Internal Reaction to Zack Ryder’s WWE SmackDown Return

Zack Ryder’s WWE comeback on SmackDown might have caught fans off guard, but backstage, it turns out the vibe was nothing but positive.

Matt Cardona—better known to WWE fans as Ryder—shared that his return wasn’t just last-minute chaos; it was also well received by everyone behind the curtain.

Appearing on NotSam Wrestling, Cardona opened up about how things went down after stepping through the curtain to face LA Knight in the ‘Last Time Is Now’ Tournament. According to him, everything backstage was smooth—and it included a key sign of respect from the man in charge.

“Everything was positive. It was such a whirlwind, so I don’t want to paraphrase or even try to remember everything, but everything seemed positive. I got the (Triple H) point!”

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That iconic finger point, often shared by Triple H with returning or debuting stars, was later posted on Twitter by The Game himself with a message that added fuel to speculation about Cardona’s future:

“You never know who might show up in The Last Time Is Now Tournament. It’s all about opportunity and @TheMattCardona proved that tonight. #SmackDown”

Cardona also revealed that his return came with a temporary WWE deal strictly for Zack Ryder-themed merchandise. While it may have been a one-night-only deal on screen, his return lit up merch sales—and it doesn’t seem like the door is closed.

His comeback was nothing short of a whirlwind. From secretly flying into New York City to avoid airport autograph hunters to riding in with Chelsea Green, hiding in hoodies and a mask backstage, and scrambling to get new gear made within 24 hours—it was a rush job from start to finish. And he didn’t even tell Cody Rhodes.

Despite losing to LA Knight in the opening round of the tournament, the crowd reaction spoke for itself. And now, with confirmation that the WWE locker room—and Triple H himself—welcomed him back with open arms, Cardona’s future might include more than just a nostalgia pop.

The ‘Last Time Is Now’ Tournament continues this week, with Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed and Penta vs. Finn Balor set to decide who moves on to face GUNTHER and Solo Sikoa, respectively. The winner of the entire tournament will earn the right to face John Cena in his final match on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Do you think Zack Ryder’s WWE return should lead to something permanent? Should Cardona stick around or go back to dominating the indies? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you want to see next.