Matt Cardona has brought new life to pro wrestling
“I can be on NXT on Tuesday. I could be on Dynamite on Wednesday. I would love to go to New Japan–there is a whole roster of people there I’ve yet to wrestle.”
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The next chapter in the evolution of Matt Cardona has begun.
After suffering a torn pectoral muscle during a match this past April, Cardona was thrust onto the injured list for four months. His mind spun with reckless abandon during that time, in constant search of a new layer to display in and out of the ring.
Cardona’s new moniker is “The Complete”, which signifies how he is the industry’s most valuable commodity.
“I’m the f------ total package,” said Cardona, who was Zack Ryder for 15 years in WWE. “I know Lex Luger is ‘The Total Package’, but I know I can do it all. It’s something new, something fresh, and that’s why I am ‘The Complete.’ I’m here to reinvent myself and reinvent the whole independent scene.
Initially, Cardona’s return was supposed to be time stamped with his comeback video. But as he worked with his video producer–who is a devoted listener to Cardona’s Major Wrestling Figure Podcast–it transformed into a piece of work that was far deeper.
“That video, it captured my life,” said Cardona. “It’s 20 years of my blood, my sweat, and my tears. The response to it blew me out of the water.”
The video drew over two-and-a-half million views in two days. It reinforced the belief that Cardona is the most uniquely compelling free agent in the industry: he can wrestle, talk, self-promote, and sell merchandise. Cardona also connects with fans in an organic manner–he still signed autographs the night he tore his pec–and embeds a genuine joy into his craft.
Pro wrestling is more than a career. For Cardona, it is his life.
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be,” said Cardona, 39. “I still love it, I’m still a fan. I still collect wrestling figures. F---, we make them now, too. I still watch the shows. It’s what I do, it’s who I am. There is still so much more I want to accomplish.
“If someone in WWE or AEW calls me, we’ll talk. But that’s not where I’m at. I am focused on making tomorrow better than today. I can’t be bitter. I’m too focused on being better.”
Cardona’s most notable action figure is a part of the line he helped create–the Big Rubber Guys. This is an LJN-inspired sized collection of figures featuring many of the stars that wrestling fans always wanted made, like Harley Race (with the NWA title), the Road Warriors, Demolition Smash, Barbarian, and Dusty Rhodes. There are also enhanced versions of legends like Andre The Giant, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and the British Bulldogs. These are long overdue works of art for wrestling fans, with new additions on the way.
The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast also tours, celebrating a twentieth live show this summer. That took place just outside of Boston in Saugus, Massachusetts at the historic Kowloon restaurant, the site where, 17 years ago, Cardona learned his career was forever changing.
“Inside a Kowloon bathroom in 2007 is where I found out Brian Myers and I would officially become Edgeheads, which was an incredible break,” said Cardona. “I’ve been going to the Kowloon since I started working at WWE–I have a lot of history there, and the owner, Andy Wong, he is incredible. He treats people in this amazing way. I can’t wait to go back next summer with the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast.”
Cardona is as passionate as he is intelligent. He learned from Cody Rhodes, who left WWE in 2016 and made an even bigger name for himself throughout the industry. He watched closely when Drew McIntyre was released by WWE in 2014, then became an even more compelling entity.
Now Cardona is paving his own path to the main event. And he has the privilege of making all the decisions on every aspect of his career.
“When I was in WWE, there was only so much I could control,” said Cardona, who will be a major part of GCW’s upcoming Hammerstein Ballroom show in January. “Now I can control everything. Not everything is going to work, and I understand that. It’s why I’m dedicating my whole life to it. But I have all I’ve ever wanted–and that’s the opportunity.
“I can be on NXT on Tuesday. I could be on Dynamite on Wednesday. I would love to go to New Japan–there is a whole roster of people there I’ve yet to wrestle. I’m here to wrestle JBL on the indies–that’s a marquee matchup. No matter what, I’m going to keep killing it wherever I go–and give you something you’ve never seen before.”
Cardona makes wrestling a more interesting, captivating space. And as “The Complete”, he has only just begun.
“There is no more complete wrestler in the game,” said Cardona. “I’m here to bust my ass and give you the match of the night.”