Matt Cardona’s WWE comeback may have just hit a much bigger roadblock than first thought. The torn triceps he suffered during his August 21 match could potentially keep him out of action for around eight months if surgery is required.
Cardona revealed on August 23 that he tore his triceps during a match Friday night, showing off a badly swollen arm while still making it to the gym to train legs. He didn’t identify the match in his post, but Cardona wrestled Kit Wilson during the WWE Main Event taping on Friday, August 21, which lines up with the timing he gave.
The injury could now turn into a lengthy absence. Torn triceps injuries often require surgery depending on the severity of the tear, and the current expectation is that Cardona could be looking at roughly eight months on the sidelines if he has to go under the knife. If surgery isn’t necessary, there’s a chance he could return sooner.
That would be a brutal interruption for Cardona after getting back into the WWE mix. He also wrestled GUNTHER on the August 14 episode of SmackDown, taking several powerbombs before submitting and being checked by medical officials afterward. However, Cardona’s own timeline points to the Main Event match with Wilson as the night the triceps injury happened.
There could also be another hurdle once Cardona is medically cleared. Being healthy enough to wrestle doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll immediately be dropped back onto WWE television. Depending on what creative plans are in place at the time, Cardona could need additional time before being worked back into a storyline, meaning his actual television absence could stretch beyond the physical recovery period.
For now, Cardona hasn’t announced whether he’ll need surgery or given an official timetable for his return. What is clear is that this could be a much longer setback than fans initially expected, with a potential eight-month recovery staring him down if surgery is necessary.
Cardona has already made it clear he isn’t finished, but he could have a long road ahead before he’s back inside a WWE ring — and possibly an even longer wait before he’s back in the middle of a storyline.
How do you think WWE should use Matt Cardona when he’s ready to return? Let us know what you think in the comments.
