Matt Cardona Confirms Temporary Deal for Zack Ryder Merchandise – Matt Cardona may have stepped back into a WWE ring last Friday night, but he’s made it clear that his surprise appearance as Zack Ryder was not a permanent return. Instead, Cardona has signed a short-term agreement allowing WWE to sell Ryder merchandise, fueling speculation about his future with the company.
Cardona appeared on SmackDown as part of the Last Time is Now Tournament, wrestling under his old Zack Ryder name for the first time in over five years. He lost a first-round match to LA Knight, but the moment was significant enough for WWE Shop to release new Ryder merchandise immediately after the show. On his Major Wrestling Figure podcast, Cardona clarified the situation. “I did sign something to let them do merch, temporarily,” he said. “Could there be a Mattel figure? Could there be a Topps card? It’s really up to them. I’ve given them the rights, temporarily.”
To keep the surprise intact, Cardona revealed that he flew into New York City instead of Albany, where SmackDown was being held. His wife Chelsea Green was already in New York for a media appearance, so he joined her before driving up to Albany. Once at the arena, Cardona was hidden away to avoid spoiling the return.
The match required some last-minute preparation, as Cardona had sold most of his old Zack Ryder gear. “Great experience, great night. You know, five years — it’s been over five years,” Cardona said about his return. “I had to, with 24 hours notice, get Zack Ryder gear made. Because all the gear that I had wasn’t something I’d want to wear. But I did use my old boots, and they were, like, ripped. The straps were ripped. I had to get Shotzi’s husband Jesus to fix them.”
Cardona’s one-off appearance came just days before another surprise return, as Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth) wrestled Solo Sikoa on RAW in a tournament match. Like Cardona, WWE Shop quickly released new merchandise tied to Nemeth’s comeback.
The Last Time is Now Tournament has become one of WWE’s most talked-about storylines, as it will determine John Cena’s final opponent for Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. Gunther and Solo Sikoa advanced to the next round with victories on RAW, keeping the bracket unpredictable and adding intrigue to Cena’s farewell storyline.
For Cardona, the night was more about nostalgia and reconnecting with fans than signaling a full-time WWE return. His comments suggest that while the door isn’t closed, his focus remains on his independent career and ventures outside WWE. Still, the temporary merchandise deal and Ryder’s reemergence on SmackDown prove that WWE sees value in revisiting his legacy, even if only for a short time.
Matt Cardona Confirms Temporary Deal for Zack Ryder Merchandise
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