Matt Cardona was thrilled to capture the Intercontinental Championship in 2016 especially as his title win came together on short notice.
On a recent edition of the “Insight” podcast, Matt Cardona recalled his shock win, and how he was able to win the title at WrestleMania 32. He said,
I heard Vince McMahon was in his dressing room before “Raw,” eating a steak or whatever, looked up, and I was on “Main Event,” and said ‘Why aren’t we doing something with this guy?’ And then a couple of weeks later, I heard I was on this internal list to be in the ladder match.
“I just spilled my guts to him and why I deserve to be in that match over anybody. And one thing I said was I never heard my music play at WrestleMania. He later told me that line was what made him go to bat for me.
“I think they wanted a surprise shock value to start the show and luckily, I was that guy, the underdog! I will credit it, whether it be the WWE Universe or my fans around the world, they’ve never turned their back on me.”
While the win meant a lot for Cardona, his reign would not last long. The Long Island Iced Z lost the title the next night on RAW to The Miz after Maryse interfered.
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In 2016, Matt Cardona, also known as Zack Ryder, had a memorable moment in his wrestling career when he captured the Intercontinental Championship. What made this victory even more special was the fact that it came together on short notice.
During a recent episode of the “Insight” podcast, Cardona shared his experience and the circumstances surrounding his shocking win at WrestleMania 32. He revealed that Vince McMahon, the chairman of WWE, noticed him while he was on “Main Event” and questioned why they weren’t doing anything with him. This led to Cardona being considered for the ladder match at WrestleMania.
Cardona took the opportunity to make his case to McMahon, expressing why he deserved to be in the match more than anyone else. One of the things he mentioned was that he had never heard his music play at WrestleMania before. This line resonated with McMahon and ultimately made him go to bat for Cardona.
The decision to include Cardona in the ladder match was driven by the desire for a surprise shock value to kick off the show. Cardona embraced his role as the underdog and credited the WWE Universe and his fans worldwide for never turning their back on him.
However, Cardona’s reign as Intercontinental Champion was short-lived. The following night on RAW, he lost the title to The Miz after interference from Maryse. Despite the loss, Cardona’s victory at WrestleMania 32 remains a significant moment in his career.
You can watch a video of Zack Ryder celebrating with his dad after winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32 [embedded content].
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In conclusion, Matt Cardona’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 32 was a surprise and memorable moment in his career. Despite the short reign, it showcased his talent and the support he received from fans around the world.