Matt Cardona made a surprise in-ring return to WWE SmackDown on Friday night, competing in a New Year’s-themed episode and picking up his first win on WWE television in more than six years. The former Zack Ryder squared off against Kit Wilson in a singles bout, marking another notable chapter in Cardona’s ongoing reintroduction to WWE audiences.

Wilson came out aggressively at the opening bell, using a Corkscrew Elbow to seize early control. Cardona weathered the storm and fired back with a clothesline to swing momentum briefly in his favor, but Wilson’s ring awareness allowed him to regain the upper hand by knocking Cardona off the ropes and keeping him grounded. The match remained competitive throughout, with both men trading advantages as the pace picked up.

Cardona came close to sealing the deal with a Double Underhook Powerbomb that nearly earned him the three-count. Wilson answered back by attempting his Tourniquet finisher, but Cardona managed to survive. The turning point came when Wilson missed a strike in the corner, opening the door for Cardona to capitalize. Moments later, Cardona connected with the Rough Ryder to score the pinfall victory.

Following the match, commentary from Michael Cole confirmed that Cardona is officially part of the SmackDown roster. The appearance continues a recent run that has included a match on NXT against Josh Briggs and involvement in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament. Prior to this stretch, Cardona had not competed in a WWE ring since 2020.

Since leaving WWE, Cardona has built a high-profile run across multiple promotions, including AEW, IMPACT/TNA, GCW, and Ring of Honor, reinventing himself as one of the most prominent independent stars in the industry. Interestingly, while he was introduced as Matt Cardona on SmackDown, his entrance video briefly displayed the Zack Ryder name, and his finishing move was called the Rough Ryder rather than its independent-era name, Radio Silence.

Those details leave some unanswered questions about Cardona’s presentation going forward. Whether WWE fully embraces his post-WWE persona, returns him to the Zack Ryder identity, or blends elements of both remains to be seen as his SmackDown run continues.

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.

NO WAY!!!

Zack Ryder is @RealLAKnight's mystery opponent 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pMR3E03CYu

— WWE (@WWE) November 15, 2025