Zack Ryder’s WWE Tenure – A Self-Assessment

Summary:
– Matt Cardona accepts full responsibility for his WWE career trajectory.
– He reflects on not being proactive in seeking a push despite high merchandise sales.
– Post-WWE, Cardona explores diverse wrestling platforms, distancing from his Zack Ryder persona.

Matt Cardona, formerly known in the WWE universe as Zack Ryder, recently took a deep dive into his career trajectory during his stint with WWE. Speaking on AEW star Swerve Strickland’s “Swerve City” podcast, Cardona presented a candid self-assessment, a move that’s quite rare in the wrestling world where blame is often shifted to promoters or creative decisions.

Cardona’s time in WWE was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Despite achieving significant popularity, especially in 2011 with his YouTube web series, he feels he could have done more to capitalize on this momentum. He admits to not stepping up and demanding a push from WWE management, even when he was at the peak of his merchandise sales. This introspection is a significant departure from the usual narrative of wrestlers feeling underutilized or ‘buried’ by the company.

Since his release from WWE in 2020, Cardona has been making waves in the indie wrestling scene and has appeared in various promotions like AEW, Impact Wrestling, NWA, and MLW. This phase of his career highlights his versatility and adaptability, showcasing his skills beyond the Zack Ryder character. Cardona’s openness to new challenges and his determination to carve out a unique identity post-WWE is commendable.

Cardona’s journey is a testament to the evolving nature of a wrestler’s career. His ability to reflect on his past with WWE, take ownership of his actions, and pivot towards new opportunities in the wrestling world is a narrative that many in the industry can learn from. His story is not just about the glitz and glamour of WWE but also about personal growth and the relentless pursuit of success in various arenas of professional wrestling.