Matt Cardona says Zack Ryder is “dead” after 2020 release, outlines WWE comeback goals

Matt Cardona told The Takedown on SI that the Zack Ryder gimmick “died” after his 2020 WWE release and credited that era with teaching him the skills to reinvent himself on the independent scene as Matt Cardona. He said his independent run—especially with GCW in Atlantic City—produced the most fun and success of his career and that WWE gave him the tools to market himself, sell merch and perform promos.

Cardona confirmed his dream remains to be a WWE Champion, noting you can’t hold that title outside of WWE, and said the company now values the Matt Cardona persona he built on the indies more than Zack Ryder. He returned to WWE during the NXT/TNA invasion, was a surprise entrant in John Cena’s Last Time is Now tournament against LA Knight, and has since been associated with the SmackDown brand.

Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/matt-cardona-reveals-zack-ryders-future-in-wwe/.