Zack Ryder, also known as indy God Matt Cardona, made a surprise return to WWE on the November 14th episode of SmackDown, competing against LA Knight in the opening round of ”The Last Time Is Now” tournament. It marked Ryder’s first match on the WWE main roster in over five years.
The unexpected appearance immediately sparked fan excitement, particularly given Ryder’s history with John Cena. A previous WWE storyline in 2012, centered around Ryder’s “Hoeski” video, saw him largely sidelined. This return fuels speculation about a potential storyline culminating in a match against cena, with Ryder possibly seeking to definitively end Cena’s career next month. However, Ryder’s appearance was ultimately a one-off; Knight defeated him with the BFT, advancing to the second round of the tournament alongside Jey uso, Rusev, and Sheamus.
Ryder’s inclusion in the tournament adds an engaging dynamic, tho his loss means he won’t be contending for the championship. the tournament bracket remains unannounced as of this writing.
