Matt Cardona says he would answer the phone if Triple H called him because he still thinks about winning the WWE Championship.
Cardona, formerly known as Zack Ryder, spent 14 years with WWE. Among other accolades, he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and the United States Championship. The company released him in 2020. Since then, Cardona has reinvented himself, and he has won several titles throughout the wrestling world, including the world championship in both NWA and GCW. Meanwhile, WWE continues to bring back former superstars under Triple H's direction; he took over as the head of creative after Vince McMahon retired in July.
Speaking with Alistair McGeorge of Metro, Cardona emphasized that je's not actively trying to return to WWE, but he'd pick up the phone if Triple H called him because he still has some WWE-specific goals. However, the Internet Champion is focused on being his best self, having fun, and of course, making money.
"I’m not trying to get back to WWE. But I’d lying if I said I never wanted to have a WrestleMania moment again, or I never wanted to wrestle at Madison Square Garden – of course I would. If Triple H called me right now, if I had that 203 – that’s the area code for Stamford, Connecticut – of course I’d pick up. But right now, I’m focusing on being the best me possible, and having the most fun possible, and making the most money possible," Cardona said.
The former WWE Intercontinental Champion made it clear that he has been having the best years of his career since the company released him in 2020. He noted that WWE helped set him up for this success, and he just wants to prove himself, and his fans, right about him.
"If I didn’t have WWE, I wouldn’t have had this canvas to paint on, so to speak. WWE set me up for that! And I’ve said since I left WWE, I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong, I don’t have a chip on my shoulder, I’m just trying to prove myself right and my fans right," Cardona said.
Cardona, who held the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship earlier this year, noted that while he has been showing that you don't need WWE or AEW to be successful, he thinks about the WWE Championship every day.
"Right now I’m trying to prove that you don’t necessarily need to be in WWE or AEW to be a successful pro wrestler. But of course, the WWE Championship is something I think about every single day when I wake up, that is definitely always on my mind,’ he explained. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. I think if you’re in this business, to be a world champion is the goal you should have. And for me personally, it’s the bees – the WWE Championship," he said.
Looking forward to the future, Cardona again stated that he's been having a blast, he's enjoying the freedom he has on the open market, and he's excited to see what happens next.
"It’s been so much fun, it’s been such a creative outlet, and it’s my favorite two years in my almost 20-year career, which is pretty incredible. I worked for WWE for 14 years, which is the top of the wrestling world, and my favorite two years of the business have been afterwards. It’s been so much fun, and I can’t wait for what’s next," Cardona said.
Cardona will challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship at NWA Hard Times 3. More information is available here.
In a recent interview, Billy Corgan described how Cardona "147%" fits into the equation in the NWA. You can check out his comments here.
