

Cardona’s longtime friend and tag partner Brian Myers posted, “Matt’s run from 2020-2025 is the stuff of legend. It’s gonna be talked about & referenced for years. He unlocked the unlimited potential that someone could have outside the WWE bubble. He set an example that should be followed forever. Control what you can control, believe in yourself, & NEVER take no for answer. See you down the road @TheMattCardona! Well, actually we’re recording the @MajorWFPod Monday morning.”

GCW’s Joey Janela posted about Cardona’s WWE return, “This guy really deserves it all, it was always about elevating the independent promotions and coming up with stories to elevate talent on the indies and being selfless. A true professional & great dude!”

Cardona’s wife, two-time WWE United States Champion Chelsea Green, has re-posted several clips of his return, though she continues to be focused on the Stranger Things finale. Green posted the below image before the start of SmackDown on Friday night: