Matt Cardona previously appeared in WWE as Zack Ryder (Picture: IMPACT Wrestling/WWE)
Matt Cardona is open to returning to WWE one day if new boss Triple H ever makes the call.
The Internet Champion – who was known as Zack Ryder during his time with the company – was released in April 2020 as the company started a long run of roster cuts, and while he’s thrived as a freelancer he would love to go back to chase his dreams once more.
He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘I’m not trying to get back to WWE. But I’d lying if I said I never wanted to have a WrestleMania moment again, or I never wanted to wrestle at Madison Square Garden – of course I would.
‘If Triple H called me right now, if I had that 203 – that’s the area code for Stamford, Connecticut – of course I’d pick up.
‘But right now, I’m focusing on being the best me possible, and having the most fun possible, and making the most money possible.’
Cardona admitted ‘success’ can mean many things, whether it’s measured by financial gain or career fulfillment – and either way, he has been ticking all the right boxes.
Cardona is a former Intercontinental Champion (Picture: WWE)
‘These past years have been the most successful I’ve been in my whole wrestling career. And that’s pretty crazy considering I don’t really work WWE or AEW, the top two companies,’ he said, although he can still acknowledge the path to get him to this point.
He added: ‘If I didn’t have WWE, I wouldn’t have had this canvas to paint on, so to speak. WWE set me up for that! And I’ve said since I left WWE, I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong, I don’t have a chip on my shoulder, I’m just trying to prove myself right and my fans right.’
While he wants to prove to other performers that being in WWE or AEW isn’t the be all and end all if you’re chasing a career as a pro wrestling, he admitted there is a sense of unfinished business with the former.
‘Right now I’m trying to prove that you don’t necessarily need to be in WWE or AEW to be a successful pro wrestler. But of course, the WWE Championship is something I think about every single day when I wake up, that is definitely always on my mind,’ he explained.
‘I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. I think if you’re in this business, to be a world champion is the goal you should have. And for me personally, it’s the bees – the WWE Championship.’
Despite that, Cardona is keen to point out he doesn’t need to go back there, and the past couple of years – which has seen him perform and win titles all over the world – have been his happiest in the business.
‘It’s been so much fun, it’s been such a creative outlet, and it’s my favourite two years in my almost 20-year career, which is pretty incredible,’ he smiled.
‘I worked for WWE for 14 years, which is the top of the wrestling world, and my favourite two years of the business have been afterwards. It’s been so much fun, and I can’t wait for what’s next.’
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The man formerly known as Zack Ryder is ruling out a return.