Matt Cardona Joins WWE SmackDown Roster

Ishaan SharmaJanuary 2, 2026, 9:01 pm

Matt Cardona signs with WWE SmackDown.

On the first SmackDown of 2026, Cardona returned as a mystery opponent against Kit Wilson.

Michael Cole announced that Cardona has been signed to SmackDown by General Manager Nick Aldis. Cardona had previously returned to WWE during the TNA Invasion storyline last year. He would later wrestle again against LA Knight as Zack Ryder.

MATT CARDONA IS HERE 🤩

Zack Ryder is so last year 😜 pic.twitter.com/AsEYWMUbE2

— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026

During Cardona’s return on SmackDown, the titantrom initially showed him as Zack Ryder, but then the screen switched to Matt Cardona, and that’s the name WWE will use going forward.

Fans can read Fightful’s live coverage of WWE SmackDown here, and watch the post-show highlights and review on YouTube here.