Zack Ryder’s WWE Future: What His Surprise SmackDown Return Really Means
Zack Ryder shocked the WWE Universe with his unexpected return on Friday Night SmackDown, stepping back into the ring under his old WWE persona for the first time in five years.
Matt Cardona, who has spent the last few years reinventing himself on the independent scene, walked out as Zack Ryder for his match against LA Knight in the “John Cena: Last Time is Now” tournament. The appearance immediately set social media buzzing—was this a one-night nostalgia pop, or is the “Woo Woo Woo” era officially back?
To clear the air, WWE released a backstage video of Ryder speaking candidly about what this return meant to him—and his comments make things even more interesting.
Ryder revealed that despite the big TV moment, he hasn’t signed a WWE contract… at least not yet.
“It’s been five years since I laced up Zack Ryder’s boots,” he said. “Every morning I wake up thinking about how to get back here. I’ve worked my ass off—Deathmatch King, Indy God, The Complete Package—all for a moment like this. Maybe it’s a one-time deal, maybe they call me tomorrow. Either way, I’m Zack Ryder. I’m always ready. Woo, woo, woo… you know it.”
The clip ended with LA Knight shaking Ryder’s hand and admitting he doesn’t know whether this was a “welcome back” or a “see you later,” adding even more mystery to the situation.
Fueling speculation further, WWE quietly added brand-new Zack Ryder merchandise to WWE Shop right after his return—something the company usually doesn’t do unless plans are in motion.
Cardona also addressed the surprising resurrection of his old gimmick, especially after previously declaring that Zack Ryder was “dead” and gone for good.
Right now, his WWE future remains up in the air… but fans are hoping this isn’t the last time they hear that iconic “You know it!”
