WWE star returns 5 years after getting fired and fans think he’s back for good

Woo, woo, woo – Zack Ryder is back in WWE.

The former United States Champion and original viral star made a surprise return during Friday’s episode of SmackDown as an entrant in the Last Time Is Now Tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent.

Ryder made his comeback last night to face LA Knight, which came almost six years since he was let go in April 2020, a year before his wife Chelsea Green’s release.

He wrestled on NXT last month under his real name Matt Cardona, but this marked his first main roster appearance since a quick loss to Bobby Lashley a few weeks before his exit.

Using his old Zack Ryder name and a remixed version of his old theme song, he came out to a great ovation, even though he lost to Knight in the tournament match.

However, the aftermath of the bout has viewers thinking there’s more than meets the eye.

He’s still listed under the alumni section, but fans think having him come out as Ryder rather than Cardona suggests he could have re-signed with the company on a new deal.

Also, WWEShop has launched a new range of classic Zack Ryder t-shirts, with merchandise not typically sold for one-off appearances.

He even got the iconic Triple H finger point photo, which has got the rumour mill going regarding a potential long term contract for the King of the Indies.

‘You never know who might show up in The Last Time Is Now Tournament,’ Triple H wrote on X. ‘It’s all about opportunity and @TheMattCardona proved that tonight. #SmackDown’

‘I’m just waiting for the late night bomb … that Zack Ryder is back full time in WWE. He’s got the point photo, newer merch, a remixed theme. The signs are there,’ said @Matthew_WWEFan.

‘Seeing as they made new graphics, a custom nameplate, and merch for Zack Ryder, it really makes me think it’s not a one-off,’ wrote @JustinHassan19, and @DanteOnDeck added: ‘Oh so he’s BACK BACK?’

‘This confirms that he’s officially signed and I couldn’t be more happier for him,’ agreed @TooSweetMeBro after seeing the merch, and @PMercier speculated: ‘Based on the fact that WWE is promoting new Zack Ryder merch, I think he’s back with the company now.’

Ryder himself is yet to confirm the news, but has been retweeting messages of support, and the new merch, as well as posing his old catchphrases.

‘WOO. WOO. WOO,’ he wrote, later adding: ‘YOU KNOW IT. I KNOW IT. THEY KNOW IT!’

His wife Chelsea Green shared a picture of them beaming together backstage, and captioned the snap: ‘What a day to be Zack Ryders wife!
💜🧡💜🧡’, while she later teased fans: ‘Hehe I knew before you knew!’

Like her husband, Chelsea was released during pandemic roster cuts, but made a comeback at the 2023 Royal Rumble.

She is a two-time Women’s United States Champion, having recently reclaimed the gold almost a year after becoming the inaugural champ.

Ryder has been vocal about wanting to earn a return to WWE at some point, as far back as 2022.

‘I’d lying if I said I never wanted to have a WrestleMania moment again, or I never wanted to wrestle at Madison Square Garden – of course I would,’ he exclusively told Metro at the time.

‘If Triple H called me right now, if I had that 203 – that’s the area code for Stamford, Connecticut – of course I’d pick up.’

While he’s been focused on building his legacy as Matt Cardona, the King of Indies, he admitted he still had goals of capturing the WWE Championship.

‘Every single day when I wake up, that is definitely always on my mind,’ he added. ‘I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. I think if you’re in this business, to be a world champion is the goal you should have.’

WWE SmackDown airs every Friday night on Netflix.

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