Zack Ryder is backand Triple H just made it official.
After a five-year absence from WWE, Matt Cardona made his surprise return under his former Zack Ryder persona during the November 14 episode of WWE SmackDown. He entered the Last Time Is Now tournament as a mystery opponent and stepped into the ring with LA Knight in front of a stunned live crowd.
But the biggest confirmation came just minutes after the show ended, when Triple H took to Twitter and posted a backstage photo with Cardona. The message made it clear that this wasnt just a cameoit was a moment WWE wanted fans to feel.
The image showed the two smiling and with Triple H doing his signature point, a full-circle moment between the WWE executive and a wrestler who clawed his way back after being released in 2020 during mass budget cuts. Since leaving WWE, Cardona built a huge name for himself on the indie scene, leaning into everything from hardcore deathmatches to championship reigns across multiple promotions.
WWE has been teasing surprises throughout the Cena-themed tournament, but few expected to see Zack Ryder back on the blue brand in 2025. Its unclear whether this was a one-night return or something more permanentbut the reaction, both online and in the arena, spoke volumes.
Is Zack Ryder really back for goodor was this just WWEs latest nostalgia shot? Would you want to see Cardona stick around full-time? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
