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.
Photos
Films (116)
Danhausen’s Very Nice, Very Evil Halloween Special
2026 · Matt Cardona
Death Match King
2026 · Self
Down the Long River
2026 · Karl Reeves
Royal Rumble 2026
2026 · Matt Cardona
TNA Final Resolution 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Bound for Glory 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Victory Road 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Emergence 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Slammiversary 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling: Resurrection
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Under Siege 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling: Northern Rising
2025 · Matt Cardona
TNA Rebellion 2025
2025 · Matt Cardona
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling - Mayhem Night 2
2025
ROH Final Battle 2024
2024 · Matt Cardona
GCW Dream On
2024 · Matt Cardona
TNA Bound for Glory 2024
2024 · Matt Cardona
GCW Fight Club 2024 - Night 2
2024
TNA Victory Road 2024
2024 · Matt Cardona
TNA Emergence 2024
2024 · Matt Cardona
GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 8
2024 · Matt Cardona
GCW: The Coldest Winter 2
2024 · Matt Cardona
GCW: Highest in The Room 2
2023 · Matt Cardona
DDT Ultimate Party 2023
2023
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2023
2023 · Matt Cardona
GCW Cage of Survival 2
2023 · Matt Cardona
GCW Lifestyle
2023 · Matt Cardona
GCW Into The Light
2023 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2023
2023 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Over Drive 2022
2022 · Matt Cardona
NWA Hard Times in New Orleans
2022
Jim Crockett Promotions: Ric Flair's Last Match
2022 · Matt Cardona
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 3)
2022
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 2)
2022
World Series Wrestling: Phoenix Rising (Night 1)
2022
GCW Downward Spiral
2022 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2022
2022 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Multiverse of Matches
2022 · Matt Cardona
NWA Crockett Cup 2022: Night 2
2022 · himself
GCW Welcome To Heartbreak
2022 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2022
2022 · Matt Cardona
The WRLD on GCW
2022 · Allie Katch
IMPACT Wrestling: Hard to Kill 2022
2022 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Throwback Throwdown II
2021 · GI Broski
GCW Blood on the Hills
2021 · Matt Cardona
WrestleCade Supershow 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Turning Point 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
GCW Evil Deeds
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
GCW Fight Club
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Victory Road 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
GCW: Off The Rails
2021
IMPACT Wrestling: Emergence 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Homecoming 2021
2021
GCW Homecoming Weekend 2021 - Night 1
2021
GCW Homecoming Part I
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Slammiversary 2021
2021
Free The Narrative
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Under Siege 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2021
2021 · Matt Cardona
IMPACT Wrestling: Hardcore Justice 2021
2021
IMPACT Wrestling: No Surrender 2021
2021
AEW All Out 2020
2020 · Matt Cardona
Heel
2020 · Associate Producer
WWE Elimination Chamber 2020
2020 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Survivor Series 2019
2019 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Crown Jewel 2019
2019 · Zack Ryder
WWE Stomping Grounds
2019 · Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE Super ShowDown 2019
2019 · Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 35
2019 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE WrestleMania 35 Kickoff
2019 · Zack Ryder
La folie des figurines Funko Pop
2018 · Zack Ryder
WWE Clash of Champions 2017
2017 · Zack Ryder
WWE Hell in a Cell 2017
2017 · Zack Ryder
WWE Money in the Bank 2017
2017 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE: Best Pay-Per-View Matches of 2016
2017 · Zack Ryder
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016
2016 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Survivor Series 2016
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE No Mercy 2016
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE Backlash 2016
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE Battleground 2016
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 32
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE 24: Wrestlemania Dallas
2016 · Zack Ryder
NXT TakeOver: London
2015 · Zack Ryder
WWE Elimination Chamber 2015
2015 · Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania 31
2015 · Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2015
2015 · Zack Ryder
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
2014
WWE Battleground 2014
2014 · Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania XXX
2014 · Zack Ryder
WWE Payback 2013
2013 · Zack Ryder (Lumberjack)
WWE Royal Rumble 2013
2013 · Zack Ryder
CM Punk: Best in the World
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE Night of Champions 2012
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
2012 · Zack Ryder (archive footage)
WWE The Great American Bash 2012: Super Smackdown Live!
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE Over The Limit 2012
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE Extreme Rules 2012
2012 · Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE WrestleMania XXVIII
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2012
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2011
2011 · Zack Ryder
WWE Survivor Series 2011
2011 · Zack Ryder
WWE Vengeance 2011
2011 · Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2011
2011 · Zack Ryder
WWE Fatal 4-Way 2010
2010 · Zack Ryder (Preshow)
WWE Wrestlemania XXVI
2010 · Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2010
2010 · Zack Ryder
WWE WrestleMania XXV
2009 · Zack Ryder (Lumberjack)
WWE The Great American Bash 2008
2008 · Zack Ryder
WWE Night of Champions 2008
2008 · Zack Ryder (Ringside)
WWE One Night Stand 2008
2008 · Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE Judgment Day 2008
2008 · Zack Ryder (Appearance)
WWE WrestleMania XXIV
2008 · Zack Ryder
WWE Royal Rumble 2008
2008 · Zack Ryder
WWE Armageddon 2007
2007 · Zack Ryder (Edgehead #1)
The Herro's Journey: A Pro Wrestling Story
· Matthew Cardona
Séries (18)
WWE : Quand la réalité dépasse la fiction
2025 · Self
JCW Lunacy
2024 · Matt Cardona
Johnny Loves Taya
2024 · Matt Cardona
Hey! (EW)
2022 · Matt Cardona
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage
2021 · Matt Cardona
Before the Impact
2021
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
2019 · Matt Cardona
The Edge and Christian Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness
2016 · Zack Ryder
WWE Swerved
2015 · Zack Ryder
Wrestlemania Rewind
2014 · Zack Ryder
The JBL and Cole Show
2012 · Zack Ryder
WWE Main Event
2012 · Zack Ryder, Matt Cardona
WWE NXT
2010 · Zack Ryder, Zack, zack Ryder, Matt Cardona
WWE ECW
2006 · Zack Ryder
TNA iMPACT!
2004 · Matt Cardona
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
1999 · Zack Ryder, Matt Cardona
E! True Hollywood Story
1996 · Ryder (archive footage)
WWE Raw
1993 · Zack Ryder