Matt Cardona. Main Eventer.

In a different life, or 2018, Matt Cardona, FKA Zack Ryder hadn’t been in a single match on Raw. Previous to that, in 2011, Zack won the United States championship after finding new life via social media. He would only hold the championship for 29 days. In 2016, Ryder would fulfill a dream by winning a grueling ladder match at WrestleMania, the biggest wrestling event of the year. He would lose the title the very next night to the Miz. In a recent interview with former backstage representative and living legend Arn Anderson, he was quoted saying “He never got a chance”.

Enter Matt Cardona

Ryder would never hold a WWE championship more then once. Then Matt Cardona was released. He would make his independent wrestling debut at AEW beside Cody Rhodes, battle with former partner Brian Myers, and even fought for the Impact! wrestling championship against Moose and W. Morrissey. Matt came to the indies with a new attitude, a new look, and a new freedom. Since the time he was released he was determined to change his diminished wrestling value, and today we have to look at Matt in a different light. The spotlight, deserving of a main event talent.

Yesterdays Price is NOT Todays Price

Since Matt turned his character around he had been on a tour to prove his worth. One of the biggest moments was beating the “Death Match King” Nick (F’n) Gage for the GCW World Championship in July of 2021. A match that changed opinions of fans that only held Matt in a certain light and shocked the world of Death Match. More Recent then that Matt as one of the first wrestlers to capitalize a core fan base and buzz over the internet as his own idea to be the “Internet Champion”, captured the Impact! Digital Media Championship. Not to mention the biggest most recent accomplishment, Matt Cardona is the most recent name added to the legendary list of the National Wrestling Alliance’s World Heavyweight Champions. That’s right, Zack Ryder is NWA Champion! Etched next to names such as Ric Flair, Christian Cage, Sting, and AJ Styles.

Closing Statements

Matt Cardona has changed his appearance, his attitude, his style, and his worth! He did his part, but there are still some that can’t shake the old viewpoint of him in WWE. There is still some who can’t see the new value of Matt Cardona, to those people there is only one statement I could leave you with, a direct quote from the man himself.

“When I say that WWE was my developmental, that’s not a shot, it’s the truth.”

-Matt Cardona 2022