Zack Ryderreal name Matt Cardonafinally made his WWE return during the November 14 episode of SmackDown as part of the John Cena Last Time Is Now tournament. As the surprise opponent for LA Knight, Ryder walked out to his old entrance theme, complete with the iconic Woo Woo Woo chant, and went down fighting in a match that brought five years of hustle full circle.
After the match, Ryder spoke directly to WWEs YouTube cameras and let fans in on what the return meant to him. The man whos spent the past half-decade reinventing himself as Matt Cardona on the indies wasnt holding anything back. Reflecting on his journey since being released in April 2020, Ryder said:
He explained that every death match, every promo, and every indie booking over the last five years was part of a bigger goal:
After the promo, LA Knight walked over to offer Ryder a handshake. He admitted he wasnt sure if this was a full-time return or a brief cameo but closed the segment with his trademark Yeah!
Whether or not this was a one-night deal or the start of something bigger, Ryder left his mark. And he did it his waythrowing on the old gear and proving he never really left, he just adapted.
What do you thinkshould Zack Ryder stick around or go back to being Matt Cardona? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if youre ready for another Woo Woo Woo run.
