Zack Ryder—real name Matt Cardona—finally 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 WWE’s YouTube cameras and let fans in on what the return meant to him. The man who’s spent the past half-decade reinventing himself as Matt Cardona on the indies wasn’t holding anything back. Reflecting on his journey since being released in April 2020, Ryder said:
“Five years. It’s been five years since I put on Zack Ryder boots. Every single morning, the first thing I do, before I even open my damn eyes, is I [ask] ‘How can I can get back here? What do I have to do to get back here?’”
He explained that every death match, every promo, and every indie booking over the last five years was part of a bigger goal:
“I’ve busted my ass for the past five years. Death Match King, the Indy-God, the complete, all for this moment. This might be a one-time shot. I might get the call tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Because I’m Zack Ryder. And I’m always ready. Woo woo woo, you know it.”
After the promo, LA Knight walked over to offer Ryder a handshake. He admitted he wasn’t 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 way—throwing on the old gear and proving he never really left, he just adapted.
What do you think—should Zack Ryder stick around or go back to being Matt Cardona? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you’re ready for another Woo Woo Woo run.
November 15, 2025 7:27 am
