Matt Cardona could have returned to WWE under a familiar name.
Matt Cardona made his long-awaited WWE return on the January 2, 2026, episode of SmackDown, where he defeated Kit Wilson in a surprise match. However, according to a new report, there was internal discussion about presenting him as Zack Ryder instead.
According to WrestleVotes Radio, via Fightful Select, there was hope among some people behind the scenes that Cardona would ultimately be brought back as Zack Ryder, the character that became a fan favorite during his previous WWE run.
The report notes that the feeling was that the Zack Ryder persona already had strong brand recognition with WWE audiences due to its years of television exposure. By comparison, some believed Cardona’s acclaimed independent wrestling run, while highly successful, would not carry the same level of familiarity with the broader WWE fanbase.
‘Zack Ryder’ did return for one match before Matt Cardona signed with WWE
It is worth noting that Cardona made a one-off appearance as Zack Ryder during the Last Time Is Now tournament, where he faced LA Knight in singles action.
Ultimately, WWE opted to bring him back under his real wrestling name. Cardona debuted as “Matt Cardona” on SmackDown and has continued to compete under that name since signing with the company.
While there are currently no indications that WWE plans to reintroduce the Zack Ryder character, WrestleVotes Radio notes that the situation is one worth monitoring should the company decide to revisit the idea in the future.
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