Matt Cardona made a calculated move before ever putting pen to paper on his new WWE deal. Once he learned that the company was considering bringing him back as Matt Cardona rather than reviving the Zack Ryder name, he went ahead and trademarked his own name to lock down control of his professional identity.
Speaking with NotSam Wrestling over SummerSlam weekend, Cardona broke down his reasoning:
“Yeah, when I heard I might be brought back as Matt Cardona, you know what I did? I trademarked Matt Cardona. Even though it’s my real name, I just wanted to make sure I was fully protected. You’ve always got to be protected.”
Filing records confirm that Cardona submitted the MATT CARDONA trademark application on April 12, 2025. The registration covers merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and bandanas, along with services tied to wrestling, television appearances, and live events.
The timeline adds another layer to the story. Negotiations for his return kicked off in late November, and Cardona has previously said he signed his contract during Christmas week. At that point, he still had no idea whether he would come back as Zack Ryder or Matt Cardona and actually had ring gear ready for both scenarios.
Cardona ultimately made his full-time return on the February 1, 2026 episode of SmackDown, picking up a win over Kit Wilson and being officially introduced under the name he had built during his years outside WWE.
The move also carries some history. In 2023, Cardona attempted to trademark Zack Ryder but pulled the application after WWE contested it. He acknowledged at the time that the character was the company’s intellectual property.
Over the course of nearly six years away from WWE, Cardona had turned his real name into a brand that became central to his career.