Why Triple H Called Matt Cardona A "Mark For Himself"

How the former Zack Ryder angered Triple H in WWE.

by Andy H Murray
Triple H Matt Cardona
WWE/IMPACT

Matt Cardona declaring himself "Internet Champion" in WWE may have coincided with his 2011 surge in popularity, but Triple H didn't share the same enthusiasm for the former Zack Ryder's big move.

Cardona has told the Wrestling Perspective Podcast (h/t Fightful) that Triple H called him "a mark for himself" when he had the Internet Championship belt made. Hunter said that had Cardona done this ten years prior, the locker room would have kicked his *ss, to which Matt replied that the locker room loved him.

Triple H's reply? That this was the reason behind WWE's inability to fill buildings.

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The Internet Championship was a fixture of Cardona's self-made rise in 2011, as the former Ryder shot to popularity through his Z! True Long Island Story YouTube series. This didn't coincide with a lasting push on WWE television, however, as he had his wings clipped through ruinous interactions with John Cena and Kane in early 2012.

Released by WWE in April 2020, Cardona has since worked for AEW and IMPACT Wrestling, on top of defeating Game Changer Wrestling Champion Nick Gage for that company's top strap this July.

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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.