John Cena Reacts To Matt Cardona WWE Return Match

John Cena has reacted to Matt Cardona’s WWE in-ring return, following Cardona wrestling on Tuesday’s NXT episode.

Cardona was in action on the October 14 show, facing Josh Briggs in his first WWE match in five years.

This was the former “Zack Ryder”‘s first match since the March 9, 2020 edition of Raw, when he lost to Bobby Lashley, ahead of his release from the company that April.

John Cena has now reacted to Matt Cardona’s WWE return, sharing a nod to Cardona on Instagram.

Cena posted a photo of Cardona in the WWE NXT ring, which you can view below.

As always, John Cena posted this photo without a caption.

John Cena and Matt Cardona last shared the ring on the May 25, 2015 Raw episode, with Zack Ryder answering Cena’s US Championship open challenge.

The 17-time world champion most recently stepped into the ring at the October 11 Crown Jewel premium live event, defeating AJ Styles in a bout which many fans believe is a match of the year contender.

John Cena will retire from in-ring action in December, with his final match slated for the December 13 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event special.

Chelsea Green has also reacted to Matt Cardona’s WWE in-ring return, which you can read more about right here.

John Cena gives a nod to Matt Cardona following Cardona wrestling on WWE NXT 👇 pic.twitter.com/q3ykCnNhhI

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) October 15, 2025