Former WWE Star ‘Surprised’ He Hasn’t Returned Yet

WWE

A former WWE Intercontinental Champion has admitted that he is surprised that he hasn’t yet re-signed with the company.

Having signed in 2006, Matt Cardona is better known to WWE as Zack Ryder, a former Intercontinental and United States Champion.

His release came in April 2020, following which he would go on to re-define himself under his real name on the independent scene.

Recently, Chelsea Green has voiced her opinion that it’s only a matter of time before her real-life husband returns to WWE.

Cardona has now admitted that he’s surprised to not have made a return yet during an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.

Recognising his own potential, Cardona spoke about his mindset after his WWE release and wanting to prove himself right, saying:

“I’ve said this a million times. When I got released, it wasn’t like, what can I do to get back to WWE or get to AEW? What can I do to prove myself right? And, oh my God, even saying that again and again and again, for five years, I’ve been saying that I don’t want to prove people wrong, I want to prove myself right and my fans right.

“It makes me sick to say because I feel like I’ve said it so many times, but it’s the truth. I feel like I have. But man, like, what else do we need to do to get back there?”

Having had success on the independent scene under his own name, Cardona would go on to share his surprise that he hasn’t returned to WWE, suggesting he may be missing something, stating:

“Honestly? Yeah. But obviously I’m missing something, I don’t know what it is. Listen, people say to me all the time, especially since we just had WrestleMania, WrestleCon. Thousands of people, probably every other fan, if not every fan. ‘When are you coming back?’

“Well, it’s not up to me. Or at the WrestleMania Hotel. Thanks, Chelsea for letting me stay in a hotel room for free. Saved me some money. Great hotel. Great Steakhouse, too. But so many people from the office or other wrestling, ‘Hey, man, when are you coming back?’

“It’s like, I don’t know. I’ve reached out many times. I shouldn’t say many, a few times, every couple months when something cool happens or I have something to say, hey, look what I’m doing. There’s been no offer. Everything’s very nice, professional, but there’s no offer. And you know what, it is what it is, I’m gonna keep working my ass off.”

He would go on to note that he has his gear ready every year for Royal Rumble, in case he gets the call, stating that the kneepads are interchangeable as Ryder or Cardona.

Matt Cardona would go on to say that he feels the Zack Ryder character is dead, however, he would note that the name as WWE set him up for his current independent wrestling success.

Transcript from chrisvanvliet.com.