During his recent appearance on the “Insight” podcast, professional wrestler Matt Cardona spoke about his past wrestling career, the potential for him to return to WWE, and the circumstances under which he would consider joining AEW.
Discussed below are his comments and insights from the podcast interview:
When questioned about a possible return to WWE or signing with AEW, Cardona expressed, “I’ve said this a million times. Following my release, it wasn’t about strategizing a way back to WWE or crafting a path to AEW. I was more focused on validating my own beliefs. Over the past five years, my goal has been not to contradict naysayers, but to prove myself and my fans correct.” He expressed regret at repeating this sentiment numerous times, but insists it’s the truth and feels he has done that. He is still, however, unsure of what steps he needs to take to make the return.
Cardona also expressed his surprise at not having been invited back to WWE. In his words, “Indeed, I am surprised. Yet clearly, there’s something I’m missing. With recent events like WrestleMania and WrestleCon, fans and even fellow wrestlers kept asking about my possible return to WWE. Although the decision is not entirely in my hands, I have made an outreach a few times particularly when interesting opportunities arise. However, unfortunately, there have been no offers so far.” Despite the disappointment, he remains resolute and unwavering.
Regarding a potential Royal Rumble comeback as Zack Ryder, Cardona says, “I’ve always been prepared, always had the costume ready for every single year. Moreover, I always have gear with interchangeable elements.”
Addressing a potential return as Zack Ryder, he does not view it as his first option. He believes that the Zack Ryder identity served as a platform for his current persona, Matt Cardona. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that WWE probably considered Ryder’s character finished as they terminated his contract five years ago. He expresses that throughout his career, he has achieved the greatest success now under the Matt Cardona persona, which he attributes to Zack Ryder and WWE.
He also commented on what conditions would make him sign a contract with AEW. Cardona insists, “If it’s reasonable. I wouldn’t want to be somewhere just to be another member of the roster. While no guarantees exist in pro wrestling, I need a clear intention that the organization has specific plans for me.” He emphasizes that he is not interested in just collecting a paycheck, having experienced this situation before.
You can check out his full comments in the video below.