Matt Cardona was somewhat surprised that WWE didn’t select him last year when the promotion was rehiring several released talents.
After Vince McMahon’s July 2022 retirement, Triple H rehired several former Superstars including Braun Strowman, Karrion Kross, Dakota Kai, and Hit Row.
On a recent edition of the “Insight” podcast, Cardona recalled not being selected at the time, despite his impressive work outside of the promotion. He said,
“I mean, I’ll be honest when all those people got rehired, I was thinking, not me? The guy who has been doing everything? What was the prerequisite to getting re-signed, not doing anything? Besides like Chelsea and like 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. Do you have a chip on my shoulder about that?
“I wouldn’t say a chip, like a little crumb. 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 has said he would listen to an offer to return to WWE, but would not want to return to his Zack Ryder gimmick that he used for years.
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Matt Cardona, also known as Zack Ryder, recently expressed his surprise at not being selected by WWE when the promotion was rehiring released talents last year. Despite his impressive work outside of the company, Cardona was left wondering why he wasn’t chosen.
After Vince McMahon’s retirement in July 2022, Triple H took over and rehired several former Superstars, including Braun Strowman, Karrion Kross, Dakota Kai, and Hit Row. Cardona, who had been making waves outside of WWE, expected to be among those rehired.
During a recent episode of the “Insight” podcast, Cardona shared his thoughts on the situation. He said, “I mean, I’ll be honest when all those people got rehired, I was thinking, not me? The guy who has been doing everything? What was the prerequisite to getting re-signed, not doing anything? But that’s fine. Everyone has a different path, a different story.”
Cardona acknowledged that while he may have a small chip on his shoulder about not being selected, his main focus is on proving himself right and proving it to his fans. He doesn’t want negativity to drive his goal of being the best in the industry.
Although Cardona has expressed that he would listen to an offer to return to WWE, he made it clear that he wouldn’t want to go back to his Zack Ryder gimmick that he used for years. He has evolved as a performer and wants to continue growing in his career.
In the video embedded in the article, Cardona discusses making more money since leaving WWE, learning from Cody Rhodes, and his partner Chelsea Green’s return to wrestling.
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Overall, Cardona’s journey outside of WWE and his desire to prove himself in the industry make for an interesting story. It will be intriguing to see where his career takes him and if he eventually finds his way back to WWE on his own terms.