Matthew Cardona
Matthew Brett Cardona (born May 14, 1985) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs under his real name. He previously performed in WWE from 2006 to 2020 under the ring name Zack Ryder, and is also known for his tenures in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and the independent circuit. Cardona debuted in professional wrestling in 2004, teaming with Brian Myers 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). After being released by WWE in April 2020, Cardona has made appearances in major wrestling promotions including All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Impact Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), as well as throughout the American independent circuit, most notably in Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). He has since won various championships including the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship, Impact Digital Media Championship, and GCW World Championship. During this time he received critical praise, being named Indie Wrestler of the Year in 2022 and in 2023 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. He returned to WWE in October 2025 and re-signed with the promotion in January 2026.
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
CM Punk: Best in the World
(Zack Ryder)
Free The Narrative
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Fight Club
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Hardcore Justice 2021
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2021
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Evil Deeds
(Matt Cardona)
WrestleCade Supershow 2021
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Turning Point 2021
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Throwback Throwdown II
(GI Broski)
GCW Homecoming Weekend 2021 - Night 1
GCW Blood on the Hills
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2022
(Matt Cardona)
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2011
(Zack Ryder)
The WRLD on GCW
(Allie Katch)
WWE Royal Rumble 2011
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Vengeance 2011
(Zack Ryder)
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2022
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Royal Rumble 2010
(Zack Ryder)
WWE WrestleMania XXVIII
(Zack Ryder)
GCW Welcome To Heartbreak
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Over The Limit 2012
(Zack Ryder)
IMPACT Wrestling: Multiverse of Matches
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Night of Champions 2012
(Zack Ryder)
GCW Cage of Survival 2
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Royal Rumble 2013
(Zack Ryder)
GCW Homecoming Part I
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2022
(Matt Cardona)
WWE No Mercy 2016
(Zack Ryder)
GCW Into The Light
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Downward Spiral
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Lifestyle
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Royal Rumble 2015
(Zack Ryder)
GCW: Off The Rails
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
WWE Money in the Bank 2017
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
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)
WWE Extreme Rules 2012
(Zack Ryder (Appearance))
WWE Payback 2013
(Zack Ryder (Lumberjack))
NWA Crockett Cup 2022: Night 2
(himself)
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2023
(Matt Cardona)
Jim Crockett Promotions: Ric Flair's Last Match
(Matt Cardona)
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)
IMPACT Wrestling: Over Drive 2022
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Clash of Champions 2017
(Zack Ryder)
NWA Hard Times in New Orleans
GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 8
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2023
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Slammiversary 2021
WWE Armageddon 2007
(Zack Ryder (Edgehead #1))
WWE One Night Stand 2008
(Zack Ryder (Appearance))
WWE Judgment Day 2008
(Zack Ryder (Appearance))
WWE Night of Champions 2008
(Zack Ryder (Ringside))
WWE WrestleMania XXV
(Zack Ryder (Lumberjack))
IMPACT Wrestling: Homecoming 2021
WWE WrestleMania 32
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Hell in a Cell 2017
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Fatal 4-Way 2010
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
WWE Battleground 2016
(Zack Ryder)
GCW: The Coldest Winter 2
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Backlash 2016
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Survivor Series 2019
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
WWE Super ShowDown 2019
(Zack Ryder)
WWE WrestleMania 35
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
WWE Stomping Grounds
(Zack Ryder (Appearance))
WWE Survivor Series 2016
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Elimination Chamber 2020
(Zack Ryder (Preshow))
IMPACT Wrestling: Victory Road 2021
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Emergence 2024
(Matt Cardona)
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 2019
(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)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
(Zack Ryder (archive footage))
WWE WrestleMania XXIV
(Zack Ryder)
AEW All Out 2020
(Matt Cardona)
WWE WrestleMania XXX
(Zack Ryder)
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2021
NXT TakeOver: London
(Zack Ryder)
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2021
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Under Siege 2021
(Matt Cardona)
IMPACT Wrestling: Emergence 2021
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Victory Road 2024
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Fight Club 2024 - Night 2
TNA Bound for Glory 2024
(Matt Cardona)
GCW Dream On
(Matt Cardona)
Down the Long River
(Karl Reeves)
ROH Final Battle 2024
(Matt Cardona)
WWE WrestleMania 35 Kickoff
(Zack Ryder)
TNA Rebellion 2025
(Matt Cardona)
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling: Northern Rising
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Under Siege 2025
(Matt Cardona)
The Herro's Journey: A Pro Wrestling Story
(Matthew Cardona)
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling: Resurrection
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Slammiversary 2025
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Emergence 2025
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Victory Road 2025
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Bound for Glory 2025
(Matt Cardona)
TNA Final Resolution 2025
(Matt Cardona)
Royal Rumble 2026
(Matt Cardona)
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling - Mayhem Night 2
Death Match King
(Self)
GCW: Highest in The Room 2
(Matt Cardona)
Danhausen’s Very Nice, Very Evil Halloween Special
(Matt Cardona)
The JBL and Cole Show
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
(Zack Ryder)
Raw
(Zack Ryder)
Before the Impact
WWE NXT
(Zack Ryder)
The Edge and Christian Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness
(Zack Ryder)
WWE Swerved
(Zack Ryder)
WWE ECW
(Zack Ryder)
E! True Hollywood Story
(Ryder (archive footage))
WWE NXT
TNA iMPACT!
TNA iMPACT!
(Matt Cardona)
WWE NXT
(Zack)
WWE NXT
(zack Ryder)
WWE Main Event
(Zack Ryder)
Johnny Loves Taya
(Matt Cardona)
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
(Matt Cardona)
Hey! (EW)
(Matt Cardona)
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage
(Matt Cardona)
Wrestlemania Rewind
(Zack Ryder)
Raw
WWE NXT
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
(Matt Cardona)
WWE Main Event
WWE Main Event
(Matt Cardona)
WWE: Unreal
(Self)
JCW Lunacy
(Matt Cardona)
