The “Last Time Is Now” tournament kept rolling on this week’s WWE SmackDown from Albany, and fans got a surprise throwback appearance that nobody saw coming.
Jey Uso Advances — But Brackets Still a Mystery
The night opened with Jey Uso knocking off The Miz to secure his place in the next round. WWE still hasn’t revealed the tournament bracket, so we’re left guessing who Main Event Jey will collide with next.
LA Knight Gets a Mystery Opponent… Woo Woo Woo?!
Later in the show, LA Knight came prepared for a mystery opponent — but the crowd inside MVP Arena erupted when the curtain parted to reveal Matt Cardona, fully revived in his classic Zack Ryder persona. Same name, same color scheme, same entrance. The whole package.
This was Ryder’s first match on the main roster in more than five years, with his last WWE appearance coming during an NXT cameo back in 2019 where he lost to Josh Briggs.
Ryder Puts Up a Fight, Knight Puts Him Down
Cardona didn’t look out of place at all and came in swinging, clearly aiming to make the most of the moment. But despite a strong showing, LA Knight cut him off and sealed the win with the BFT, punching his ticket to the tournament’s next stage.
Whether Ryder’s return is a one-night nostalgia hit or something more permanent remains to be seen — but the crowd reaction made one thing clear: Albany knew it.
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