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Matt Cardona To Ex-WWE Champion: “I Hate You But…”

By Harikesh Shekhar • Published Jan 30, 2026 06:37 EST
Matt Cardona - Source: WWE.com
Matt Cardona - Source: WWE.com

Matt Cardona recently responded to a post by this former WWE Champion

Matt Cardona madea surprise return to WWE programming on the January 2 episode of SmackDown.

He immediately faced Kit Wilson for a match and registered his first win after returning to WWE. Cardona was formerly known as Zack Ryder and had a long 14-year run in WWE before being released in April 2020 due to budget cuts.

Cardona then tried to get a shot at the WWE Championship, but unfortunately lost his qualifying match for the #1 contender’s bout to Trick Williams.

Currently, he’s in a feud with Kit Wilson, which started after Wilson randomly attacked Cardona for being toxic after Cardona’s match with Trick Williams.

Matt Cardona Responds To Ex-WWE Champion’s X Post.

After his WWE release, Cardona worked with independent promotions, and a WWE name he worked with in the indies was Shotzi from WWE’s developmental NXT.

Shotzi, whose contract expired in May 2025, left the company to join the independent circuit. She has held the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Ember Moon.

The pair of Cardona and Shotzi had a storyline rivalry in the indie scene. After Shotzi recently posted on X about her achievements from 2025, including appearing on the cover of PWI wrestling magazine, Cardona responded to the post, saying:

I hate you but I’m proud of you.

Also read: WWE Star Advises Chelsea Green To Dump Matt Cardona For Major Reason