Former Zack Ryder returns under his Matt Cardona name on the blue brand
Summary
– Matt Cardona officially joined the WWE SmackDown roster on the first show of 2026
– He returned as a mystery opponent and defeated Kit Wilson
– WWE confirmed he will compete under the Matt Cardona name going forward
Matt Cardona is officially back in WWE and has joined the SmackDown roster to kick off 2026.
Cardona made his return during the first SmackDown of the new year, appearing as the mystery opponent for Kit Wilson. The surprise was revealed moments before the match, with Michael Cole confirming that SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis had signed Cardona to the brand.
The entrance played into Cardona’s history, as the titantron initially displayed his former WWE name, Zack Ryder, before transitioning to Matt Cardona. WWE made it clear that Cardona will be competing under his current name moving forward.
Cardona previously returned to WWE during the TNA Invasion storyline in 2025 and later competed in a match against LA Knight under the Zack Ryder name. This latest appearance signals a fresh chapter for Cardona on SmackDown as an official roster member.
MATT CARDONA IS HERE 🤩
Zack Ryder is so last year 😜 pic.twitter.com/AsEYWMUbE2
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026
