Subhojeet Mukherjee on November 15, 2025
Zack Ryder made a surprise return to WWE during the November 14 episode of SmackDown, and now John Cena is giving him a silent salute. In a move that didn’t need words, Cena took to Instagram and posted a photo of Ryder in his WWE return gear—letting his followers know that he sees and respects the moment.
Ryder entered the “Last Time Is Now” tournament and squared off against LA Knight. While he didn’t get the win, fans were thrilled to see him back under the WWE banner. The crowd erupted when Ryder stepped out, and he even put on a strong performance against the Megastar. Still, the loss meant he wouldn’t be advancing in the tournament to face Cena—but the return itself was a win.
After the match, Ryder spoke openly about what it meant to him. He hadn’t laced up Zack Ryder boots in five years and made it clear that his drive to come back never faded—not even for a second.
“Five years. It’s been five years since I put on Zack Ryder boots. Every single morning, the first thing I do, before I even open my damn eyes, is I [ask] ‘How can I can get back here? What do I have to do to get back here?’”
Since being released by WWE in 2020, Ryder—better known on the indies as Matt Cardona—took his career into his own hands. From brutal death matches to viral promos, he built himself into one of the hottest names outside WWE. And now that he’s back, even if only for a moment, he knows it was all worth it.
“I’ve busted my ass for the past five years. Death Match King, the Indy-God, the complete, all for this moment. This might be a one-time shot. I might get the call tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Because I’m Zack Ryder. And I’m always ready. Woo woo woo, you know it.”
It’s unclear what’s next for Ryder—whether this was a one-night return or the beginning of something more. But one thing’s certain: fans saw the passion, and John Cena saw it too.
Was this the start of a full-time comeback or just one final ride for Zack Ryder? Should WWE make it permanent? Drop your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!
November 15, 2025 8:16 am
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