Add as a preferred source on Google Matt Cardona has recalled Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes joking about how often he discussed wanting to return to WWE while building his “Indy God” identity.
During a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cardona looked back at comments made on the June 25, 2025 episode of Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast. Rhodes brought up Cardona as a leading figure on the independent scene, prompting Owens to joke that Cardona talked frequently about wanting to be back in WWE. Owens also made clear that he had no personal issue with Cardona.
Cardona said the jokes did not change what he wanted.
“I only brought it up when I was asked, first of all. But of course that was my goal.”
Cardona explained that returning would allow him to work in the same company as his wife, Chelsea Green, pursue another WrestleMania moment, wrestle again at Madison Square Garden, and have WWE action figures in major stores.
He maintained that his five-year run outside the company was not built around trying to get noticed every day, even though returning remained the destination.
WWE released Cardona, then known as Zack Ryder, on April 15, 2020. He returned under his real name on the January 2, 2026 episode of SmackDown, defeated Kit Wilson, and was announced as a full-time member of the roster.