Matt Cardona On Whether Some WWE Talent Would Benefit From Going To the Indies

Matt Cardona turned his WWE release into a successful independent run, and he recently weighed in on if such a thing would benefit some talent. Cardona of course back with WWE after he spent five-plus years on the independent scene where he transformed himself from Zack Ryder to Matt Cardona.

Cardona was asked in an interview with Jeremy Jacobson if he thinks other people would benefit from a similar move to the independents where they could improve their skills and make a name for themselves. He also was asked about his influence on the industry as someone who was being his Long Island Story digital series, the Major Figure Wrestling Podcast and line of toys with Brian Myers, and more. You can see the highlights below:

On the Notion That He’s Been Influential In the Industry:

“I guess I don’t look at it that way, because I’m still in it. You know what I’m saying? Like, I’m not finished, right? That’s my catchphrase. But it’s — you know, even coming to New York, like last night we were driving to the city and I’m like, ‘Wow, I came to so many shows here as a fan. Like SummerSlam ’91 or [Wrestle]Mania X.’ Or you know, like I’ve gotten to wrestle at Madison Square Garden. The fans chanted for me over The Rock in Madison Square Garden.

“I wrestled at Hammerstein Ballroom; I went to Raw at the Manhattan Center. I cut class to meet Hulk Hogan at Toys R’ Us Times Square, used to go to the WWE New York restaurant. Like, it’s crazy, a kid from Long Island got to do some cool things. So I guess I’m more so grateful for the fact that I did things, and I’m still doing things. But when someone says that I was influential, I guess yeah, that means a lot. Yeah, I appreciate it.”

On Whether Some Talent Would Benefit From Going To the Indies From WWE:

“So when I got released, fired from WWE, it was the greatest day of my life. And I knew then I had three options, because I’m a student of the game. I see what happens when people leave WWE. You could fade into obscurity, which I wasn’t going to do. You can just be bitter, negative, fade into obscurity, or you can just coast off your WWE name forever. And I don’t mean like the literal name. Like, Honky Tonk Man is still doing the ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll,’ and I love that. And it’s great and I love Honky, but I didn’t want to still do the ‘Woo Woo Woo on the indies.’ I wanted to create something new. And that’s what I decided. ‘Okay, I’m going to reinvent myself and I’m going to change the Matt Cardona game. I’m going to reinvent myself in a way that like yeah, hopefully WWE wants me back. But if they don’t, that’s fine.’

“And you know, I made more money outside WWE than I ever made in WWE. Like, I technically took a pay cut to go back to WWE. That’s how much money I was making on the indies. But WWE coming back with — it’s the ultimate opportunity, because if it works out it’ll be the ultimate raise… But leaving WWE is where I found myself, right? And it’s certainly a sink or swim environment. So yes, do I think a lot of people would benefit? Sure. I also think a lot of people would fall in the face and flop. Because some of the people online, they would say to me like, ‘Oh, you’re only successful in the indies because you came from WWE.’ Well then, where’s everyone else who ever got fired? …Yeah, it helps that I learned so much from WWE, but like I took what I learned, and I used that and utilized that on the outside. Because if everyone who was fired was a success outside WWE, where all are all these people, you know what I’m saying?”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Jeremy Jacobson with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.