10 Wrestlers Who Don’t Need WWE Or AEW

1. Matt Cardona

Matt Cardona WWE AEW
IMPACT Wrestling

Who could've known that Zack Ryder would go on to become a self-sufficient free agent who refuses to rule out returning to WWE but wouldn't do so under the Ryder name? This 'Long Island Iced-Z' has come a long way since he was being overlooked by Vince McMahon.

Now, according to Matt Cardona himself, he's earning more money on the independent scene and from other ventures than he was from WWE itself. That's wild! Cardona is living his best life away from the pressurised environments of WWE and AEW. He had a brief stay in the latter back in 2020, but quickly moved on.

Drop-ins on IMPACT, the NWA and Game Changer Wrestling have been Matt's bread and butter since. UK indy work has supplemented those appearances too, and he's working some of the best matches of his career. Life is good for the former WWE man.

For more wrestling, check out WWE Crown Jewel 2022: 10 Things That Must Happen and WWE Crown Jewel 2022: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True!

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.