Matt Cardona officially returned to WWE on the latest episode of SmackDown, defeating Kit Wilson in a singles match. Unlike his appearance in November, Cardona was announced as a full-time member of the roster under his real name. This marks a permanent shift from his previous “Zack Ryder” persona.
Following the show, NXT star Shawn Spears took to social media to tease a potential matchup with his former colleague. Spears, who returned to the company in 2024, expressed interest in renewing acquaintances now that both are under the WWE banner again.
“So maybe NOW I can wrestle @TheMattCardona again…,” Spears wrote.
Cardona had previously appeared as a surprise entrant in the “John Cena Last Time Is Now” tournament in November. In that appearance, he wrestled under the Zack Ryder name and lost in the opening round to LA Knight. His win over Wilson on SmackDown establishes his new direction on the blue brand.
Spears is currently part of the NXT brand, where he leads the faction The Culling alongside Niko Vance and Izzi Dame. Since his own return, he has captured the NXT North American Championship. While Cardona is on SmackDown and Spears is in NXT, the crossover potential remains.
So maybe NOW I can wrestle @TheMattCardona again…. pic.twitter.com/PwRtP2xnGz
— Shawn Spears™️ (@ShawnSpears) January 3, 2026
