Independent Wrestler, Matt Cardona
SI Media With Jimmy Traina
Sports Illustrated
4.6 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 July 2025
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Episode 562 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with the wrestler known as the "Indy God," Matt Cardona.
Cardona talks about carving out a massive career on the independent scene after being part of the WWE Covid roster cuts in 2020 and why he was thrilled at the time when he found out he was released from the company after 15 years there.
In addition, Cardona discusses whether he wants to return to the WWE, what his current relationship is like with WWE and Triple H, what it's like to have his wife work in WWE and getting mentioned in a recent promo by John Cena. Cardona also reminisces about his time as Zack Ryder, holding the WWE Intercontinental title of just one day, his "Z! True Long Island Story" YouTube show being so ahead of its time.
Cardona also talks about his new job on SiriusXM's Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7 channel, hosting the long-running "Major Wrestling Figure Podcast," and his love of Disney World.
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Transcript
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| 0:54.4 | everything secure. Welcome everyone to SI Media with Jimmy Traynor. Thank you so much for |
| 1:03.1 | listening. Bonus episode. We've got independent wrestler, and he's way more than that. Matt |
| 1:09.2 | Cardone is on the podcast. First time I've wanted to interview him for a while. |
| 1:12.4 | It's always been a huge fan. Back in his WWE days is Zach Ryder. And for those of you, obviously, |
| 1:18.5 | are wrestling fans. You know that Matt Cardona has carved out this unbelievable post-WW career on the |
| 1:24.6 | independence scene. So we get into all that, get into his time in WWE, whether he wants to go back there, |
| 1:30.0 | his wife is in WWE, what it's been like on the independent scene. |
| 1:34.4 | He was also now working at Sirius XM on their new 24-7 pro wrestling nation channel. |
| 1:40.9 | So we discussed that as well. |
| 1:42.3 | Also get into John Cena mentioning him recently during a promo, which caused a lot of buzz. So we discussed that as well. Also get into John Cena mentioning him recently during a |
| 1:44.9 | promo, which caused a lot of buzz. So make sure you keep listening for that little conversation |
| 1:52.6 | because that was fun. Also in the in the land of pro wrestling, I'm supposed to have Cody Rhodes on |
| 1:57.8 | next week. I hope it happens. It is, it looks like it will happen. So stay tuned for on next week. I hope it happens. It, uh, it is, it looks like it will happen. |
| 2:03.0 | So stay tuned for that next week. Another bonus pot will have Cody on. And, um, if you missed |
... |
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