Former Intercontinental Champion wants to return to WWE after being "fired" - "The time is now to go back"

A popular star has made it clear he is eager to return to WWE as he believes he could make a difference this time around. The performer in question is Matt Cardona, who's been on a tear since being released back in April 2020.

Cardona, formerly known as Zack Ryder, had a nearly 15-year tenure in the Stamford-based promotion. He also became an Intercontinental and US Champion in the company, though main event success eluded him. While fans were disappointed to see him being released in April 2020, Matt Cardona quickly found his groove on the indie circuit, becoming one of the most sought-after free agents.

In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, Cardona reflected on completing 20 years in the business. The 39-year-old performer recalled being "fired" from WWE and firmly believed his years in wrestling were still ahead of him.

“It’s been a wild year, celebrating 20 years in the business, 20 years since my first match, four years since I was fired from WWE. Now, I’m just coming back from injury. The doctors said six to eight months, I did it in four. Time is not on my side. I’m not getting any younger, but I feel like right now, I haven’t even hit the prime of my career. I feel like my best years are ahead of me. I’ve done it all on the indies. Winning titles, cover of magazines, all over the world, and it’s been fun, and I needed it, I needed to find myself, both as a performer and as a man."

Matt Cardona also explained how it was time for him to return to the big leagues again after a fruitful time on the independents, with WWE being an option.

"I did, I did it all. The time is now to go back. Where do I go? Do I go back to WWE? Do I go to AEW? Just having that taste even, earlier this year, wrestling Adam Copeland [on AEW Collision], just being out there, jam-packed, real arena, not the Ukrainian Cultural Center in LA or The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, a real arena, and the crowd responded, just on my entrance. It made me feel like, ‘Okay, everything I’ve been doing, it’s working,'" Cardona said. (H/T Fightful Wrestling)

---

Matt Cardona wants to win the WWE World Title

Furthermore, Cardona mentioned that he always grew up wanting to be the top guy in wrestling. The former Intercontinental Champion explained that one of his biggest goals in the business was to capture the WWE World Title.

"I didn’t dream as a little kid to just be a pro wrestler. I dreamed of being a top guy, the top guy. You have to have that goal to be successful in this business. I’m very fortunate in my career, 20 years, highs and lows. But I never got the big one. I never won the WWE World Title. That has to be the goal. Because if that’s not the goal, what are we doing?"

Cardona's wife Chelsea Green is one of the most entertaining performers in the company today and only time will tell if he gets a chance to work with her in the same promotion.