Matt Cardona made his way back to WWE under the name he built after leaving the company, but not everybody backstage was sold on that decision.
WrestleVotes Radio revealed on Fightful Select that some people behind the scenes wanted Cardona to return as Zack Ryder, the character WWE fans already knew from his original run with the company. The belief was that Zack Ryder carried more value with WWE’s television audience because the name, look and personality were already established.
“Amid the teases on WWE television over the last several weeks involving Danhausen and Matt Cardona, we’ve learned that when Cardona returned to the company earlier this year, there was hope among some behind the scenes that he would ultimately be presented as Zack Ryder rather than Matt Cardona.”
WWE officials apparently felt that bringing Ryder back would have required far less explanation than introducing the version of Cardona who spent years rebuilding himself outside the company.
“We’re told the feeling was that the Zack Ryder character was already an established WWE television presence and carried greater familiarity with the audience, as opposed to fully embracing the success Cardona has built for himself on the independent scene over the last few years.”
Joey Votes then revealed that he personally spoke with someone inside WWE who could not understand why the company chose Matt Cardona over Zack Ryder.
“I firsthand talked to somebody who said, ‘I don’t understand why he didn’t come in—or come back—as Zack Ryder.’ I said, ‘I agree with you. Did everybody else?’”
The answer made it clear that this was not just one random opinion floating around backstage. According to the source, several people with some level of creative influence had the same question.
“He said, ‘A lot of us,’ meaning the people who have control over the creative in some form in this company, said, ‘Why is he not coming back in as Zack Ryder?’”
Joey believes Cardona personally wanted to return under the name he turned into a successful brand after WWE released him, and the company agreed to let him do it. However, he questioned whether that decision has connected with the audience.
“It feels like he personally wanted Matt Cardona. They agreed to it. I’m not sure it has worked yet. I don’t know if it’s dead in the water, but I know a lot of people—including those who work there—would like to see the Zack Ryder character back on television.”
TC did not hold back when giving his take. He praised Cardona’s success outside WWE but said the Matt Cardona character is not working for him on WWE television.
“The Matt Cardona era is not hitting for me. I know he has a name out there as the hardcore indie king and all the success he had as Matt Cardona. He has his wrestling figure company. He has his podcast.”
TC compared the situation to fans wanting to see a wrestler’s established WWE character rather than the real person behind it.
“I just want to see Zack Ryder when he comes through the curtain. I don’t want to see Paul Levesque; I want to see Triple H. I don’t want to see Mark Calaway; I want to see The Undertaker. And I want to see Zack Ryder, not Matt Cardona.”
He then called on Cardona and WWE to bring back the spiked hair, catchphrases and personality that made Ryder one of WWE’s most popular cult favorites.
“Please, wrestling gods out there, people in WWE and Matt Cardona himself, please get cursed by Danhausen and turn back into Zack Ryder. I think it’s going to work out for the best.”
TC made it clear that Cardona could keep using his real name for his podcast, merchandise and business projects, but he wants the Zack Ryder character when the bell rings.
“You can still be Matt Cardona. We’ll listen to you on Sam Roberts’ podcast on SiriusXM. We’ll still buy the big bendy guys, big rubber guys, whatever they are, through your Cardona podcast and all the outlets you have.”
“He said the other day that he got a deal with Walmart to sell his action figures there, so there’s a lot of success there. But inside the ring, I want to see the spiked hair, ‘Woo, woo, woo,’ Zack Ryder.”
There is no confirmation that WWE is currently preparing to change Cardona’s name or bring the Zack Ryder character back. WrestleVotes stressed that they have not heard about an active switch, despite the original support for Ryder behind the scenes.
“We haven’t heard anything in recent weeks to indicate that a shift back to the Zack Ryder character is currently planned, but it is something worth watching.”
Cardona spent years proving that he could survive without Zack Ryder, but WWE television is a different animal. The people making the decisions now have to decide whether to keep pushing the man Cardona became or bring back the character millions of fans already recognize.
Should WWE keep Matt Cardona under his current name, or would bringing Zack Ryder back give him a stronger run? Let us know what you think in the comments.
