Matt Cardona, formerly known as Zack Ryder, had a unique experience during his time in WWE, where he was never given the room to truly flourish on television. After being released from his contract in 2020, Cardona has since honed his craft elsewhere. He recently reflected on his time in WWE, specifically on winning the Raw Tag Team Titles with his best friend and tag partner, Curt Hawkins, at WrestleMania 35.
According to Cardona, his win eclipsed Hawkins’ 269-match losing streak, a monumental moment in their careers. Cardona attributed this moment to his interaction with Vince McMahon, where he would frequently pitch ideas to the WWE chairman. While many of these ideas did not come to fruition, Cardona acknowledged that Vince always gave him respect and listened to his proposals.
One particular idea that Cardona pitched was for Hawkins to break his losing streak in an unconventional manner. With WrestleMania 35 taking place in New York and New Jersey, a hometown event, Cardona suggested that Hawkins clothesline him out of the Andre The Giant Battle Royal, giving him a memorable moment on the biggest stage in wrestling. However, Vince McMahon did not approve of this idea, which is understandable given its unorthodox nature.
Matt Cardona (Via WWE/Twitter)
Two weeks later, Cardona and Hawkins won the Raw Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania, an unexpected turn of events. Cardona believes that this outcome was due in part to his and Hawkins’ meeting with Vince, where they bonded with him over their shared connection to the area. The win came as a surprise to most, as the duo had no previous program with their opponents, The Revival.
Since his release from WWE in April 2020, Cardona has excelled as a freelancer, but he still has aspirations to return to the company and pursue his goals once more. Despite the ups and downs of his career, Cardona remains grateful for the opportunities he had in WWE and continues to grow as a wrestler.
