Ex-WWE Champion Confirms Retirement From Brutal Gimmick Match

Matt Cardona was very famous in WWE, but his popularity skyrocketed when he shifted to the indies.

He earned the nickname “Deathmatch King” due to his reputation for participating in some of the most hardcore and brutal death matches in the independent wrestling circuits. However, in 2021, he officially retired from the deathmatch wrestling gimmick after defeating Nick Gage in a high-profile deathmatch at GCW Homecoming. Since then, he has distanced himself from the brutal stipulation, choosing to focus on other styles.

The ex-WWE Intercontinental Champion faced Shotzi Blackheart in a singles match at GCW Homecoming on August 23. Ahead of the bout, he sat down for a conversation with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, where he was asked about the possibility of his match with Shotzi being a deathmatch. He expressed pride in being called the Deathmatch King but stated that he officially retired his ruthless match gimmick following his 2021 victory over Nick Gage.

Listen, I’m the Deathmatch King. I beat Nick Gage, and I retired as Deathmatch King. I have no more death matches for me. But this match will get violent, there will be some garage beer involved. It’s actually for the Garage Beer Championship.

Matt Cardona versus Shotzi, and you know, when I beat Nick Gage for the GCW World title that was at Homecoming and yes, this event is GCW’s Homecoming. But now I feel like it’s Matt Cardona’s homecoming. I am a part of GCW I’m not an outsider. If anything, I’m an insider. I am GCW.

Shotzi Blackheart Defeats Matt Cardona at GCW Homecoming With ex-WWE stars Karrion Kross and Scarlet’s Help

At GCW Homecoming on August 23, Matt Cardona faced Shotzi Blackheart in a competitive match for the vacant Garage Beer Championship. It was a brutal and bloody match, which saw the return of Karrion Kross and Scarlett to the independent wrestling scene. Killer Kross and Scarlett emerge out of nowhere in masked attire to cause a distraction during the match. They attacked Cardona, tipping the scales in Shotzi’s favor, who won the first-ever Garage Beer Championship.

Kross and his wife were released by WWE on August 10. Despite the ex-WWE star stating that his release was not a work, there was some part of the WWE Universe that still hoped to see Kross return to WWE like R-Truth. But his latest appearance at GCW seemingly confirms that he has indeed parted ways with the Stamford-based promotion.