Ex-WWE star denies reports of contract offer from Tony Khan and AEW despite interest in signing

A former WWE Superstar who is currently a top name in the independent circuit, Matt Cardona, recently made appearances for AEW and its sister promotion, ROH. However, he has claimed not to have received a contract from Tony Khan, despite rumors of the latter's interest in signing the erstwhile Zack Ryder.

Back in 2020, The Indy God inked a limited agreement with AEW, which led to him wrestling a tag match alongside Cody Rhodes on Dynamite in August and then later competing in another multi-person tag bout at All Out in September. Cardona would return to the Jacksonville-based company nearly four years later, challenging his former mentor, Adam Copeland, for his TNT Title on Collision in March 2024.

Later last year, in December, The Deathmatch King was revealed to be Chris Jericho's ROH World Title challenger for Final Battle 2024. He defeated The Nueve's acolyte Bryan Keith on Rampage, but The Bad Apple cost him the ROH World Championship by helping Jericho retain against Cardona in the Hammerstein Ballroom on December 20.

Rumors were floating around this time that AEW had offered Matt Cardona a contract. However, the former WWE Intercontinental Champion quashed such speculations during his recent interview with Ariel Helwani, where he reflected on his Ring of Honor program with Chris Jericho.

“A month or so ago, I get called, ‘Hey, do you want to wrestle Chris Jericho at Hammerstein Ballroom?’ Hell yes, I do. Another guy I grew up idolizing. We do the weeks of TV, getting reactions in-house, social media, killer match at Hammerstein Ballroom. [Shrugs] Nothing," Cardona said.

Cardona clarified that while he enjoyed his time in the Tony Khan-led company, the latter had not extended a deal to him following the ROH Final Battle.

“I didn’t get one [laughs]. Hey, maybe it got lost in the mail. I don’t know," Cardona said. “Of course. I loved my time there. Even this past time in December, I love it there. I think it’s a great company. I think it’s great for the business. I think everybody’s working their a** off there. But everything has to be the right situation, but I wasn’t offered anything.." [H/T - Fightful]

It remains to be seen when Matt Cardona makes his next AEW appearance.

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AEW performer Matt Cardona on a possible WWE Royal Rumble comeback

During the same interview, Matt Cardona also reiterated his desire to return to his old stomping grounds in WWE. The King of The Indies confidently claimed that him making his comeback at the upcoming Royal Rumble would generate a massive reaction from the crowd. He revealed, however, that the Stamford-based company had not made him an offer yet.

Fans are keen to find out what lies next for Cardona in the pro wrestling industry.