Matt Cardona calls WWE release the “greatest day” of his life

Professional wrestler Matt Cardona has described his 2020 release from WWE as the “greatest day of my life.” Speaking in an interview with Katie Nolan, Cardona reflected on the transition from his long-term WWE persona, Zack Ryder, to his current identity.

Cardona joined WWE at age 20 and remained with the organization until he was 35. He noted that while being released from his dream job was unexpected, it provided the necessary catalyst for him to reinvent himself. He emphasized that he did not want to simply perform as Zack Ryder under a different name, but instead sought to discover who Matt Cardona was as an individual performer.

Following his departure, Cardona transitioned to the independent wrestling scene, traveling globally to rebuild his career and gain creative control over his character. This period of reinvention has allowed him to connect with fans through various promotions outside of the major corporate structure of WWE.