Matt Cardona Shares His Advice for Other Released Former WWE Talents, on Possible WWE Return

– During a recent interview with Cultaholic Wrestling’s Straight to Hell, Matt Cardona discussed his post-WWE career, if he’d ever return to WWE, his advice for other released talents, and more. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com):

Matt Cardona on if he’d ever be open to a WWE return later on: “Listen, if Vince McMahon called me, or Bruce Prichard or John Laurinaitis called me, of course, I would pick up. Of course, I would have a conversation. Why wouldn’t I? I’d be lying right now if I said I never want to wrestle at Madison Square Garden again. Or, I never want to wrestle at WrestleMania again, I would be lying if I said that. Anybody who says that is f*cking lying, quite frankly. But I am not doing what I am doing now hoping to get back. I don’t do what I do thinking, ‘what do I have to do to get back to WWE?’ Or, ‘what do I have to do to get AEW to look at me?’ No, I am doing me. If those opportunities present themselves, great. But the sport of pro wrestling is on fire right now, you don’t need to be in those two companies.”

On not needing AEW or WWE to be a success in wrestling: “I am trying to prove that you don’t need it. Listen, you’ve got to bust your ass, you’ve got to work your ass off, you’ve got to travel, you’ve got to hustle. You’ve got to be your own boss, you’ve got to do interviews like this. You have to do the work. If you think you’re going to just sit back five days a week, Monday through Friday then just do some independent and think you’re going to be a star, and make money, you’re not. Spoiler alert, you’re not. This does not stop, this grind does not stop, this hustle does not stop. And I think that’s why I have been so successful outside of WWE and AEW. Because I have that work ethic.”

On his advice for other wrestlers who have been released: “It’s unfortunate to see a lot of guys who were released when I was released, and afterward, where are they? It’s unfortunate, because I know they’re talented, I know they’re great athletes, great superstars. But they’re expecting these phone calls, it doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to go out and you’ve got to bust your ass and create your own side thing. Listen, I am not saying everyone has to go out and start a wrestling figure podcast but find something you’re passionate about. Start something else, do something else, get your name out there. Create your own buzz because nobody is going to do that for you.”