Triple H has changed WWE for the better and brought back many of the wrestlers released (well, fired) by Vince McMahon. Unfortunately, Zack Ryder/Matt Cardona hasn't been among them...not yet, at least.
After being used sparingly by WWE in the late 2000s, Cardona developed a huge fan following while social media was still in its infancy and subsequently became one of WWE's most popular Superstars. While he was rewarded with the Intercontinental and United States titles, WWE never pushed him as a top star.
Since his WWE release in 2020, Cardona has appeared on TV for companies like All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance, not to mention a whole host of independent wrestling companies where he's been dubbed the "Indy God."
Heck, Cardona has found enough success to be named Indie Wrestler of the Year in 2022 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Despite all of that, WWE still hasn't called. "I mean, I'll be honest, when all those people got rehired, I was thinking 'Not me?'" Cardona recently told Chris Van Vliet. "'The guy who has been doing everything? What was the prerequisite to getting re-signed, not doing anything?' Besides like Chelsea and The Good Brothers, and a handful of others, most people didn't do anything. But that's fine. Everyone has a different path, a different story."
"I wouldn't say a chip, like a little crumb," he added when asked if it's given him a chip on his shoulder. "But listen, this isn't about proving people wrong. It's about proving myself right. My fans right. If I can convert some doubters and get some new fans along the way, so be it...But I can't have this goal of being the absolute best with like negativity driving it, if that makes sense."
Cardona would go on to say, "I certainly don't want to end my career in a high school gym, in a bar. I want to end it in an arena, whether that be WWE, AEW, something else starts up that's the goal," he said. "But, I'm also making more money, and the most important part — I'm the happiest I've ever been. Most creatively fulfilled I've ever been. But, I'd be lying if I said oh if my phone rang and is a 203 — which is Stamford Connecticut, of course, I would pick it up."
If WWE were to bring him back, we'd guess I wouldn't be with his old gimmick...it also probably wouldn't be as a main event talent on the same level as Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, for example. Still, Cardona is making a huge impact on the independent scene so why give that up to be just another name on the card?
Unfortunately, Cardona also shot down the possibility of a WWE return at next month's Royal Rumble PLE...