Backstage update on Matt Cardona’s WWE character revealed – Reports

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According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, there was hope among some people behind the scenes that Cardona would return as Zack Ryder, the character that made him popular during his original WWE run. The belief was that the Ryder persona already had years of television history with WWE fans and would be more instantly recognizable than the Cardona persona that flourished after his departure from the company.

Since leaving WWE in 2020, Cardona transformed his career, becoming one of the most prominent names on the independent wrestling scene. He captured titles across multiple promotions, reinvented his character, and earned widespread praise for rebuilding his brand without the backing of a major company. That run established “Matt Cardona” as a distinct identity, separate from the Zack Ryder character fans had known for over a decade.

According to the report, some within the Stamford-based promotion felt that Zack Ryder’s familiarity with the WWE Universe could help reconnect him with viewers more quickly. Rather than introducing audiences to the evolved Matt Cardona persona, the thinking was that revisiting an established WWE character might make for a smoother transition back onto television.

Despite the discussions, there is no current indication that WWE intends to drop the Matt Cardona name. WrestleVotes noted that they have not heard of any active plans for a switch back to the Zack Ryder persona. Still, it was noted that the situation is one worth monitoring.

For now, Cardona continues to compete under his real name, the identity he spent years building into one of wrestling’s biggest independent success stories. Whether WWE eventually decides to revisit the Zack Ryder character remains to be seen.

Matt Cardona explains why Zack Ryder “needed to die”

Cardona has opened up about one of the biggest turning points in his wrestling career, explaining why he felt it was necessary to move on from the Zack Ryder character after leaving WWE.

During an interview with Metro UK, the former Intercontinental Champion reflected on his journey, revealing that reinventing himself was the only way to continue growing as a performer. While Zack Ryder helped him become a fan favorite during his first WWE run, Cardona believes that version of himself had reached its natural conclusion.

“Zack Ryder needed to die for Matt Cardona to live. And I’m back now, right? I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for everything I did as Zack Ryder, then everything I did on the independents as Matt Cardona. It’s all me at the end,” he said.

The 41-year-old star recently formed a surprising alliance with Danhausen on the blue brand. The duo even picked up a tag team victory over Los Garza during the June 23 edition of the Friday Night Show.

It will be interesting to see what Triple H and his creative team have in store for the star in the coming weeks.