Matt Cardona wanted Hornswoggle to be his mini Broski during his time with WWE.
As Zack Ryder, Cardona had a memorable run with the company, particularly as the success of his "Z! True Long Island Story" YouTube show boosted his popularity throughout 2011 and into 2012. Cardona won the WWE United States Championship during this period, but his WWE run featured stretches where he was not prominently featured.. That being said, he often tried to change his fortune by pitching ideas.
In a thread on Twitter, Cardona has been revealing some of his pitches that never saw the light of day. Among other examples, he described how he one pitched to have Hornswoggle be his mini Broski, and the two would have helped each other in different ways. Cardona noted that he would teach Hornswoggle how to talk, and Hornswoggle would help him win matches.
The post, dated August 25, 2011, is as follows:
Despite barely any television time, my YouTube show has over 4 million views and my T-shirt is one of the best selling items on WWEShop.com. The numbers don’t lie. People want to see me. Here is an entertaining way to get me on TV. Backstage on SmackDown I can approach Alicia Fox & Tamina. (Or any 2 divas) I can get to smooth talk one and when that doesn’t work, I’ll immediately start hitting on the other. Both want nothing to do with me, but I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll say something like, ‘Oh I get it. You only go on double dates. I’ll go find one of my Broskis.’ Later in the show, or the next week, I approach the Divas again and explain how I found my new Broski. The divas look disgusted and the camera pans down to reveal Hornswoggle. He is clean shaven, hair spiked, wearing a headband, and wearing sunglasses. The divas storm off. I have found my new Broski… Mini Broski. In the following weeks, I can teach Hornswoggle how to talk, he can help me win matches, and we will ENTERTAIN. Thanks for reading.
8/25/11 #ZackRyderPitches pic.twitter.com/D5wkvbeXpa
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) December 28, 2022
In the same thread, Cardona described how he pitched the idea of playing a character who personified the way some people can't separate social media from reality. He also outlined an idea where he would have stalked Bobby Roode, leading to a feud between the two stars.
6/6/18 #ZackRyderPitches pic.twitter.com/0bzdyQbezl
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) December 29, 2022
WWE released Cardona in a wave of cuts in 2020. Since then, he has had a successful run on the open market. He has won the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, the GCW World Championship, and the IMPACT Digital Media Championship.
Cardona and Brian Myers will challenge for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship at the Hard To Kill pay-per-view. More information is available here.
In a recent interview, Cardona recalled how he pitched to have Curt Hawkins win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35. Click here to see what he had to say.
