Zack Ryder

Zack Ryder
Cardona in October 2021
Birth nameMatthew Brett Cardona
Born (1985-05-14) May 14, 1985 (age 41)
Merrick, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2021)​
Websitemattcardona.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Brett Major
  • Brett Majors
  • Brett Matthews
  • Matt Cardona
  • Zack Ryder
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg)
Billed fromLong Island, New York
Trained byMikey Whipwreck
Debut2004
Matt Cardona
YouTube information
Also known asZack Ryder
Channel
Years active2011–present
GenreVlogging
Subscribers137 thousand
(December 23, 2023)
Total views16.4 million
(December 23, 2023)
Associated actsThe Major Wrestling Figure Podcast
Last updated: December 23, 2023

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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ During his first reign the title was called "WWE Tag Team Championship" and was exclusive to SmackDown. His second reign happened when the title was exclusive to Raw and was renamed "WWE Raw Tag Team Championship".

References

  1. 1 2 "About TheMattCardona". YouTube.
  2. ↑ Ryder, Zack [@ZackRyder] (May 3, 2018). "I have barely used my @youtube channel since my show, Z! True Long Island Story, in 2011, but @youtube just sent me this award. I'll gladly accept it and hang it up in my office! (I consider this a #tbt)" (Tweet). Retrieved September 30, 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ "Video – latest Zack Ryder YouTube episode with WWE roster cameos". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (January 3, 2026). "Matt Cardona Posts Statement On Return To WWE". Fightful. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Matt Cardona Crowned New AIW Absolute Champion". www.wrestling-news.net. March 25, 2023. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ "AIW Absolution XVI Results (7/15): Isaiah Broner Wins AIW Absolute Title From Matt Cardona | Fightful News". www.fightful.com.
  7. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 2, 2021). "AIW One Step Ahead – TV-Show @ Tadmor Shrine in Akron, Ohio, USA". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 2, 2021). "AIW Intense Championship". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ Defelice, Robert (April 9, 2022). "Matt Cardona Wins Seventh Title, Asks Promoters To Stop Giving Him Championship Opportunities". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 9, 2022). "ASW Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved April 13, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  11. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 5, 2023). "Jericho Cruise 2023 - Tag 4 - Event @ Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship in USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 5, 2023). "Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 5, 2023). "Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship Tournament (2023)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ Tanabe, Hisaharu. "DSW Tag Team Championship history". Retrieved June 16, 2007.
  15. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 23, 2023). "DDT Wrestle Peter Pan 2023". cagematch.net. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  16. ↑ "ESW Brawlfest 2023 - Event @ Riverworks in Buffalo, New York, USA". Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  17. ↑ @ESWWrestling (May 14, 2023). "Adding another one to his collection: #ANDNEW ESW Heavyweight Champion, Matt Cardona!! #ESWBrawlfest" (Tweet). Retrieved September 25, 2023 – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ "ESW Heavyweight Championship". Archived from the original on 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  19. ↑ Cardona, Matt [@TheMattCardona] (January 20, 2023). "Ok. We get it. I am The INDY God! Enough awards… JK! Give me all the awards! I'll put them next to my Slammys! t.co/EW2QfYAw7z" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ The First Annual FIGHTFUL AWARDS! | Sean Ross Sapp, Denise Salcedo, Will Washington | WWE, AEW, NJPW. Fightful Wrestling with Sean Ross Sapp. January 20, 2023. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ Johnson, Mike (August 12, 2024). "Former WWE Star Appears In New Cirque Du Soliel Doc, Train With Joe Hendry, New Ppv Celebrates Da Crusher & The Bruiser And More". PWInsider.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  22. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (June 11, 2021). "Matt Cardona Defeats Nick Gage At GCW Homecoming To Capture GCW World Championship". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Matt Cardona 'Wins' ECW TV Title By Beating Rhino At GCW Most Notorious". Wrestle Zone. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Title Reigns « HOG Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CageMatch. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  25. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 21, 2022). "Impact Digital Media Championship". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  26. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 12, 2022). "NWA Powerrr Trip Taping – TV-Show @ Valor Hall in Oak Grove, Kentucky, USA". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  27. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 12, 2022). "NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  28. ↑ Rose, Bryan (June 11, 2022). "Trevor Murdoch wins NWA World Heavyweight title at Alwayz Ready". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  29. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 26, 2022). "NYWC Psycho Circus 19 - Event @ Farmingville Fire Department in Farmingville, New York, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  30. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 26, 2022). "NYWC Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 8, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  31. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 30, 2022). "NYWC April Reign 2022 - Event @ Copaigue Fire Department in Copaigue, New York, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  32. ↑ "NYWC Tag Team Championship history". New York Wrestling Connection. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  33. ↑ "OVW championship histories". Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Matt Cardona Becomes Inaugural Premiere Men's World Champion". September 10, 2023. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  35. ↑ "News and Tax Day Card Information updated". PWF. March 27, 2006. Archived from the original on April 14, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  36. ↑ "The Majors Brothers - Brian & Brett". Deep South Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2022". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  38. ↑ Cardona, Matt [@TheMattCardona] (January 12, 2023). "I'M THE INDEPENDENT WRESTLER OF THE YEAR! I try to give back and elevate anybody I'm in the ring with on the indies…teach them something, get them more exposure, etc. But I'm not here to pass the torch…I'm here to light a new one! #AlwayzReady #StillHere @OfficialPWI t.co/wB4cMwDrN2" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  39. ↑ "SCX Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CageMatch. Retrieved September 25, 2023.[permanent dead link]
  40. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 11, 2023). "WSW Unleash Hell - Tag 2 - TV-Show @ South Eastern Entertainment Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  41. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 11, 2023). "WSW World Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  42. ↑ "WWE Intercontinental Championship". Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  43. ↑ "WWE United States Championship". Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder's first Tag Team Championship reign". Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  45. ↑ "The Great American Bash 20 Man Battle Royal « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CageMatch. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  46. ↑ "What is a Slammy?". WWE. February 23, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  47. 1 2 3 "The Slammy Awards". www.prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  48. ↑ "The Wrestling Showcase Results - September 3, 2022". September 3, 2022.
  49. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 3, 2022). "Wrestling Showcase Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  50. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 3, 2022). "Wrestling Showcase Title Tournament (2022)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Xcite International Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CageMatch. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  52. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 18, 2020). "Internet Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 8, 2022.[permanent dead link]

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