Matt Cardona’s Indie Booking Price Revealed After WWE Return

Matt Cardona’s WWE return on the January 2, 2026 episode of SmackDown caused immediate waves across the indie scene—but now we know just how big a deal he was before he walked back through the WWE curtain.

In the January 9, 2026 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed that Cardona was believed to be the highest-paid full-time independent wrestler before re-signing with WWE. According to one promoter, Cardona’s asking price was $5,000 per booking—a rate that put him among the top earners outside of mainstream promotions.

“One independent promoter told me his asking price was ,000 per shot,” Meltzer wrote. “Cardona was believed to have been the highest paid full-time independent wrestler.”

While that’s nowhere near the part-time appearance fees of someone like Mercedes Moné—whose rate hit $25,000 per shot—it’s a massive figure for someone working the indie grind week-in and week-out. Meltzer noted that Cardona had previously claimed he was making more money than he ever did in WWE during his post-2020 run as “The Indy God,” adding that WWE’s improved pay structure and benefits—including injury coverage—played a major part in luring him back.

“There is also a lot more money in WWE now than there was prior to AEW,” Meltzer explained. “Plus, they take care of injuries, he was a fan from childhood of WWE, and his wife [Chelsea Green] works on SmackDown. He’s made it clear for a long time his goal was to get back in WWE.”

This follows Cardona’s recent decision to cancel indie dates, including his scheduled match at GCW and Orange Crush’s Superpower Slam on February 1. In a recent interview, Cardona made it clear that continuing his indie run was simply impossible given his WWE obligations.

“If I took every indie date that I agreed to, I wouldn’t be able to be in WWE. It’s as simple as that,” Cardona said. “I’m literally booked every weekend until the summer. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Now back in the big leagues, Cardona’s not only rejoining WWE as a hot act—he’s doing it after becoming one of the most valuable names on the indies.

Was Matt Cardona worth $5,000 per appearance on the independent scene? And do you think his return to WWE will top his post-Zack Ryder run? Share your take in the comments below.