Backstage Update On Matt Cardona's Impact Wrestling Contract Status

The former Zack Ryder debuted for Impact at Hard to Kill 2021. Here's where he stands...

by Andy H Murray
Matt Cardona
Impact Wrestling

Matt Cardona is not under full-time Impact Wrestling contract, despite debuting for the promotion at the Hard to Kill 2021 pay-per-view on Saturday (16 January).

Per Fightful Select, Cardona is yet to be offered a permanent deal by the promotion despite its commentary team suggesting otherwise during the pay-per-view. The former Zack Ryder will work Impact's next set of television tapings though there's no word on what, exactly, will happen after that, making Cardona's pro wrestling future a mystery.

2020 saw Cardona appear for All Elite Wrestling on a short-term contract after his WWE release in April. Debuting alongside Cody Rhodes in July, he was out of the promotion after working his fifth date at All Out 2020 on 5 September. The former WWE Intercontinental and United States Champion has expressed his openness to working with AEW on a full-time basis.

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Cardona's Impact debut saw him face Ace Austin in a short match that ended with his opponent's heavy, Madman Fulton, interfering for the disqualification. Matt chased Fulton off to close the segment, though this tweet suggests his beef with the duo is set to continue:-

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.