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22h ago

Matt Cardona Officially Returns to WWE on SmackDown Under His Real Name

He comes back under his real name following a six-year reinvention since his 2020 release.

1/3/26
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Overview

  • Cardona defeated Kit Wilson on the Jan. 2 SmackDown, where Michael Cole announced him as an official member of the brand.
  • The broadcast introduced him as Matt Cardona after an initial Zack Ryder cue, highlighting an on-air shift in identity.
  • Commentary referred to his finisher as the Rough Ryder despite its independent name being Radio Silence, leaving presentation details unresolved.
  • Cardona posted the message "I'M NOT FINISHED!" after the win as WWE and WWEShop launched new merchandise built around the tagline.
  • WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque publicly welcomed Cardona back, capping a return that followed a brief 2025 one-off as Zack Ryder and a wide-ranging indie run.