Add as a preferred source on Google Matt Cardona is in one of the most meaningful chapters of his WWE career. After years of trying to prove his value outside the company, he returned not as Zack Ryder, but under the name he built on the independents.
In a recent interview with The Takedown on SI, Cardona said he is proud that WWE chose to keep his current identity, which he established after leaving the company in 2020.
“They wanted Matt Cardona. I’m proud of that. That they thought the Matt Cardona I built on the independents was more valuable than Zack Ryder. And I’m grateful for Zack Ryder, because without him and my previous time in WWE, there’s no Matt Cardona.
Everything I learned, and not just putting matches together, but how to do interviews like this, how to market myself, how to sell merchandise, I learned it in WWE.”
Matt Cardona says WWE thought the Matt Cardona name was "more valuable" than Zack Ryder:
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) July 3, 2026
"They wanted Matt Cardona. I'm proud of that. That they thought the Matt Cardona I built on the independents was more valuable than Zack Ryder. And I'm grateful for Zack Ryder, because… pic.twitter.com/wKObU1EJLU
Cardona officially returned on the Jan. 2 episode of SmackDown as Kit Wilson’s surprise opponent. Before that, he had reappeared as Zack Ryder in the The Last Time is Now tournament, reinforcing the transition between his old character and this new chapter.
Outside WWE, Cardona became one of the most important names on the independent circuit, especially through his run in GCW. He also captured the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship by defeating Trevor Murdoch, though he later had to vacate the title due to a biceps injury.
Cardona is currently part of the SmackDown roster. In recent weeks, he has also started appearing alongside Danhausen. On the June 26 show, the two defeated Los Garza.