Matt Cardona Breaks Silence After Surprise WWE Return on SmackDown

Matt Cardona has officially returned to WWE — and he’s got something to say about it.

Shortly after making his surprise comeback on the January 2, 2026 episode of SmackDown, Cardona tweeted out his first remarks, posting a clip of the moment from WWE’s official X account and declaring: “I’M NOT FINISHED!”

The return went down in front of a packed crowd at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Kit Wilson had just made his entrance and insulted the Bills Mafia when the familiar “Woo Woo Woo” hit the arena. The screen initially read “Zack Ryder,” but then flickered and shifted to reveal Matt Cardona, confirming that WWE was officially retiring the Ryder persona and embracing Cardona’s real name for this new chapter.

The match that followed served as Cardona’s in-ring re-debut under his actual name, and WWE later confirmed he’s signed to the SmackDown roster. Fans last saw Cardona in the company during The Last Time Is Now tournament under the Zack Ryder name — but this return marks a full transformation for the self-made wrestling star who rebuilt his brand outside WWE over the past several years.

WWE’s social media added their own spin with the caption: “Zack Ryder is so last year 😜” — making it clear that this is a new era for Cardona inside WWE.

Will Cardona’s resurgence lead to a serious run on the blue brand? Should WWE push him as a top star or let him carve his path from the midcard up? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you want to see from Cardona 2.0.