Matt Cardona suffered a torn bicep at GCW Downward Spiral on May 28 and has undergone surgery for the injury.
Cardona has become one of the top names on the Independent scene and was the reigning NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, but was forced to relinquish the belt at NWA Alwayz Ready.
Cardona has said doctors told him he will likely be out five to six months, but he hopes to be ready in three.
Speaking to Wrestling Shoot Interview, Cardona provided an update on his recovery.
"I will not get back in the ring unless I'm 100%. Right now, if there was something going down with Ric Flair's last match and they said, 'Hey Matt, the card got shuffled, we need you to wrestle Ric Flair.' Alright, I'd boot those boots on. I'd put that baby oil on and wrestle, but I'm not risking it for anything less than that until I'm 100%," he said. "We're getting there, I'm almost 100%, but I'm not there yet."
Ric Flair is set to team with Andrade El Idolo against Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett on Sunday, July 31.
When asked how he felt after the injury and if there was the "woe is me" time, Cardona said, "From the injury until I got the surgery. Once you get the surgery, it's like, 'Alright, let's go. Let's heal. Let's rehab. Let's fucking do this.' That week in between, knowing I would have to relinquish all of my titles that I had collected over the past year, knowing that I'm in the height of my career. Most people, when they leave WWE, they get on that elevator going down. I was going up, baby. Reinventing myself, having fun, creatively fulfilled, making the most money ever. I was just hitting it everywhere. It was great. Wrestling every weekend, doing the podcast, winning titles, making money, making towns. For that all to go away over this unsafe worker Blake Christian, it was a little disappointing. It was the uncertainty. How long is this going to take? The doctors say five to six months, I want to be back in three, but what's it really going to be? Also, do I want to get this surgery? Can I wrestle and fight through this? There was an NWA pay-per-view named after me and now I can't wrestle on it. There were a lot of things on my mind, but I talked to enough doctors, they all suggested the surgery. Once I got the surgery, no more feeling bad, just getting better."
Cardona previously said he plans to be back for The Wrestling Showcase on September 3 where he is scheduled to face Tantanka.
Caronda will be part of GCW Homecoming Part 2 where he will renew his wedding vows with Chelsea Green.
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