Since being released from WWE in 2020, Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder) has become one of the biggest independent stars in the United States. From his infamous GCW Championship victory over Nick Gage in 2021, becoming the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion in 2022 to becoming the first-ever Jericho Cruise Oceanic Champion earlier this month, Cardona has made an indelible mark in professional wrestling in the United States outside of WWE & AEW. However, one championship victory stands out above the rest in Cardona’s 19-year career.
On a recent episode of “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy,” Cardona spoke about his Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 32 and why it meant so much to him.
“I had been in WWE so long, the YouTube show had come and gone, I was kind of doing nothing.”
The original WWE Internet Champion recalled how Vince McMahon randomly deciding to add Ryder to the main roster, indicating that he was initially perceived as a future star by Vince McMahon.
“Vince was sitting in his office eating his steak and he looked up and I was on [Superstars] and he went, ‘How come we’re not doing something with this guy?'”
Cardona also revealed how his Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 32 came about, despite originally not even being a participant in the ladder match. When Neville (now known as PAC) injured his ankle and was removed from the match, Cardona went to Road Dogg about being his replacement. Road Dogg advocated for Cardona and got him entered into the match as PAC’s replacement.
“I don’t remember what I said, but he told me I said I had never heard my music play at WrestleMania and that stuck with him. Just being in that match was a win for me. Just to have a WrestleMania entrance and to see my name in a WrestleMania program… it was cool. Then days before [the show], they told me I was gonna win.”
He noted that when he was told that he was going to win, he was shocked. He added that since he was told about his win the same week as WrestleMania, he feared that plans could change again leading up to the event.
“I ended up winning the Intercontinental title. My dad genuinely jumped the guardrail and slid into the ring. It’s a moment I will never ever forget. That moment was very very special to me.”
It’s been rumored that Matt Cardona could potentially be on his way back to WWE in the near future.
