Matt Cardona: I Only Brought Up Returning To WWE When Asked, Of Course It Was My Goal

Matt Cardona reinvented himself on the independent scene following his WWE release in April 2020. He competed in death matches, won championships in multiple promotions, wrestled multiple times a weekend, and dubbed himself the Indie God.

At the start of 2026, he was re-signed by WWE.

“The goal was always to get back, but it wasn’t from day one, ‘What do I have to do to get back to WWE?’ I couldn’t think like that,” Cardona said on the Major Wrestling Figure podcast.

He continued, “You saw Cody and Kevin Owens making fun of me a couple of months ago, that I brought it up all the time. I only brought it up when I was asked, first of all. Of course, that was my goal. Of cours,e I wanted to work where my wife works. Of course, I wanted to work at the place where I grew up wanting to work. Of course, I wanted a WrestleMania moment again, or wrestle at Madison Square Garden again, or walk to Target or Walmart and see my figure there. Now, all that stuff is possible. I’m very grateful for it.”

Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens joked on What Do You Want To Talk About? that Cardona called himself the Indie God, but always talked about wanting to get back to WWE.

Elsewhere during the podcast, Cardona detailed when hi WWE return. You can find his full comments here.

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