Report: Update on Zack Ryder’s WWE contract status
Matt Cardona (aka Zack Ryder) is reportedly not signed to a WWE contract.
According to Fightful Select, both WWE and Cardona have confirmed that his return on WWE SmackDown last night is for now being considered a one-off appearance. However, a merchandising agreement is in place, as Zack Ryder merchandise began selling online shortly after his return on Friday’s show.
Cardona is also set for tonight’s TNA Wrestling TV tapings at Full Sail University in Florida. He responded to a TNA social media post about the show on Saturday, writing, “I’ll be there!”
Ryder alluded to his return being for one night only in his post-match comments published on WWE’s YouTube channel. He said:
“This might be a one time shot, I might get the call tomorrow, but it doesn’t matter because I’m Zack Ryder and I’m always ready. And I guess I can say this: Woo woo woo, you know it.”
Knight then entered the scene and also seemed unsure if Ryder was back full time or not.
“I don’t know if this is a welcome back or if this is a see you later but all I can say is, Yeah!”
Ian Carey is the editing manager at F4WOnline and a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His work has appeared in award-winning publications including NOW Magazine and The Huffington Post. He joined the F4WOnline team in 2019 and moved into the editing manager role in the summer of 2026. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Ian has covered professional wrestling for more than 15 years.