Major Update on Zack Ryder’s WWE Status After Surprise Return on This Week’s SmackDown

Zack Ryder hasn't signed with WWE despite his surprise appearance on this week's SmackDown.

Major Update on Zack Ryder’s WWE Status After Surprise Return on This Week’s SmackDown

Zack Ryder [via- WWE]

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Matt Cardona lit up this week’s SmackDown under the name he’s best known by to the wrestling fans—Zack Ryder. ‘The Long Island Loudmouth’ was LA Knight‘s surprise opponent in the Last Time is Now tournament. Even though Ryder didn’t make it through to the second round, his return was a dose of nostalgia for those who’d seen him perform in WWE.

Now that the moment has passed, it definitely makes one wonder if Ryder is back in WWE permanently. As per Fightful Select, the wrestler in question himself relayed to the news outlet that he hasn’t signed a new deal with WWE, and his SmackDown appearance was merely a one-off occurrence, as of now.

The report claimed that Ryder’s new ‘Broski’ merch was added to WWE Shop as part of a merchandise deal in place. Despite coming up short in his first WWE main roster match in over 5 years, Ryder didn’t dwell on it. In fact, he said he woke up every single morning in all those years just thinking about when he’d get the opportunity to perform in a WWE ring once again.

The return that everyone cherished wouldn’t have been possible without the former Intercontinental Champion’s hustle on the independent circuit, where he earned monikers like ‘The Deathmatch King’ and ‘The Indy God’. The New Yorker didn’t seem perturbed about his next WWE gig, as he asserted he’s always ready for that call.

Before Ryder could exit, he was confronted by LA Knight. ‘The Megastar’ said he wasn’t sure if his encounter against Ryder was a “welcome back” or “see ya later.” Knight, however, yelled “yeah” and appreciated ‘The Ultimate Broski’ for putting on a valiant fight.

John Cena and Triple H give shout-outs to Zack Ryder after his WWE return

Zack Ryder might not have been signed to a multi-year WWE contract just yet, but it’s certainly possible in the near future. ‘The Long Island Iced-Z’ has even earned a nod from John Cena, who simply posted a picture of Ryder’s SmackDown return on his Instagram. A section of the fans has drawn its conclusion that Cena must’ve pulled some strings backstage to have the real-life Matt Cardona featured in the Last Time is Now tournament as his way to express gratitude to him.

John Cena and Triple H react to Zack Ryder's WWE return
John Cena and Triple H react to Zack Ryder’s WWE return [via- Fandom Wire and WWE]

Apart from ‘The Cenation Leader’, Ryder also got himself clicked with Triple H. ‘The Indy God’ received the trademark finger-point photo from ‘The Game’, who wrote in his post on X that Ryder cashed in on the opportunity that was given to him.

One could sense that there’s a litany of those in the WWE Universe who want to see the 40-year-old back in the company on a full-time basis. While there’s nothing suggesting it, the fans could definitely expect Ryder as a surprise entrant in next year’s Royal Rumble match.

How did Chelsea Green react to Zack Ryder’s WWE return?

There couldn’t have been a happier face than Chelsea Green‘s over Zack Ryder’s WWE return on SmackDown. She posted a picture with her husband on X with the caption, “What a day to be Zack Ryders Wife!”

Green had stated in numerous interviews how dearly she’d been manifesting for this moment to come true. ‘The Hot Mess’ told Chris Van Vliet earlier this year that Ryder coming back to WWE was merely a matter of time, but she added “hopefully” at the end of her statement.

Chelsea Green and Zack Ryder
Chelsea Green and Zack Ryder [via- Wrestling Inc]

The current women’s US Champion went on to describe the hard yards her husband has put in over the past few years to reinvent himself. For someone who’d been a babyface for the entirety of his WWE tenure, it was quite a task for Matt Cardona to act like a heel, which he nailed on the independent circuit.

Green noted that every single one of Cardona’s friends was against him doing the brutal Deathmatch stuff in GCW, but she showed trust in him because the latter was confident enough to put his body at risk. All those bumps that must’ve taken a serious toll on Ryder’s body would’ve seemed worth it after he came out to a thunderous crowd reaction on SmackDown this past Friday.

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