Matt Cardona’s WWE return match has now officially been announced after recent weeks appearing on NXT television.
Ever since his release from WWE in April 2020, Zack Ryder, now going by his real name Matt Cardona, has reinvented his career on the independent scene, as well as competing for AEW, ROH and TNA.
As a current member of the TNA roster, Cardona has made his return to NXT television over the past few weeks as part of the ongoing TNA Invasion angle.
During his time back on NXT television, Cardona has found himself butting heads with Josh Briggs, including costing Briggs last week in his Team NXT qualifier match against Myles Borne.
On tonight’s Showdown event, Cardona said that he wasn’t sorry about costing Briggs the match, and that he just wanted to be a part of Team TNA for tonight’s show.
However, Briggs would then barge into Ava’s office, with Cardona hiding behind the door, telling Ava he wanted a match with Cardona, which Ava made official for next week’s episode of NXT.
This will mark Cardona’s first match in WWE for over five years, with his last match coming against Bobby Lashley on the March 9, 2020 episode of Raw.
.@TheMattCardona wants a match with Josh Briggs.
Josh Briggs wants a match with Matt Cardona.
Make it happen @avawwe_ and @themilanmiracle!! pic.twitter.com/RrtxYgVr9g
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2025
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