SmackDown Matt Cardona revealed he was deeply frustrated by remarks from Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens regarding his independent circuit journey and long-running pursuit of a WWE return. Speaking on the Insight Podcast with Chris Van Vliet, Cardona admitted the comments initially stung before his surprise re-signing.
The Genesis of the Friction: Unpacking the Podcast Remarks
The tension traces back to June 2025, when Cardona appeared as a guest on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast. During the broadcast, both Rhodes and Owens acknowledged Cardona’s self-proclaimed status as the “Indy God” while playfully ribbing him about his persistent hope for a WWE comeback. For Cardona, who spent years redefining his brand away from the Zack Ryder persona he cultivated prior to his 2020 release, the playful tone hit a raw nerve.
“Oh boy. Honestly, I was pissed! Because they made it seem that all I would say is I want to be back in WWE. Blah blah. I’d only talk about it when I’d be doing things like this, and you ask me a question. So it bothered me, but I’m over it now,” Cardona stated during his conversation with Chris Van Vliet.
Timing, Transparency, and the Road to Re-Signing
Cardona noted that while the banter was not delivered with malicious intent, the lack of an immediate platform to counter the narrative weighed on him. He clarified that he chose to hold his tongue until his official corporate re-alignment was finalized. “Yes, it wasn’t malicious. I just did not appreciate that I didn’t get a chance to come on and tell my version until I got re-signed,” Cardona explained.
That silence broke dramatically in November 2025 when Cardona shocked the industry as a surprise entrant in John Cena’s Last Time Is Now Tournament. Prior to that high-profile re-emergence, he sharpened his craft on NXT during its strategic developmental crossover initiatives with TNA Wrestling. Having successfully navigated that transitional period, the veteran performer secured his permanent spot on the SmackDown roster earlier this year.
Roster Integration and Brand Dynamics
Below is a breakdown of key operational milestones in his recent career trajectory:
| Milestone Event | Timeline | Brand / Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Departure | April 2020 | WWE (Zack Ryder Persona) |
| Indy Circuit Rebrand | 2020 – 2025 | Independent Circuit / TNA Wrestling |
| Tournament Return | November 2025 | WWE (Last Time Is Now Tournament) |
| Full Brand Assignment | Early 2025 | WWE SmackDown |
The Takeaway for the SmackDown Locker Room
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