Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens recently brought attention to Matt Cardona during their appearance on the What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, sparking new conversations within the wrestling community. The Cody Rhodes Kevin Owens podcast discussion touched on Owens’ recovery from injury, but quickly included commentary on Cardona’s outspoken personality and ongoing references to WWE.
Matt Cardona, known to many as the self-styled “Indy God,” has become a frequent subject for WWE colleagues in recent weeks. After John Cena name-checked Cardona during his impactful promo on SmackDown, Kevin Owens followed suit. Owens pointed out that Cardona, despite making a name for himself on the independent wrestling circuit and calling himself the “King of the Indies,” continues to discuss WWE at length. According to sources, in the podcast episode, Owens remarked on Cardona’s tendency to mention WWE, stirring further response from the wrestling world.
Cardona responded after hearing the podcast, especially noting the tone taken by Rhodes and Owens. Speaking with Sam Roberts during a Notsam Wrestling Live segment, Cardona made it clear he was aware of the remarks directed at him. His response indicated a blend of amusement and caution in addressing how the two WWE stars spoke about him.
“Sam, I’ll take any publicity. I will run with it. This one, I didn’t necessarily overexpose. I was kind of heavy on the [John] Cena, overexposing the ‘hey.’ Then Cody [Rhodes] and KO were, you know, I think they were half-burying me on their podcast. So I’m like, alright, let’s pump the brakes a little bit here,” Cardona said. [H/T: Fightful]
After leaving WWE in 2020, Matt Cardona—formerly Zack Ryder—has found continued relevance outside the flagship company. His time with WWE saw success, including a run as Intercontinental Champion and several prominent matchups. Even without WWE’s platform, Cardona has maintained popularity, often engaging with a passionate fanbase on the independent scene.
At WWE’s Night of Champions Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia, Cardona’s support was on full display. During a press conference after the show, fans chanted Matt Cardona’s name, underscoring his ongoing significance to the wrestling audience.
Fan Reactions and Social Media Highlights
The aftermath of the Night of Champions event saw even more attention for Cardona, particularly as Triple H spoke to the media and the crowd broke into cheers for Cardona. While WWE did not directly address the chants, Cardona’s wife, Chelsea Green, made her reaction known on social media, sharing the wave of support her husband received during the event.
“Is this… are they… do I hear… ?? ILY SAUDI ARABIA,” Green wrote.
Cardona described his own experience of learning about the chants while at a wedding, receiving video clips unexpectedly from friends and fans. On Notsam Wrestling, he recalled not immediately realizing the significance of what was happening until he looked more closely at the footage. Cardona expressed appreciation for the spontaneous show of support.
“Well, first, people were just sending me the video [of fans at WWE Night of Champions chanting my name] with no context, and I’m at this loud wedding, I’m watching this video, it’s just Triple H talking. I’m like, ‘What is going on here?’ I went to the back, I went, ‘Ohhh! I see what they’re chanting.’ Listen, it’s great, I love it,” he said.
Cardona’s reaction demonstrates both his gratitude for the ongoing fan interest and his awareness of how WWE remains part of his professional narrative, regardless of his current position outside the company.
What Lies Ahead for Cardona and the Ongoing Discussion
The debate about Cardona’s references to WWE and his interaction with wrestling stars like Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens highlights an evolving relationship between major promotion veterans and the independent wrestling sphere. As Cardona moves forward, all eyes are turning to his upcoming match against former NXT talent Shotzi Blackheart, which is scheduled for July 11. The wrestling world is waiting to see whether Owens or Rhodes will respond to Cardona’s recent remarks.
Cardona’s journey from WWE champion to independent circuit standout continues to inspire discussion among fans and industry insiders. Public support remains robust, as demonstrated by events like the chants at Night of Champions and the attention his every move attracts on social platforms. This dynamic interaction between WWE’s global stage and the independent wrestling world means that Cardona’s name will likely stay in the conversation, both for what he says and how others respond.
