FORMER NWA WORLD CHAMPION RETURNS TO WWE | #SMACKDOWN

“Woo Woo Woo” interrupts Kit Wilson after he complains of toxicity. Cardona, who is “Alwayz Ready,” was the surprise opponent promised by fellow former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, now SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis. Nearly six years after he was fired, Matt Cardona returns.

Cardona has managed to stay adjacent to the WWE over the past few months. He famously said he would always be ready to rejoin the WWE Roster. Cardona was involved with the TNA/NXT crossover. Cardona stepped into an NXT ring and lost to Josh Briggs in October. He would later reappear on SmackDown in the “The Last Time Is Now” Tournament, losing to LA Knight in the first round. Cardona made his last TNA Appearance on December 6th, and he lost to Lexis King. TNA and NXT officially began a working relationship on January 16th, 2025

MATT CARDONA

Matt Cardona self-glossed “The Deathmatch King” after he entered the world of Came Changer Wrestling and would later become “The Indy God.” After leaving the WWE, Cardona has wrestled for AEW, MLW, AAA Lucha Libre, Maple Leaf Pro, the Jericho Cruise, Wrestling Revolver, and would wrestle all over the World in Australia, Mexico, Canada, and more. While on the indies, he won the ASW Heavyweight Championship, the DDT Universal Championship, the Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship, the HOG Heavyweight Championship, the Premier’s Men’s Championship, the GCW World Championship, and the Impact Digital Media Championship. Matt Cardona is still the reigning WSW World Champion after defeating Nick Nemeth.

NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE

Matt Cardona began appearing to appear for the National Wrestling Alliance back in 2021, partnering with Mike Knox as the Cardona Family. Cardona would win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship by defeating Trevor Murdoch at the NWA POWERRR Trip on February 12th, 2022. He’d defend the title against Nick Aldis, The Pope, Richard Holliday, but had to give up the title due to his injury. Cardona returned to the NWA once his injury healed. He never regained the title, but did challenge for the championship at Hard Times 2022, NWA Nuff Said in February 2023. Cardona was able to get shots against EC3 for the Ten Pounds of Gold at GLCW and NWA POWERRR. He also challenged Thom Latimer at Maple Leaf Pro in July and will be part of the Main Event for NWA Samhain 3.

Matt Cardona’s t-shirt is now on sale on the wwe website.