Matthew Cardona
Biography
Matthew Brett Cardona is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where he is the current Impact Digital Media Champion in his first reign, and The National Wrestling Alliance, where he is the current NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He also holds several championships in various independent promotions, and his self-promoted Internet Championship, with which he is in his second reign. He is also known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Zack Ryder from 2005 to 2020. Cardona debuted in professional wrestling in 2004, teaming with Curt Hawkins on the independent circuit. Both men were signed by WWE the following year, making their main roster debuts in 2007. After the team split in 2009, he made appearances on WWE's ECW brand until 2010, following which he was featured sparingly on television. In 2011, he launched a YouTube web series in which he proclaimed himself WWE's "Internet Champion"; this, along with his creative use of social media, helped him establish a substantial cult following. Over the course of his time with WWE, Cardona held the Intercontinental, United States, and Raw Tag Team Championships (the latter with Hawkins on two occasions). Cardona was released by WWE in April 2020, and had a brief stint in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in July of that year under his real name. Cardona has been a free agent since the completion of his AEW contract in September and has been making appearances with Impact Wrestling since making his debut at their Hard To Kill event in January 2021.
Known For
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
Zack Ryder
CM Punk: Best in the World
Matt Cardona
Free The Narrative
Matt Cardona
GCW Fight Club
IMPACT Wrestling: Hardcore Justice 2021
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2021
Matt Cardona
GCW Evil Deeds
Matt Cardona
WrestleCade Supershow 2021
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Turning Point 2021
GI Broski
IMPACT Wrestling: Throwback Throwdown II
GCW Homecoming Weekend 2021 - Night 1
Matt Cardona
GCW Blood on the Hills
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2022
Zack Ryder
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2011
Allie Katch
The WRLD on GCW
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2011
Zack Ryder
WWE Vengeance 2011
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2022
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2010
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania XXVIII
Matt Cardona
GCW Welcome To Heartbreak
Zack Ryder
WWE Over The Limit 2012
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Multiverse of Matches
Zack Ryder
WWE Night of Champions 2012
Matt Cardona
GCW Cage of Survival 2
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2013
Matt Cardona
GCW Homecoming Part I
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2022
Zack Ryder
WWE No Mercy 2016
Matt Cardona
GCW Into The Light
Matt Cardona
GCW Downward Spiral
Matt Cardona
GCW Lifestyle
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2015
GCW: Off The Rails
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Money in the Bank 2017
Zack Ryder
WWE Battleground 2014
Zack Ryder
WWE The Great American Bash 2008
Zack Ryder
WWE Wrestlemania XXVI
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 31
Zack Ryder
WWE Elimination Chamber 2015
Zack Ryder
WWE Survivor Series 2011
Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE Extreme Rules 2012
Zack Ryder (Lumberjack)
WWE Payback 2013
himself
NWA Crockett Cup 2022: Night 2
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2023
Matt Cardona
Jim Crockett Promotions: Ric Flair's Last Match
DDT Ultimate Party 2023
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 1)
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 3)
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 2)
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Over Drive 2022
Zack Ryder
WWE Clash of Champions 2017
NWA Hard Times in New Orleans
Matt Cardona
GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 8
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2023
IMPACT Wrestling: Slammiversary 2021
Zack Ryder (Edgehead #1)
WWE Armageddon 2007
Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE One Night Stand 2008
Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE Judgment Day 2008
Zack Ryder (Ringside)
WWE Night of Champions 2008
Zack Ryder (Lumberjack)
WWE WrestleMania XXV
IMPACT Wrestling: Homecoming 2021
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 32
Zack Ryder
WWE Hell in a Cell 2017
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Fatal 4-Way 2010
Zack Ryder
WWE Battleground 2016
Matt Cardona
GCW: The Coldest Winter 2
Zack Ryder
WWE Backlash 2016
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Survivor Series 2019
Zack Ryder
WWE Super ShowDown 2019
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE WrestleMania 35
Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE Stomping Grounds
Zack Ryder
WWE Survivor Series 2016
Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Elimination Chamber 2020
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Victory Road 2021
Matt Cardona
TNA Emergence 2024
Zack Ryder
WWE 24: Wrestlemania Dallas
Zack Ryder
WWE: Best Pay-Per-View Matches of 2016
Zack Ryder
Making Fun: The Story of Funko
Zack Ryder
WWE Crown Jewel
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2012
Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2008
Zack Ryder
WWE The Great American Bash 2012: Super Smackdown Live!
Zack Ryder (archive footage)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania XXIV
Matt Cardona
AEW All Out
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania XXX
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2021
Zack Ryder
NXT TakeOver: London
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2021
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Under Siege 2021
Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Emergence 2021
Matt Cardona
TNA Victory Road 2024
GCW Fight Club 2024 - Night 2
Matt Cardona
TNA Bound for Glory 2024
Matt Cardona
GCW Dream On
Karl Reeves
Down the Long River
Matt Cardona
ROH: Final Battle
Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 35 Kickoff
Matt Cardona
TNA Rebellion 2025
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
101
Gender
Male
Birthday
1985-05-14
Place of Birth
Merrick, New York, USA
Also Known As
Zack Ryder