Matt Cardona

Matt Cardona
Cardona in 2022
Birth nameMatthew Brett Cardona
Born (1985-05-14) May 14, 1985 (age 39)
Merrick, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2021)​
Websitemattcardona.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Brett Major[1]
  • Brett Majors
  • Brett Matthews[1][2]
  • Matt Cardona
  • Zack Ryder[1]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[3]
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg)[3]
Billed fromLong Island, New York[3]
Trained byMikey Whipwreck
DebutAugust 14, 2004

Matthew Brett Cardona[4] (born May 14, 1985) is an American professional wrestler. He is a free agent who competes on the independent circuit as well as making in ring appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), under his real name, stylized as Matt Cardona. He worked for WWE from 2006 to 2020, under the ring name Zack Ryder.

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, Impact Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance, as well as the American independent circuit, most notably in Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). He has since won various championships including the NWA Worlds 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.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference KreikenbohmBio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference TitleHistories was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference WWEBio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Genickbruch.com". genickbruch.com (in German). Retrieved May 9, 2024.