Zack Ryder’s 3-Word Reaction After Long-Awaited WWE Comeback
Zack Ryder reminded WWE fans what he could do in a high-profile match on SmackDown.
For the first time in over five years, Zack Ryder was back in a WWE ring on SmackDown in Albany.
The “Last Time Is Now Tournament” promised surprises among the 16 competitors, since WWE promoted it, featuring wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and even people who don’t actually work for WWE.
After LA Knight made his entrance, a man who doesn’t work for WWE officially – former Intercontinental Champion Zack Ryder – appeared as his opponent. Ryder has wrestled as Matt Cardona (his real name) during his five years away from the company, but for his in-ring return on the main roster, it was back to the Ryder look.
Zack Ryder put on a great performance against LA Knight and even got a believable nearfall with his Rough Ryder finishing move, but Knight was able to come back and win with the BFT to move on to the quarterfinals of the Last Time Is Now Tournament.
This wasn’t Ryder’s first WWE match since his 2020 release because he wrestled on NXT on October 14th as Matt Cardona against Josh Briggs and lost that match. However, this time on SmackDown, he was on the bigger stage and in a historic tournament.
As WWE fans know, Zack Ryder’s catchphrase during his 2005 to 2020 run in WWE (with more than a decade of it on the main roster) was “Woo Woo Woo, You Know It.” Taking to social media, Ryder did a bit of a callback to that with this message.
WOO. WOO. WOO.
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) November 15, 2025
“Don’t Quit” – Zack Ryder
On the Saturday morning after WWE SmackDown, Zack Ryder had more to say to the fans who had supported him for decades, including his five years away from WWE.
I cannot express in words what last night meant to me, but if I had to try…
Don’t Quit…
Alwayz Ready…
Thank You…
WOO! WOO! WOO!
@WWE
I cannot express in words what last night meant to me, but if I had to try…
Don’t Quit…
Alwayz Ready…
Thank You…
WOO! WOO! WOO!@WWEpic.twitter.com/e4cQRUy16b
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) November 15, 2025
It hasn’t been confirmed if Zack Ryder has officially been signed by WWE yet, but they did put some Zack Ryder merchandise back up on WWE Shop, so that’s probably a good sign for the Broski.
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