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Woo Woo Woo, you know it! It's funny to think that you can probably butterfly effect your way to Zack Ryder's youtube series being a foundational piece to AEW's creation.
I don't think he'll ever get his flowers in, like, a hall-of-fame capacity, but Matt Cardona is absolutely one of the most concequential wrestlers of his generation.
The guy was legitimately the first person I saw using social media to get his name out there and push his merch through his YouTube channel. Something that even some celebrities do nowadays (like Ryan Reynolds) Cardona was doing it in the mid 2000s, and successfully too. He was so ahead of the curve on all this, not sure he'll ever be recognized as such like you said, but those who saw it happen know.
Ehhhh this was definitely a bit later than mid-2000s. The "My New Haircut" video that the Broski character was based off of wasn't even put up on YouTube until the back end of 2007.
He’ll get into the HOF. Not as a headliner but he’ll get in. His merch outsold Cena and CM Punk for a time, that’s Hall worthy alone.
His post WWE makeover is the blueprint every future endeavoured talent should be following. Matt could show up anywhere at anytime and no one would be surprised, neither would he feel out of place.
Plus he left WWE on relatively good terms if I'm not mistaken. Basically thanked WWE for the opportunity and went and started doing his own thing. He def deserves to be in at some point
He'll be back. His wife is there, seemingly everyone on the roster likes him, he's very close with Cody. As 'Matt Cardona', though, because Zack Ryder is dead.
El Generico is not dead, he's building houses for orphans in Mexico. I really want him to come out in a Royal Rumble to get revenge for his friend Sami getting eliminated some day.
The problem was management didn't. Not just Vince. HHH never got him or cared for him. He'd kinda be perfect in current NXT as HBK gets talent HHH doesn't and gets along with everyone.
Everyone from Austin to Rock to Cena supported him along with the current guys but it didn't matter
Yeah I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come in to do an upper-midcard run under his new persona at some point, toss him a couple more secondary titles and it’ll be a no brainer to induct him someday
Unless he does something unspeakable or declines it until his death, Cardona will get a ring. Too many people understand he was a pioneer of this part of the business for him not to.
i would argue zack ryder is the single most important wrestler of the last 15 years without hyperbole, his effect on wrestling as a whole is HUGE. he basically forced all of wrestling to establish an online presence
The Art of Wrestling and The LAW (Live Audio Wrestling) was my introduction into the podcast style form.
LAW was radio that transitioned to a proto podcast format.
Can you draw a line between Cardona and AEW existing?I have never watched BTE so I don’t have a sense of how important BTE was to the Young Bucks getting as popular as they are.
BTE absolutely took the Bucks to the next level. They were already a very popular indie act, but BTE made them into THE act on the indie scene. Plus it made stars out of pretty much everyone involved in the core crew; Kenny, Hangman, Cody, Cole, and Marty were all elevated heavily by BTE.
By the end of their time there, I think it would be fair to say that The Elite was bigger than ROH and was the primary reason anyone was still going to those shows.
The original Z! had so many good bits. From Ziggler cutting his best promos to Cardona's dad just trolling him all the time. It was must see content for a couple of months.
I wouldn’t say Cody “reinvented” himself. He just knew he was capable of more, so he left and bet on himself.
Cardona was fired and instead of going around playing the “Woo Woo Woo” guy, he came up with this “I’m bigger than everyone else because I was in WWE” character, which then morphed into the “Deathmatch King” and the “Indy God” and so on.
His current Indy character only came about because he tried to do his WWE character when he worked those few AEW matches he had and nobody really cared for it so he leaned into the hate for his WWE style and became the "deathmatch king/Indy god"
Cody's whole USA American Nightmare character is not a WWE thing, he built it up while he was gone. He was CAWdy Rhodes in WWE and then Stardust which made him quit. I guarantee HHH/WWE saw Cody in his first 6 months of AEW and went WE NEED THAT GUY. Everything after (AEW fucking him up) didn't matter and was just bad booking.
He definitely re-invented himself outside of WWE and for the WAY better. He looks like a super hero (politician) now and pretty much every demographic like him.
I don’t think “The American Nightmare” is anything more than just a name. His character is just Cody as himself, with American flag-themed gear.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing by any stretch, but it’s not like he’s really playing a character.
Up there, but I don’t think they’ve quite hit the Cardona/Rhodes level.
Of them, I think Swerve has more of a shot—which is no reflection on what I think of Toni’s work (I seriously love it) but I know how many times a singular woman has really captured the business (or even “the business that isn’t WWE” to match Cardona) in my lifetime. And that took Becky at full The Man on the verge of WrestleMania against peak Ronda (oh and also Charlotte) to get there. So it’s much tougher sledding for her.
matt has said many times that zack ryder is dead and he isn't going back to him. He has evolved so much, to a point he said if he was to come back, which would require the 2 c's of cash and creative, he is doing so as Matt Cardona and not Zack. I was hesitant on that at first since I doubt they would let an established guy come back with a different name.....then I saw shawn spears do it a few weeks back and i was reminded of hall and nash doing that same thing ages ago and so yeah I'm all for it now.
We likely may. Not as Zack though, that character is dead by his own words. He’ll be back as Matt Cardona no doubt. Just like how Spears recently returned as Spears, not Tye Dillinger.
There’s a pretty easy argument that Ryder/Cardona is one of the most influential wrestlers of the 2010’s by connecting a few dots. Dude never really got his due but he should be remembered as a guy who tried to change things and did something completely different at a time where WWE had little wiggle room.
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Woo Woo Woo, you know it! It's funny to think that you can probably butterfly effect your way to Zack Ryder's youtube series being a foundational piece to AEW's creation. I don't think he'll ever get his flowers in, like, a hall-of-fame capacity, but Matt Cardona is absolutely one of the most concequential wrestlers of his generation.
The guy was legitimately the first person I saw using social media to get his name out there and push his merch through his YouTube channel. Something that even some celebrities do nowadays (like Ryan Reynolds) Cardona was doing it in the mid 2000s, and successfully too. He was so ahead of the curve on all this, not sure he'll ever be recognized as such like you said, but those who saw it happen know.
Talk about reaching for the “brass ring”. The past years with Vince in control sounds like a micro managed corporate hell.
Like the last decade, the brass ring comments were in 2014.
CM punk referenced them in his promo with Vince back in 2011
Cardona made it a bit back in 09
Oh yeah, the podcast interview was in 2014, god knows how long he had been saying it in private.
Ehhhh this was definitely a bit later than mid-2000s. The "My New Haircut" video that the Broski character was based off of wasn't even put up on YouTube until the back end of 2007.
"Yagga bombs" was definitely a thing yelled in the hallway of my HS from 2008-2010
Not now, Chief. I'm in the fucking zone.
He’ll get into the HOF. Not as a headliner but he’ll get in. His merch outsold Cena and CM Punk for a time, that’s Hall worthy alone. His post WWE makeover is the blueprint every future endeavoured talent should be following. Matt could show up anywhere at anytime and no one would be surprised, neither would he feel out of place.
Plus he left WWE on relatively good terms if I'm not mistaken. Basically thanked WWE for the opportunity and went and started doing his own thing. He def deserves to be in at some point
He'll be back. His wife is there, seemingly everyone on the roster likes him, he's very close with Cody. As 'Matt Cardona', though, because Zack Ryder is dead.
Zack Ryder is a great face. Matt Cardona is a fantastic heel.
Ryder died in a limo explosion. He’s hanging out with El Generico in kayfabe heaven.
El Generico is not dead, he's building houses for orphans in Mexico. I really want him to come out in a Royal Rumble to get revenge for his friend Sami getting eliminated some day.
I'm not the biggest Sami fan, but if he ever comes out in WWE as El Generico I'll cheer like a madman.
What’re you talking about? Sami isn’t El Generico, they’re good friends. Next you’ll tell me Ezekiel is just Elias with no beard!
Isn't there a rumor that Triple H thought that Zack Ryder was too much of a goof and that's why he is unlikely to return?
Apparently Triple H didn't like him though.
The problem was management didn't. Not just Vince. HHH never got him or cared for him. He'd kinda be perfect in current NXT as HBK gets talent HHH doesn't and gets along with everyone. Everyone from Austin to Rock to Cena supported him along with the current guys but it didn't matter
Well, given that he was part of the first wave of pandemic releases, back then they were too busy feeding the whole roster to Face Roman.
I think him coming in doing his indy god/deathmatch king gimmick in NXT would just print money
Yeah I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come in to do an upper-midcard run under his new persona at some point, toss him a couple more secondary titles and it’ll be a no brainer to induct him someday
Unless he does something unspeakable or declines it until his death, Cardona will get a ring. Too many people understand he was a pioneer of this part of the business for him not to.
i would argue zack ryder is the single most important wrestler of the last 15 years without hyperbole, his effect on wrestling as a whole is HUGE. he basically forced all of wrestling to establish an online presence
I’d say it’s probably him and Colt. The Art of Wresting was far ahead of its time in the podcast space especially for indie guys getting out there
Incidentally, Colt also invented the Woo Woo Woo character that Zack elevated so much with Z!TLIS.
The Art of Wrestling and The LAW (Live Audio Wrestling) was my introduction into the podcast style form. LAW was radio that transitioned to a proto podcast format.
Colt also gave Cardona his original AoW equipment so he and Myers could do the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast.
Wow I didn’t know that. That’s pretty cool
Can you draw a line between Cardona and AEW existing?I have never watched BTE so I don’t have a sense of how important BTE was to the Young Bucks getting as popular as they are.
BTE absolutely took the Bucks to the next level. They were already a very popular indie act, but BTE made them into THE act on the indie scene. Plus it made stars out of pretty much everyone involved in the core crew; Kenny, Hangman, Cody, Cole, and Marty were all elevated heavily by BTE. By the end of their time there, I think it would be fair to say that The Elite was bigger than ROH and was the primary reason anyone was still going to those shows.
Well, the connection is Cody Rhodes. Without both being screwed over in Wrestlemania 32, (well, technically, Zack is screwed on the RAW after).
I totally agree and honestly think when ready he should go into the HoF based off of the Z! Long Island True Stories alone
He’s the Soulja Boy of wrestling (in a good way)
Old ass Matt Cardona is definitely getting into the GCW hall of fame and it's gonna be glorious.
Take Care, Spike your hair. Woo Woo Woo, you know it
brother i was obsessed with z! true long island story back in the day, i was a total 2009 wwecw mark and zack ryder quickly became my favourite
The original Z! had so many good bits. From Ziggler cutting his best promos to Cardona's dad just trolling him all the time. It was must see content for a couple of months.
Who's your favorite wrestler? John Morrison. DAD ARE YOU SERIOUS BRO?
2011 Zack Ryder. You had to be there. So god damn over. He's doing great now but I feel like he never truly got his flowers.
He'll be back
Either AEW or WWE, he’ll end his career somewhere at a big promotion.
I wanna see Zack Ryder back in WWE. His theme is a banger.
He’s making way more money now than he ever did working there. He’s a relentless self-promoter, and has multiple business ventures going on.
I agree, second to only Cody to leave to reinvent themselves. Drew is great but Cody and Cardona ore on a different level outside of WWE
I wouldn’t say Cody “reinvented” himself. He just knew he was capable of more, so he left and bet on himself. Cardona was fired and instead of going around playing the “Woo Woo Woo” guy, he came up with this “I’m bigger than everyone else because I was in WWE” character, which then morphed into the “Deathmatch King” and the “Indy God” and so on.
His current Indy character only came about because he tried to do his WWE character when he worked those few AEW matches he had and nobody really cared for it so he leaned into the hate for his WWE style and became the "deathmatch king/Indy god"
Cody's whole USA American Nightmare character is not a WWE thing, he built it up while he was gone. He was CAWdy Rhodes in WWE and then Stardust which made him quit. I guarantee HHH/WWE saw Cody in his first 6 months of AEW and went WE NEED THAT GUY. Everything after (AEW fucking him up) didn't matter and was just bad booking. He definitely re-invented himself outside of WWE and for the WAY better. He looks like a super hero (politician) now and pretty much every demographic like him.
I don’t think “The American Nightmare” is anything more than just a name. His character is just Cody as himself, with American flag-themed gear. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing by any stretch, but it’s not like he’s really playing a character.
Toni Storm and Swerve have to be up there too.
no offense to either of them, but cody and cardona are literally unicorns
Up there, but I don’t think they’ve quite hit the Cardona/Rhodes level. Of them, I think Swerve has more of a shot—which is no reflection on what I think of Toni’s work (I seriously love it) but I know how many times a singular woman has really captured the business (or even “the business that isn’t WWE” to match Cardona) in my lifetime. And that took Becky at full The Man on the verge of WrestleMania against peak Ronda (oh and also Charlotte) to get there. So it’s much tougher sledding for her.
matt has said many times that zack ryder is dead and he isn't going back to him. He has evolved so much, to a point he said if he was to come back, which would require the 2 c's of cash and creative, he is doing so as Matt Cardona and not Zack. I was hesitant on that at first since I doubt they would let an established guy come back with a different name.....then I saw shawn spears do it a few weeks back and i was reminded of hall and nash doing that same thing ages ago and so yeah I'm all for it now.
We likely may. Not as Zack though, that character is dead by his own words. He’ll be back as Matt Cardona no doubt. Just like how Spears recently returned as Spears, not Tye Dillinger.
Dead men can't wrestle.
Z is dead
those early videos man...different time i swear..."im just trying to get over" haha
I love that all of New Day have zero qualms just speaking truth whenever, and wherever.
“What are they gonna do? Fire me?”
There’s a pretty easy argument that Ryder/Cardona is one of the most influential wrestlers of the 2010’s by connecting a few dots. Dude never really got his due but he should be remembered as a guy who tried to change things and did something completely different at a time where WWE had little wiggle room.
Gonna crack open a Bud Light Lime and listen to "Hoeski" to pay tribute to the broski that paved the way...
Xavier woods got the best gig in wwe. plays games and bangs divas, does he even wrestle?
Xavier has no fear.
I want him in the Rumble. First as Zack Ryder with a terrible wig and gets thrown out in a minute. Then later as Cardona.