Matt Cardona: "I never gave up. My goal was to return to WWE"

Matt Cardona was one of the big surprises of the latest episode of WWE SmackDown. The wrestler returned to appear on the blue brand show, this time as a new member of the roster, marking his comeback to the company almost six years after his release. And he did it by distancing himself from his previous character, Zack Ryder, as was evident during his entrance.

Later that same night, Cardona posted a tweet reflecting on the past five years and the long journey that brought him back to the company. Matt made it clear that his goal was always to return to WWE, thanking all the people who have accompanied him during this time.

"April 15, 2020... Zack Ryder was released from WWE. It had to happen. Being a WWE Superstar was my lifelong dream. I was under contract for 14 years... 13 on television. I traveled the world, had action figures, won championships, and experienced everything that comes with living the dream. I lived the highest and lowest moments. Although it was a heartbreaking day, I was grateful for my time in WWE.

I knew I had 3 options. I could feel sorry for myself, become bitter and fade into darkness. I could live off my WWE name and make some money for the rest of my life by reliving past glories. Or I could reinvent myself, work like a bastard, try to work harder than any son of a bitch out there, and create my own path. I chose option 3.

These last 5 years on the independent circuit have been the best time of my career... so far. I have to thank every promoter who booked me, every opponent I fought, and every fan who supported me in some way. There are too many people to thank. I love you all. There's no way to summarize these 5 years in a social media post... it will have to wait for the book.

From the moment I was released, I knew I couldn't focus on proving others wrong. I wanted to prove my fans and myself right... and I think I did.

I'm often asked for advice. My advice is: don't give up. You might make it if you don't. You definitely won't if you give up. I followed my own advice. I never gave up. My goal was to return to WWE. And as of last night, January 2, 2026, I'm back in WWE... MATT CARDONA is in WWE. I'm always ready and I'M NOT DONE YET! (Buy my new shirt at WWEShop.com)", he wrote.

Thus, Cardona ends his appearances on the independent scene, which would lead the wrestler to vacate the championships he currently holds. This won't be the case for the ACW Heavyweight Championship, which he will defend against Mike Santana later tonight in Poughkeepsie, New York, a match that was already scheduled before his return to WWE.

On the other hand, there is a possibility that Cardona may continue to make occasional appearances on TNA Wrestling's television programming thanks to the agreement it has with WWE. It is worth noting that the wrestler has been working regularly for the Anthem Media company since 2021.