5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (2 Jan - Results & Review)

3. Wasn’t Feeling Matt Cardona’s Comeback

File this under the same bracket as the moans above.

It isn't nearly as high profile as mucking up a WWE Title match announcement with lame stips or seeing an 'Ambulance Match' main event sag, but there was still something missing from Matt Cardona's full time company return. He'd previously shown face as Zack Ryder on the 14 November SmackDown as part of the John Cena tournament when he lost to LA Knight.

Fast forward to today and the Zack attack is back...albeit not as Ryder. He'll be known as Cardona going forwards, which must feel like a personal success for the guy. This is everything he's ever wanted since being cut loose in 2020. However, his comeback match vs. Kit Wilson was a little off. It should've been a squash more than anything so Kit could whine about "toxic masculinity" in promos afterwards.

Bonus points if he worked the same 'unsafe working conditions' pitch Shawn Michaels did following a backstage fight with Bret Hart in the 90s. That'd be some laugh.

Look, it is nice to see Cardona back in the thick of it, and he will be a credit to the SmackDown roster. Sadly, this comeback bout just didn't feel all that dazzling. Further, it's hard to see Kit thriving as a singles star away from Pretty Deadly. Stranger things have happened around these parts, in fairness.

Overall, this was a little low on the energy front for a grand return showing designed to get everyone pumped for the artist formerly known as Zack Ryder.