Matt Cardona Talks NWA Titles And Being The Biggest Indie Name In Wrestling

In a recent Wrestling Inc interview, Matt Cardona shared some details on his future goals with NWA and his perspective on independent wrestling. Cardona has levied an open challenge for his upcoming appearance at NWA 75 and spoke about trying to make up the progress lost after his bicep injury. “I mean, full disclosure, I was the NWA Champion last year. I came to the NWA to save the NWA. I saw the potential in the NWA. Of course, we all know the history and the legacy of the NWA, but it needed a kick in the ass, and I was that kick in the ass. I won the championship. I beat Trevor Murdoch. I brought that title all over the world. Whether you liked me or not or you watched NWA or not, everybody who followed wrestling knew that I was the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion. I was very proud of that. I’m still very proud of that,” Cardona explained.

“Unfortunately, I got injured. I tore my bicep. I had to relinquish the title, and ever since then, my run in the NWA hasn’t quite been what I wanted it to be,” he continued. “I haven’t been on NWA TV since February, so I figure, what better way to come back? Like you said, the biggest show to date, and it honestly doesn’t matter who my opponent is, it’s going to be the biggest match of their career, the biggest opportunity of their life, but for me, honestly, it’s just going to be another payday, you know what I’m saying?”

Cardona also offered further clarification regarding his comment about saving NWA in the context of his challenge match later this month. “Well, now, listen, Tyrus, he beat me, right? You can say what you want about Tyrus. He takes that title. He is the perfect spokesman for the NWA. He brings that title on television, Fox News. I don’t care what your politics are. He is bringing that title on television. This is a big deal. People who don’t even know what the NWA is knows that Tyrus is the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, so that’s great. Tyrus, I don’t think he’s going to accept my open challenge. I don’t think this is going to be a NWA title match, but the goal is to be a two-time champion. I never lost that title. I had to relinquish it,” he stated.

“Honestly, I’m kind of a little pissed off … because I missed less than three months. I missed less than three months as the champion. I could have held onto it. I could have done promos, I could have done media appearances, I could have done whatever, but I respect Billy’s decision. His decision was final, and that’s it. If I get an opportunity, I feel like, every opportunity I’ve had since, there’s always been some sort of collusion. There was a triple threat match with Tyrus and Trevor. It wasn’t one-on-one or, with Tyrus, even Bully Ray got involved. I’m not going to sit here and bitch and moan and complain and say it wasn’t fair, but I haven’t gotten a fair one-on-one rematch for my title,” he concluded.

The wrestler was clear that he thinks NWA should not have had him give up the title during his injury absence, citing the comparatively short recovery time that was required of him. Cardona explained that he didn’t appreciate the idea of a rematch with an interim title holder after his return, either. “I am not. I’m not a fan of that,” Cardona admitted. “I think it just muddies the waters. It’s too confusing. Listen, I wasn’t going to be out for nine months, I was going to be out for three, so even more reason to just keep it on me. Just keep it on me, come on. But it is what it is, water under the bridge. That was a year ago, and the goal is now to become a two-time champion.”

Regardless of his NWA title standings, Cardona said he is still the primary talent in the independent scene. “There’s no doubt I am, and that’s not me being … Maybe I have a bit of an ego, but that’s just fact, and that’s because I’m getting myself out there every single weekend. I do the indies that have all the buzz. I do the indies where I go do the show. It’s like the day never existed in my life because I won’t get one tweet about it, but I do those shows. I go overseas. I just got back from Japan. I’m going to Australia. I’m going to England. I’m going everywhere, because I’m not on TV, I’m not on ‘Raw’ or ‘SmackDown,’ any of those AEW shows. I need to push myself, and I have no problem doing that.”