Zack Ryder

**Matthew Brett "Matt" Cardona** (born May 14, 1985) is an American professional wrestler. He currently wrestles for WWE, where he performs on their SmackDown brand.

Cardona became famous in his first run in WWE from 2005 to 2020 under the ring name **Zack Ryder**. He was known for being part of a tag team with Brian Myers/Curt Hawkins, and his YouTube web series _Z! True Long Island Story_. After his release from WWE, he wrestled on the independent circuit, for All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. He made his return to WWE in January 2026.

Cardona is a two-time WWE (Raw) Tag Team Champion with Hawkins and has also won the Intercontinental and United States Championships once, as well as lots of championships outside of WWE. Because of this, he got the nickname "the belt collector". He created the WWE Internet Championship, but that title was not officially recognized by WWE.

## Championships and accomplishments

- **Absolute Intense Wrestling**
    - AIW Absolute Championship (2 times)
    - AIW Intense Championship (1 time)
- **All Star Wrestling**
    - ASW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- **Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea**
    - Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship (1 time, first)
    - Jericho Cruise Oceanic Title Tournament (2023)
- **Deep South Wrestling**
    - DSW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brian Majors
- **DDT Pro-Wrestling**
    - DDT Universal Championship (1 time)
- **Empire State Wrestling**
    - ESW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- ***Fightful Select***
    - Male Independent Wrestler of the Year (2022)
- **F1RST Wrestling**
    - F1RST WrestlePalooza Championship (1 time)
- **Game Changer Wrestling**
    - GCW World Championship (1 time)
    - ECW World Television Championship (1 time, not recognized)
- **House of Glory**
    - House of Glory Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- **Impact Wrestling**
    - Impact Digital Media Championship (1 time)
- **National Wrestling Alliance**
    - NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- **New York Wrestling Connection**
    - NYWC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    - NYWC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brian Myers
- **Ohio Valley Wrestling**
    - OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brian Major
- **Premier Streaming Network**
    - Premier Men's Championship (1 time)
- **Premier Wrestling Federation**
    - PWF New Jersey Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brian Myers
- ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
    - Ranked No. 13 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the _PWI 500_ in 2022
    - Indie Wrestler of the Year (2022, 2023)
- **Squared Circle Expo**
    - SCX Championship (1 time)
- **World Series Wrestling**
    - WSW World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- **World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE**
    - WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
    - WWE United States Championship (1 time)
    - WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Curt Hawkins
    - The Great American Bash Battle Royal (2012)
    - Slammy Award (3 times)
        - Most Annoying Catchphrase (2010) – <
        - Superstar Transformation of the Year (2011)
        - Trending Superstar of the Year (2011)
- **The Wrestling Showcase**
    - Wrestling Showcase Championship (1 time, current)
    - Wrestling Showcase Title Tournament (2022)
- **Xcite Wrestling**
    - Xcite International Championship (1 time, current)
- **Other titles**
    - Internet Championship (2 times, current)

## Infobox (wrestler)

- **image**: MattCardona_GCW.jpg
- **caption**: Cardona in October 2021
- **birth name**: Matthew Brett Cardona
- **birth place**: Merrick, New York, U.S.
- **height**: 6 ft 2 in
- **weight**: 224 lbs
- **billed**: Long Island, New York
- **trainer**: Mikey Whipwreck
- **debut**: 2004


## Infobox (youtube personality)

- **name**: Matt Cardona
- **pseudonym**: Zack Ryder
- **channel name**: LongIslandIcedZ
- **channel display name**: TheMattCardona
- **years active**: 2011–present
- **genre**: Vlogging
- **subscribers**: 137 thousand
- **subscriber date**: December 23, 2023
- **views**: 16.4 million
- **view date**: December 23, 2023
- **associated acts**: The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast
- **silver button**: yes
- **silver year**: 2011
- **stats update**: December 23, 2023