Matt Cardona

**Matthew Brett Cardona** (born May 14, 1985) is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE under the ring name **Zack Ryder** from 2005 to 2020.

Cardona debuted in professional wrestling in 2004, teaming with Curt Hawkins on the independent circuit. Both men were signed by WWE the following year, making their main roster debuts in 2007. After the team split in 2009, he made appearances on WWE's ECW brand until 2010, following which he was featured sparingly on television. In 2011, he launched a YouTube web series in which he proclaimed himself WWE's "Internet Champion"; this, along with his creative use of social media, helped him establish a substantial cult following. Over the course of his time with WWE, Cardona held the WWE Intercontinental Championship and WWE United States Championship, as well as winning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship with Hawkins on two occasions.

Cardona was released by WWE in April 2020, and appeared on All Elite Wrestling for a limited appearance deal in July of that year under his real name. Cardona was a free agent since the completion of his AEW contract in September.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Elbro Drop* (Diving elbow drop)
	+ Lifting inverted DDT
	+ *Rough Ryder* / *Radio Silence* (Jumping leg lariat)
	+ *Zack Attack* (Inverted overdrive)

* **Signature moves**
	+ 450° splash
	+ *Broski Boot* / *ReBoot* (Running facewash, with theatrics)
	+ Corner elbow smash
	+ Double high knee from out of the corner, as a counter to an oncoming opponent
	+ Dropkick, sometimes from the top rope
	+ Facebuster
	+ Flapjack
	+ Flying forearm smash
	+ Inverted atomic drop
	+ Leaping clothesline
	+ Leg drop, with theatrics
	+ Multiple neckbreaker variations
		- Hangman's
		- Standing
		- Swinging
		- Neck snap
	+ Plancha, sometimes while performing a somersault
	+ Slingshot crossbody
	+ Spinning headlock elbow drop

* **Managers**
	+ Alicia Fox
	+ Chelsea Green
	+ Eve Torres
	+ Hornswoggle
	+ Rosa Mendes

* **Nicknames**
	+ **"Alwayz Ready"**
	+ **"The Deathmatch King"**
	+ "The Internet Sensation"
	+ "The King of the Indies"
	+ "The Long Island Iced-Z"
	+ "The Long Island Loudmouth"
	+ "The New Heart and Soul Superhero of ECW"
	+ "The Ultimate Broski"
	+ "The Woo Woo Woo Kid"
	+ "WrestleMania's Cinderella Man"

* **Entrance themes**
	+ **Independent circuit**
		- "What I Want" by Daughtry (used while teaming with Brian Majors)
		- **"When the Lights Go Down"** by Downstait
	+ **World Wrestling Entertainment**
		- "Gasoline Upcharge" by Chris Weerts & Daniel Holter (used while teaming with Brian Major)
		- "In the Middle of it Now" by Disciple (used while teaming with Curt Hawkins)
		- "Radio" by Jim Johnston & Watt White
		- "Stay Hype, Bro" by CFO$ (used while teaming with Mojo Rawley)
		- "Radio" by Downstait
	+ **All Elite Wrestling**
		- "When the Lights Go Down" by Downstait
	+ **IMPACT Wrestling**
		- "When the Lights Go Down" by Downstait
		- "Major Players" by Downstait Feat. John Kiernan (used as a member of the Major Players)
	+ **National Wrestling Alliance**
		- **"When the Lights Go Down"** by Downstait

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Absolute Intense Wrestling**
	+ AIW Absolute Championship (1 time, current)
	+ AIW Intense Championship (1 time, current)
* **Deep South Wrestling**
	+ DSW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brian Majors
* **Game Changer Wrestling**
	+ GCW World Championship (1 time)
	+ ECW World Television Championship (1 time, unrecognized)
* **IMPACT Wrestling**
	+ IMPACT Digital Media Championship (1 time)
* **National Wrestling Alliance**
	+ NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* **New York Wrestling Connection**
	+ NYWC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brian Myers
* **Ohio Valley Wrestling**
	+ OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brian Major
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ Ranked **#70** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the *PWI 500* in 2012
* **World Wrestling Entertainment**
	+ WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
	+ WWE United States Championship (1 time)
	+ WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Curt Hawkins
	+ WWE Internet Championship (1 time)
	+ Slammy Award
		- Most Annoying Catchphrase (2010) – "Woo Woo Woo You Know It"
		- Superstar Transformation of the Year (2011)
		- Trending Superstar of the Year (2011)