Recently-Returned WWE SmackDown Star Suffers Gruesome Injury

Matt Cardona recently returned to WWE and is currently part of the SmackDown brand.

After a 15-year tenure with WWE, Cardona left the company in 2020. He then spent time in several other promotions, including All Elite Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, while also competing on the independent circuit before eventually making his return to the Stamford-based promotion.

Matt Cardona first made his return to WWE in October 2025 as part of the TNA Wrestling invasion storyline involving the NXT brand. He also participated in the “Last Time is Now” tournament, which was held to determine the last opponent for John Cena.

However, Cardona was eliminated by LA Knight on the November 14 episode of SmackDown. Cardona then officially rejoined the company as part of the SmackDown roster on January 2, 2026.

Matt Cardona Sustains A Head Injury On A Recent WWE Show

During a recent WWE Main Event TV taping, Cardona suffered a nasty gash on his head that required immediate medical attention. He later shared photos of the bloody injury on Twitter, where the gruesome cut could clearly be seen. The wound was severe enough to require staples.

Despite the injury, Cardona kept a positive attitude, even joking that he felt “most alive” after tasting his blood for the first time in a long time.

He tweeted, “Tonight on #WWEMainEvent, I tasted my own blood for the first time in a long time…and I felt ALIVE! 👑”

Check out his tweet here.

Since his return, Cardona has been regularly featured on SmackDown television, although he is not currently involved in a major storyline.

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