Matt Cardona surprised AEW fans with his first appearance in the promotion in over three years!
Last night’s edition of AEW Collision saw the recently-crowned TNT Champion Adam Copeland put his title on the line in an open challenge. The former Edge has previously faced the likes of Minoru Suzuki, Dante Martin and Lee Moriarty in his self-dubbed Cope Open, though no one could have predicted his surprise opponent this time around.
After cutting a short promo about finally dethroning Christian Cage, Copeland welcomed anyone to step up and face him for his newly acquired title. The challenge would be answered by none other than Matt Cardona, leading to a first-time-ever clash between the two former La Familia stablemates.
Cardona almost picked up a shock victory near the end of their match after managing to counter the Spear into Radio Silence but Copeland managed to kick out of the subsequent pin attempt. A second Radio Silence attempt ultimately cost him, however, as Copeland countered with the Spear and picked up the win.
Fightful Select reported more details on Cardona’s surprise appearance following the show, noting that he remains a free agent and that his return to the company came together earlier this week. To make the appearance, he was forced to miss a booking at Squared Circle Expo where he would have faced Ultimo Dragon.
Matt Cardona Last Appeared In AEW Almost Four Years Ago
The former Zack Ryder initially debuted in AEW all the way back in 2020, making a surprise appearance to save Cody Rhodes from an attack courtesy of Alex Reynolds and John Silver.
The duo would go on to defeat Reynolds and Silver on the following week’s Dynamite. Cardona competed in his second and, at the time, final AEW match at All Out 2020 where he, Dustin Rhodes, QT Marshall and Scorpio Sky defeated Mr. Brodie Lee, Evil Uno, Stu Grayson and Colt Cabana of The Dark Order.