Matt Cardona has opened up about the creative rebirth that led to his latest persona, “The Complete Matt Cardona,” explaining how it emerged in the wake of a serious injury and represented a necessary evolution in his career.
Appearing on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cardona detailed the transition away from previous monikers like “The Indie God” and “The Death Match King.” The shift came after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle just days before commemorating the four-year anniversary of his WWE release.
“I was The Indie God, The Death Match King, and then I tore my pec, which sucked… I filmed this whole hype video, and I got hurt the Saturday before,” Cardona said. “I’m like, s—, just tore my pec.”
Though he stayed active during his recovery—most notably appearing as GCW’s General Manager—Cardona admitted he knew he couldn’t simply return under his old identities.
“I can’t just come back wearing that crown or The Indie God hat again. I needed a fresh coat of paint, so to speak.”
That reinvention came in the form of “The Complete Matt Cardona,” a persona Cardona believes encapsulates his entire journey.
“It means so many things, like The Total Package, Lex Luger. I can do it all. I look the part. I wrestle the part. I talk the part.”
Cardona sees “The Complete” as the culmination of everything he’s done in the wrestling industry—both in and out of WWE.
“Everything that led to this point in my career, whether it be the Major Brothers, or the YouTube Broski stuff, or winning the IC title, or getting fired, then the Death Match King, the Indie God—everything wrapped into one is The Complete Matt Cardona.”
Cardona has steadily rebuilt his reputation post-WWE as one of the most versatile and buzzworthy figures on the independent scene, with recent teases of interest in returning to WWE. Whether or not that call comes, Cardona continues to prove he’s far from finished rewriting his legacy.
Stay locked in to PWMania.com for more exclusive interviews and updates on Matt Cardona’s evolving career.
(h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription)
