Former WWE Superstar seemingly announces he's coming back at Royal Rumble next year

A former WWE Superstar has subtly hinted at returning to the company at the 2025 Royal Rumble premium live event. The star being discussed is Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder).

Triple H recently announced that Royal Rumble 2025 will be held in Indianapolis on February 1. Over the years, the premium live event has featured many surprise returns and debuts as part of the 30-person Royal Rumble Match.

Matt Cardona worked in WWE for many years before being released in 2020. Since his exit from the global juggernaut, the former United States Champion has made a massive name for himself on the independent circuit. In March 2024, The Indy God appeared on AEW Collision to take on Adam Copeland in a TNT Title match.

Cardona recently sustained an injury and is sidelined from in-ring action. Meanwhile, he has been appointed as the general manager of GCW. While the 39-year-old has enjoyed much success outside WWE, he has teased returning to the Stamford-based promotion many times in the past. However, he has yet to make an appearance for the company.

On X/Twitter, Matt Cardona announced that he would not be taking bookings from independent promoters for February 1, 2025. Next year's Royal Rumble will be held on the same date. Hence, the former Zack Ryder might have subtly hinted at returning to the global juggernaut at the premium live event with his tweet.

"Attention independent promoters… Sorry, but I am unavailable on February 1. Thanks! #IndyGod," Cardona wrote.

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Matt Cardona doesn't want to return to WWE as Zack Ryder

Matt Cardona portrayed a fan-favorite character called Zack Ryder in World Wrestling Entertainment. While he became popular among viewers in 2011, Cadrona was seemingly not booked in prominent storylines. However, he reinvented himself as the Indy God, playing a menacing heel on the independent circuit.

On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Matt Cardona said, if given the opportunity, he would not return to the Stamford-based promotion as Zack Ryder.

So, so grateful for WWE. For Zack Ryder. That was my dream. I lived it. Highest of highs, lowest of lows. I'm forever grateful for that time. It set me up for who I am today. But it’s over. Zack Ryder is dead. And if I ever want to go back to WWE, if it was up to me, it’d be as Matt Cardona."

Independent contractors usually stop accepting bookings from promoters for specific dates once they agree to appear in major companies like AEW and World Wrestling Entertainment. It remains to be seen whether Cardona will indeed return at Royal Rumble on February 1, 2025.