Thoughts on Matt Cardona

In regards to the five appearances, I read all AEW talent start like this - which if true, I think is a good idea because by the fifth appearance you are getting a vibe of all the important things - how the person conducts themselves on screen, backstage and time for any negative press to surface as it does in the current age.

I think it’s really unfair to judge anything two shots in. Especially in this spot where there is no more restricted formula and potentially ring rust for getting cut during a pandemic.

I was a big fan of the guy back when he started the Woo Woo Woo on the Dirt Sheet. I remember going nuts in my section for him in the prestos of Mania 26 when he went to the limit with YOSHI TATSU. And I definitely got looks as that was before the YouTube show.

While those of us who read wrestling news and collect wrestling stuff glamorize this stuff, at the end of the day, he is doing his job. Any time someone goes to a new office or store or whatever place they work, it takes time to acclimate to the climate and the culture and lose all the habits you had to adhere to for your old boss.

From the glimpses those of us without any real knowledge get from reading and listening to things, the guy has a passion and has spent his whole adult-life being a good soldier, rather than having an opportunity at any sort of spotlight. Keep in mind many internet people were complaining about Hangman and Britt Baker at the start of AEW and the two have gone on to be two of the best acts going in the company.

tl;dr WAY too early to judge but I think Cardona will be just fine and happy to see him finally given the opportunity to entertain me

I literally couldn't be more excited or have more anticipation for where this all goes in the future.

The whole, "don't hire more WWE people," line is NOT one I've ever subscribed too. Knowing for nearly 15+ years now, through shoot interviews, podcasts, dirtsheets and etc, how stifiling the WWE system is, I actually find it awesome when companies snag an under utilized WWE talent.

Make no mistake, Matt Cardona might personify under utilized more than any person in WWE over the last 20 years.

Is he the greatest in-ring, flippy, floppy, high spot wrestler? Nope. Doesn't matter.

Topping a LOT of people's lists of the best AEW match so far, is Dustin vs. Cody. Some would say, Omega/Page vs. Bucks, and that's fine, I'll let those that say that, have that.

I'm in the Cody vs. Dustin camp though. I enjoy hard hitting, grappling, story telling, more mat based wrestling. Matt Cardona will more then likely fit that style, so for me, I'm intrigued to see him with comlpete creative freedom, in that aspect.

Also, as many might remember, I made a claim that Cardona could realistically be considered a top 3 draw for AEW. With no real way to measure a persons drawing ability due to the way wrestling is promoted these days, I inferred social media following could be closely translated to viable drawing power. Matt is in the Top 3 of AEW in this regard.

* Others pointed out possible fake accounts following, etc.. fair enough.

Regardless, the above could have a huge impact on AEW if it does infact translate to Matt's social media / podcast following, following him to AEW.

Rambling, trying to switch my mind off from a personal real life situation, sorry..

In short, Matt Cardona in AEW, helllll yeah!

Yes, and other products. Hiring him was a smart business decision. He brings a lot to the table. 

I agree the roster feels saturated, but this was a smart signing. 

I'm gonna spin this back to Cardona so it stays somewhat on topic, but I'll go ahead and stamp my name down in the Cody vs. Dustin camp, WITH the caveat that I think the Omega/Page vs. Bucks match may actually be the greatest tag team match of all time. That's how great I think that Cody vs. Dustin match was.  I've probably watched it close to 10 times now, and I still get literal goosebumps and chills every time. It was literally their entire lives put into a match. 

Anyways, back to Cardona. 

I gotta imagine he'll be a long term person here. Maybe it's a 5 appearance tryout, maybe it's a 5 appearance out clause for him if he doesn't like it. I know when Moxley signed they put in a 1 year out clause for him despite it being a 3 year contract. It was a way to get him on board knowing he could be out in a year if it wasn't what he wanted.


Regarding the thing about all AEW talent starting on 5 appearances. I think mathematically we've proven that it's not everyone who starts like that. Eddie Kingston was originally going to be brought on for a few appearances (more than just the 1 off TNT match), and instead they just gave him a bigger contract right out the gate. FTR likely had an early out clause for themselves if they didn't like it, but I don't buy for 1 second it was ever a 'handshake' agreement. Abbadon got her contract confirmed before she hit 5 appearances, etc, etc.  They definitely do a lot of tryout type situations, but I think it very much varies person to person. I imagine in this case any limitations are on Cardona's side, not theirs. Given his relevance to marketing their toy line, and his history, I can't imagine them actually putting him on a 'tryout'.  I'd put the odds at 95% we see Cardona in this company for a long time.

I see the five appearance deal more of a way to gauge the worth of Cardona. Base his salary off of his numbers, merch sales etc.

Cardona can offer something to the company I just hope he drops the immature marky BS that he was known for in the WWE. Have him be more of a serious character.

His social media following can only do good for AEW. I'm still shocked out of all that talent let go by WWE post Mania that he's the only one they hired.

I’m pretty sure I heard about that freeze AFTER Eddie’s match, but it took a while to negotiate his deal due to him having a contract elsewhere. I either saw that comment on twitter or heard it on the vow patreon.

I thought I heard about the hiring freeze before the Kingston match but I could be wrong.

Solid worker. Definitely an enhancement talent at this point in his career. However, bred for the WWE machine... not this “alternative” AEW claims they’re putting out.