Matt Cardona Discusses Brief AEW Run/Ending Up in Impact Wrestling

[Chris]

Source: f4wonline.com

On a podcast appearance with Sean Waltman last week, Matt Cardona discussed how he ended up in Impact Wrestling and the end of his brief AEW tenure.

Cardona said he signed an AEW deal for multiple dates and that when it expired, he was not offered a new deal. Impact Wrestling came into the mix and the rest is history.

The 36-year-old known as Zack Ryder in WWE made his first in-ring appearance post-WWE release for AEW, teaming with Cody Rhodes in win over Dark Order's Alex Reynolds and John Silver last July. He came out to Rhodes' aid the week prior on Dynamite.

He was then part of an eight-man tag with Dustin Rhodes, QT Marshall and Scorpio Sky as they defeated Brodie Lee, Evil Uno, Stu Grayson and Colt Cabana at last September's All Out. He didn't have anything negative to say about AEW but that he wasn't going to beg for a contract.

Cardona then didn't appear in a wrestling ring until January of this year, debuting for Impact at the Hard to Kill pay-per-view. He has primarily worked there with some indie dates sprinkled in between. He made a surprise appearance at GCW's Zombie Walk to set up a match against GCW Champion Nick Gage for their upcoming Homecoming event in July. He told Waltman he was surprised how much buzz that match is getting.

He also told Waltman he would never say never about a WWE return, but that he is having fun what he's doing now and that his goal is to not go back.

 

[Hoss]

Pretty wild that he's still just 36 years old.

 

[Dale]

I feel like AEW might have kept him on if he actually switched his shit up and somewhat reinvented himself instead of still being Zack Ryder.

 

[Hoss]

That 8 man tag at All Out was a certified banger at least.

 

[Cwalker]

I feel like AEW might have kept him on if he actually switched his shit up and somewhat reinvented himself instead of still being Zack Ryder.

Ironically, after he was released from WWE, he did an interview with Chris Van Vliet saying how he wanted to do something different/be someone different.

Hasn’t happened yet

 

[Hoss]

Ironically, after he was released from WWE, he did an interview with Chris Van Vliet saying how he wanted to do something different/be someone different.

Hasn’t happened yet

Nonsense

 

[Cwalker]

So...

He cosplayed as Ambrose?

 

[Hoss]

No, it was a pretty brilliant working of the GCW audience who popped huge when they thought it was Moxley, only for Cardona to reveal himself and generate some vitriolic heat. And even if you don't think any of that shit is worth anything, the fact remains that his character work in this feud with Gage has been completely different from anything he did in WWE.

 

[Deezy]

He's getting murked online by a junkie bank robber.....he sucks.

 

[Comrade Khan]

No, it was a pretty brilliant working of the GCW audience who popped huge when they thought it was Moxley, only for Cardona to reveal himself and generate some vitriolic heat. And even if you don't think any of that shit is worth anything, the fact remains that his character work in this feud with Gage has been completely different from anything he did in WWE.

that's actually pretty hilarious. My criticism is why is he not doing anything different on Impact and is doing this stuff to pop a gymnasium full of hardcores (i mean no disrespect, btw, just trying to be realistic). Doing stuff there isn't going to land you a gig in AEW, I don't think

 

[Hoss]

that's actually pretty hilarious. My criticism is why is he not doing anything different on Impact and is doing this stuff to pop a gymnasium full of hardcores (i mean no disrespect, btw, just trying to be realistic). Doing stuff there isn't going to land you a gig in AEW, I don't think

Has he said that's what he's trying to get? I'm sure he's raking it in with his appearances at conventions and with his podcast network. I can imagine he'd rather be a bigger fish somewhere than a lower midcard guy in AEW honestly.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Has he said that's what he's trying to get? I'm sure he's raking it in with his appearances at conventions and with his podcast network. I can imagine he'd rather be a bigger fish somewhere than a lower midcard guy in AEW honestly.

Fair point, tbh. It very well could be he's making bank with what you said above and Impact is some easy ass payday as a midcarder with the tapings. If he's happy that way, all the best to him. As an Impact watcher, however, I woudn't mind more interesting things from Matt

 

[Hoss]

Fair point, tbh. It very well could be he's making bank with what you said above and Impact is some easy ass payday as a midcarder with the tapings. If he's happy that way, all the best to him. As an Impact watcher, however, I woudn't mind more interesting things from Matt

No doubt. I don't think he's anything special in general. Not trying to hype him up in this thread or anything. Was just making the point that he actually has switched his character up in a few ways outside of WWE, in all fairness to him.

 

[Comrade Khan]

I'll be honest and also say I'll cherish any opportunity to crap on Gage too

 

[Kiffy Lube]

Now he just needs to explain why he watches teenagers with autism who make matches usin' their wrestlin' dolls.