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2 HOUR INTERVIEW: MATT 'ZACK RYDER' CARDONA DISCUSSES HIS WWE JOURNEY, HIS FUTURE, HIGHS AND LOWS OF 15 YEARS IN WWE, DEALING WITH VINCE MCMAHON, TRIPLE H, THE NIGHT FANS CHANTED HIS NAME WHILE THE ROCK WAS IN THE RING, HIS PODCAST, PASSION FOR COLLECTING, TRAINING, DEEP SOUTH WRESTLING, MATURING AS A PERSON & WRESTLER, WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FUTURE AND MORE

Former WWE star Matt Cardona, who just exited WWE after 15 years performing as Zack Ryder, sat down with PWInsider.com for an exclusive 2 hour conversation about his life experiences working for the company, his recent exit, why he was excited when he received his WWE release, thoughts on his future, what fans can expect from Cardona post-Zack, the night fans chanted his name while The Rock was cutting a promo at Survivor Series in NYC, whether Ryder wanted to hit the ring in that moment, pitching Vince McMahon, going to NXT at Triple H's behest, comparisons in how McMahon and Triple H handle their aspects of WWE, working with Edge and Undertaker early in his WWE run, training under Mikey Whipwreck, time in Deep South Wrestling, whether criticisms of Bill DeMott were fair and accurate, maturing in the WWE system, how and why the WWE locker room changed during his time in the company, fighting to be including in the Wrestlemania Ladder Match in Dallas, the moment he had no clue was happening that night, why his friendship with Brian Myers has lasted over the years, their podcast on wrestling action figures, Ryder's passion for collecting, the favorite pieces in his collection, his favorite Ryder merchandise, WWE doing a memorabilia series without them and tons, tons more in an excellent 2 hour dive through all things in Cardona's life and career.

This interview is exclusive to PWInsiderElite.com subscribers and is part of the Elite experience - an ad-free PWInsider experience featuring hours and hours of exclusive audio shows and interviews every single week.  Since March, the Elite section has featured over 40 deep interviews with talents from WWE, AEW, MLW, Ring of Honor and many, many others as well as PWInsider.com's weekly programming and post-game shows for all major PPVs and TV shows.

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The last month alone has featured the following exclusive Elite content:

MATT CARDONA DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF HIS CAREER. EXITING WWE AFTER 15 YEARS AS ZACK RYDER, VINCE MCMAHON, TRIPLE H, GROWING UP INSIDE WWE, DEEP SOUTH, NXT, WRESTLEMANIA AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN IN THIS 2 HOUR CONVERSATION
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5/27/2020 11:40 AM

VINCE FINALLY DOES THE RIGHT THING FOR THE FANS, DO WE NEED PLEXIGLASS, MAKING BOBBY LASHLEY A MONSTER, AEW PPV THOUGHTS AND MORE
by Dave Scherer
5/26/2020 2:07 PM

FLIP GORDON DISCUSSES HIS NEW RING OF HONOR CONTRACT, WHAT LED TO HIM SIGNING, SURPRISING THOSE WHO ASSUMED HE WAS GOING ELSEWHERE, THE PLAN B NO ONE IN WRESTLING KNEW HE WAS PREPARING FOR, HOW HIS MILITARY BACKGROUND HELPED HIM DURING THE QUARANTINE, TALENTS HE CAN'T WAIT TO GET IN THE RING WITH, FAVORITE ROH MOMENTS, RETURNING EARLY TO WRESTLE IN MSG, INJURIES, EVOLVING AS A TALENT AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/26/2020 11:10 AM

LOOKING AT THE CHANGES WWE BROUGHT TO RAW, A STRONG BRAWL TO CLOSE THE SHOW, ORTON-EDGE, AN ENTERTAINING TRIPLE THREAT MATCH, STREET PROFITS AND MUCH MORE
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5/26/2020 3:47 AM

BREAKING DOWN EVERY DARK SIDE OF THE RING EPISODE, WHERE WAS PAUL ORNDORFF DURING WRESTLEMANIA 3, BLACKMAN, BISCHOFF, GOLDBERG VS. BROCK AND MORE: THE MJ MAILBAG
by Mike Johnson
5/26/2020 2:26 AM

ETHAN PAGE DISCUSSES THE NORTH'S RECENT CANADIAN ADVENTURES ON IMPACT WRESTLING TV, HIS CHEMISTRY WITH JOSH ALEXANDER, WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DEANER COMPOUND TOMORROW, WHY HE'S DYING TO GET BACK TO PROMOTING IN CANADA, CONNECTING WITH FANS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, IMPACT'S CREATIVE REBOUND, HIS INSANE ACTION FIGURE COLLECTION, KEEPING BUSY DURING THE SHUTDOWN & MUCH MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/25/2020 6:08 AM

LOOKING AT AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING, PET PEEVES IN PRO WRESTLING & MORE
by Richard Trionfo
5/25/2020 6:06 AM

THE RETURN OF LES THATCHER'S WRESTLER'S EYE RADIO
by Les Thatcher & Mike Johnson
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THE AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING POST GAME SHOW
by Anthony Pires
5/24/2020 1:33 AM

CODY, TONY KHAN & JON MOXLEY TALK AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING: COMPLETE MEDIA SCRUM AUDIO
by Mike Johnson
5/24/2020 1:06 AM

WE ARE OUT OF QUESTIONS: THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE FMB IS NOW ONLINE
by Dave Scherer and Mike Epsenhart
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5/23/2020 8:13 AM

THE SMACKDOWN & MORE POST GAME SHOW
by Richard Trionfo
5/23/2020 5:09 AM

QUINN MCKAY DISCUSSES BROADCASTING FOR RING OF HONOR, HER INTERVIEW STYLE, ROLLER DERBY VS. PRO WRESTLING'S TRAUMA ON THE BODY, WHAT SHE'S STUDYING ON HONOR CLUB, MISSOURI BBQ, IAN RICCABONI, UPROOTING HER LIFE FOR PRO WRESTLING, HOW ROH HAS TAKEN CARE OF ITS EMPLOYEES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/22/2020 10:24 AM

CODY TALKS DOUBLE OR NOTHING AND MORE: AEW MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL
by Mike Johnson
5/21/2020 3:07 PM

MANCE WARNER DISCUSSES HIS MLW ANTHOLOGY EPISODE THIS WEEKEND, HIS JOURNEY IN PRO WRESTLING, BEST ADVICE HE'S BEEN GIVEN, HIS FASCINATION WITH UFOs & THE SUPERNATURAL, OFF THE WALL SCENARIOS MLW HAS PLACED HIM IN, PROMOS, WHY NICK GAGE SHOULD BE ON TV, INFLUENCES, CONTRA-UNIT HIJACKING MLW, DEATH MATCHES AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/21/2020 8:21 AM

THE AEW DYNAMITE POST GAME SHOW
by Cory Strode & Anthony Pires
5/20/2020 11:56 PM

THE WWE NXT ON USA POST GAME SHOW
by Richard Trionfo
5/20/2020 11:55 PM

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN NAME SHOW IS NOW ONLINE
by Dave Scherer and Mike Johnson
5/20/2020 3:21 PM

JOE HENDRY DISCUSSES HIS VIRAL PARODY SONGS, LIFE IN SCOTLAND, THE WEEKEND ROH SHUT DOWN, RING OF HONOR MOMENTS HE IS MOST PROUD OF, TEAMING WITH DALTON CASTLE, TIGER KING REACTIONS, ROH TAKING CARE OF ITS ROSTER AND MUCH MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/20/2020 9:31 AM

RAW THOUGHTS, TAKER LOVES VINCE, ONE MOVE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AEW MAKE AND MORE
by Dave Scherer
5/19/2020 5:22 PM

RHEA RIPLEY DISCUSSES FACING IO SHIRAI ON TOMORROW'S NXT BROADCAST, REFLECTS ON HER WRESTLEMANIA 36 BOUT AGAINST CHARLOTTE FLAIR, WHAT SHE'S BEEN UP TO ON HIATUS, NOT BEING ABLE TO RETURN TO AUSTRALIA DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, LEARNING FROM STUDYING PAST MATCHES, WHAT SHE HOPES FANS GET OUT OF NXT RIGHT NOW, A TAKEOVER WITHOUT FANS, WANTING THE NXT WOMEN'S TITLE BACK & MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/19/2020 12:17 PM

LOOKING AT RAW, UNDUE PRESSURE BEING PUT ON EDGE VS. ORTON, SHAD GASPARD AND MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/19/2020 1:57 AM

LOOKING AT DREW GULAK, WWE'S LATEST BRAND CROSSOVER DEVICE AND MORE
by Richard Trionfo
5/18/2020 3:33 AM

ON THIS FATEFUL DAY: LOOKING BACK AT THE NIGHT MONDAY NIGHT TRULY BECAME RAW
by Mike Johnson
5/17/2020 10:52 AM

FIVE CLASSIC PWINSIDER INTERVIEWS WITH BRUNO SAMMARTINO
by Mike Johnson
5/17/2020 8:05 AM

WE ARE OUT OF QUESTIONS: THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE FMB IS NOW ONLINE
by Dave Scherer and Mike Epsenhart
5/16/2020 4:49 PM

THE SMACKDOWN & MORE POST GAME SHOW
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5/16/2020 1:04 AM

ALEXANDER HAMMERSTONE DISCUSSES HIS JOURNEY IN PRO WRESTLING, WANTING TO BE A MLW COMPANY GUY, THE DYNASTY, THE NATIONAL OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, WHY TOURING PRO WRESTLING NOAH CHANGED HIS APPROACH TO WRESTLING, COMPARISONS TO HHH, MLW ANTHOLOGY, CONTRA UNIT, WORKING THE FIRST MLW PPV AND TONS MORE IN A NEAR 90 MINUTE DISCUSSION
by Mike Johnson
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THE ISLE OF PUERTO RICO DEBUTS, LOOKING AT ALL THINGS PRO WRESTLING IN PR
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5/15/2020 8:37 AM

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by Marc Kickenweitz & Scott Tison
5/15/2020 7:55 AM

RICHARD HOLLIDAY DISCUSSES HIS RUN IN MLW, BUILDING THE DYNASTY, USING HIS MARKETING DEGREE AS AN EXTENSION OF HIMSELF ON CAMERA, TRAINING UNDER PAUL ROMA, THE DEBUT OF MLW ANTHOLOGY THIS WEEKEND, BEING PART OF THE FIRST EVER MLW MATCH ON LIVE PPV, THE CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, TRAVELING TO MEXICO AS EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN IN THE UNITED STATES AND TONS MORE
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5/14/2020 8:07 PM

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by Cory Strode & Anthony Pires
5/14/2020 12:29 AM

ON THIS FATEFUL DAY: A FIRST HAND REMEMBRANCE OF ECW'S WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE 1994, 26 YEARS LATER
by Mike Johnson
5/14/2020 12:09 AM

THE WWE NXT ON USA POST GAME SHOW
by Mike Johnson & Richard Trionfo
5/13/2020 11:59 PM

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5/13/2020 3:53 PM

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by Les Thatcher & Mike Johnson
5/13/2020 12:07 PM

AIW PROMOTER JOHN THORNE DISCUSSES THE FALLOUT OF WRESTLEMANIA WEEKEND BEING CANCELED FOR INDEPENDENTS, NAVIGATING THE FUTURE, LIFE EXPERIENCES AS A PROMOTER, DENNIS STAMP, SHAYNA BASZLER, THE IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENT WRESTLING, TERRY FUNK, LIFE EXPERIENCES AS A PROMOTER & MUCH MORE IN NEAR 2-HOUR DISCUSSION
by Mike Johnson
5/12/2020 3:13 PM

WILL CROSS BRANDING BRING BACK VIEWERS FOR WWE, HAPPY FOR BECKY, WHAT WILL SETH DO, GREAT NIGHT FOR SHAYNA, COPING WITH THE VIRUS AND MORE
by Dave Scherer
5/12/2020 2:55 PM

BRAWL FOR ALL, SANDMAN BOLTING FOR WCW, BORASH, DARK SIDE OF RING AND MORE: THE MJ MAILBAG
by Mike Johnson
5/12/2020 9:27 AM

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BECKY ANNOUNCEMENT, A GREAT HEEL ANGLE FOR REY VS. ROLLINS, DREW SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED TODAY, SOME RIDICULOUS RAW VERBIAGE & TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/12/2020 6:56 AM

LOOKING AT MONEY IN THE BANK, THE 'CROWDS' THE LAST WEEK IN WRESTLING AND MORE
by Richard Trionfo
5/11/2020 12:30 AM

THE MONEY IN THE BANK 2020 POST GAME SHOW
by Mike Johnson
5/10/2020 10:17 PM

WE HAVE OUR MITB WINNERS, DREW DEFENDS AGAINST SETH IN A GREAT MATCH, CAN BRAY GET HIS TITLE BACK, BAYLEY DEFENDS, R-TRUTH IS CONFUSED, SMACKDOWN TAG TITLES ARE ON THE LINE:FULL MONEY IN THE BANK PPV BLOG
by Dave Scherer
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by Richard Trionfo & Andrew Twiss
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THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF HEY YO! RADIO IS NOW ONLINE
by Marc Kickenweitz & Scott Tison
5/9/2020 3:12 AM

LOOKING BACK AT EVERY WWE MONEY IN THE BANK MATCH & PPV
by Mike Johnson
5/8/2020 12:00 AM

THANKS TO AEW AND NXT FOR GIVING ME THE BEST NIGHT OF WRESTLING OF THE NO AUDIENCE ERA
by Dave Scherer
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AMY ROSE DISCUSSES HER ROH RUN, MANAGING KENNY KING, TRAINING AT THE TEAM 3D ACADEMY, HER HOPES FOR THE ROH WOMEN'S DIVISION, GAMING, GROWING AS A PERFORMER, HONOR CLUB, THE WEEKEND ROH SHUT DOWN, LIFE EXPERIENCES IN WRESTLING, GOALS & MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/7/2020 10:50 AM

THE AEW DYNAMITE POST GAME SHOW
by Cory Strode & Anthony Pires
5/6/2020 11:55 PM

THE WWE NXT ON USA POST GAME SHOW
by Mike Johnson & Richard Trionfo
5/6/2020 11:51 PM

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN NAME SHOW IS NOW ONLINE
by Dave Scherer and Mike Johnson
5/6/2020 4:28 PM

ADAM ABDALLA DISCUSSES PUBLISHING THE NEW PRO WRESTLING 'ORANGE CRUSH' BOOK, BEING INSPIRED BY TODAY'S NEW GENERATION OF TALENTS, JOEY JANELA, TRAVELING THE WORLD TO SEE PRO WRESTLING, WRESTLING AS AN ART FORM AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/6/2020 9:58 AM

CHEESEBURGER DISCUSSES HIS RING OF HONOR RUN, JUSHIN LIGER'S RETIREMENT, WORKING IN NEW JAPAN, COUNTRIES HE'D LIKE TO WRESTLE IN, HIS DOJO IN PA, WHAT HE'S BEEN WATCHING ON HONOR CLUB, WHAT HE STUDIES IN OTHER WRESTLERS, WORKING IN THE TOKYO DOME & MSG, WHAT LEGEND ALMOST APPEARED AT G1 SUPERCARD, SURPRISING FANS WITH HIS WORK, TALENTS HE WANTS TO FACE AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/5/2020 11:52 AM

HOW WWE WILL HANDLE MONEY IN THE BANK THIS SUNDAY, BREAKING DOWN THE GO-HOME RAW FOR THE PPV, THE STARS ARE RETURNING AND MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/4/2020 11:41 PM

ROH COO JOE KOFF DISCUSSES NAVIGATING RING OF HONOR THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THE DECISION TO CANCEL THEIR EVENTS, MARTY SCURLL JOINING CREATIVE, WHETHER EMPTY ARENA EVENTS ARE IN ROH'S FUTURE, WEATHERING THE STORM, WHY EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR A MASK, HONOR CLUB AND MUCH, MUCH MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/4/2020 4:32 PM

MISSING NEW JAPAN, LOOKING AHEAD TO MLW ANTHOLOGY AND MORE
by Richard Trionfo
5/4/2020 12:58 AM

ON THIS FATEFUL DAY: A FIRSTHAND PERSPECTIVE LOOKING BACK AT ECW WRESTLEPALOOZA '98: ON ENEMY TURF
by Mike Johnson
5/3/2020 11:31 AM

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE FMB IS NOW ONLINE
by Dave Scherer and Mike Epsenhart
5/2/2020 4:47 PM

THE SMACKDOWN & MORE POST GAME SHOW
by Richard Trionfo
5/2/2020 1:54 PM

MOOSE DISCUSSES WHY HE IS THE TNA WORLD CHAMPION, HOW HE'S RESURRECTED A DEAD COMPANY, FORMER IMPACT STARS POTENTIALLY RETURNING, TESSA BLANCHARD, THE IDEA OF TNA VS. IMPACT CHAMPIONS, ATHLETES HE'D LIKE TO SEE CROSS OVER TO IMPACT AND MORE
by Mike Johnson
5/1/2020 4:45 PM

LOOKING AT DARK SIDE OF THE RING, CHRIS HERO, AEW & WWE TAPING SCHEDULES AND MORE
by Richard Trionfo & Andrew Twiss
4/30/2020 10:23 AM

THE AEW DYNAMITE POST GAME SHOW
by Cory Strode & Anthony Pires
4/30/2020 12:00 AM

THE WWE NXT ON USA POST GAME SHOW
by Richard Trionfo
4/29/2020 11:55 PM

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN NAME SHOW IS NOW ONLINE
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4/29/2020 3:26 PM

WHY TNA IS BACK AND MORE: THE REBELLION NIGHT TWO POST GAME SHOW
by Mike Johnson
4/28/2020 11:40 PM

ONE THING WWE COULD DO THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY HELP WITH THE FALLING RATINGS, HOW THEY COULD PUT SMILES ON PEOPLE'S FACES WHEN THEY NEED THOSE SMILES, HOW THEY COULD SCORE SOME POINTS WITH THE HARDCORE FANS AND MORE
by Dave Scherer
4/28/2020 5:30 PM

KEITH LEE DISCUSSES HIS NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST DAMIAN PRIEST, PRIEST ATTACKING HIS THROAT LAST WEEK, TAKING PART IN WWE'S MAIN EVENT FILM, HOW OPPORTUNITIES ON MAJOR WWE PPVS MAKE HIM REFLECT ON HIS HOME IN NXT, WHETHER HE'S ACCLIMATED TO PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT WITHOUT A LIVE AUDIENCE, HIS RIVALRY WITH DIJAKOVIC, WHETHER WE'LL SEE 'SMOOTH OPERATOR' IN A WWE RING AND MUCH MORE
by Mike Johnson
4/28/2020 1:47 PM

JUST ANOTHER RAW, AT LEAST THEY SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST, THE STARS WHO ARE MIA, CREWS' FIRST CHAPTER, MVP'S NEW ROLE, RAW NEEDS HEYMAN BACK ON CAMERA ASAP AND MUCH MORE
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4/28/2020 3:05 AM

LOOKING AT THE TRIPLE H CELEBRATION, MLW'S GREAT ANNOUNCING AND MORE
by Richard Trionfo
4/27/2020 12:31 AM

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by Dave Scherer and Mike Epsenhart
4/25/2020 4:38 PM

THE SMACKDOWN & MORE POST GAME SHOW
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4/25/2020 2:00 AM

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF HEY YO! RADIO
by Marc Kickenweitz & Scott Tison
4/25/2020 1:55 AM

THE TRIPLE H INTERVIEW COLLECTION
by Mike Johnson
4/24/2020 8:00 PM

WILLIE MACK DISCUSSES HIS X-DIVISION TITLE WIN AT REBELLION, THE TWO LEGENDS HE WANTS IN THE RING, INSPIRING HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH CENTRAL LA WITH HIS SUCCESS, PUTTING TOGETHER MULTI-MAN MATCHES, WRESTLING IN EMPTY ARENAS, WHAT HE'S DOING TO PASS THE TIME WHILE SHUTTING IN, ACE AUSTIN AND TONS MORE
by Mike Johnson
4/23/2020 4:46 PM

AEW CHAMPION JON MOXLEY DISCUSSES HIS UPCOMING FILM 'CAGEFIGHTER: WORLDS COLLIDE', HIS HEALTH AFTER A YEAR GOING HARD IN THE RING, HIS EMPTY ARENA BRAWL WITH JAKE HAGER, BEHIND THE SCENES OF CAGEFIGHTER'S ULTIMATE FIGHT SCENE, HIS NEXT FILM PROJECT, HOW HE APPROACHES WRESTLING VS. HIS TIME IN WWE, ROMAN TAKING TIME OFF, CAGEFIGHTER'S PREMIERE ON FITE.TV, WHETHER RENEE YOUNG GOT HEAT FOR HIS CAMEO ON WWE BACKSTAGE ONLINE, WHY HE'S SURPRISED MORE WRESTLERS DON'T GO INTO FILM WORK & MUCH MORE
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4/23/2020 1:46 PM

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