Matt Cardona received a different kind of Hall of Fame honor over the weekend, as the WWE Superstar was inducted into the Calhoun High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cardona revealed the news on social media following Saturday’s ceremony, joking that his former school had to create a sports entertainment category to accommodate his unconventional athletic career.
“It was an honor to be inducted into the Calhoun High School Athletic Hall of Fame today,” Cardona wrote. “Luckily, they made a sports ENTERTAINMENT category for me.”
Cardona was a member of his high school’s wrestling team, although he readily admitted that he was far from its standout performer. He also paid tribute to his former coach while acknowledging that professional wrestling was already his primary passion.
“I wasn’t a star athlete in high school. I was on the wrestling team…shout out to Coach Muscarella…he is an absolute legend! I was average at best. I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t work as hard as I could have.”
Cardona explained that much of his attention was instead devoted to his dream of becoming a professional wrestler — including the backyard promotion he operated at the time.
“I was too focused on pro wrestling. I took World Trampoline Wrestling, my backyard fed, VERY seriously.”
After graduating from Calhoun in 2003, Cardona decided against going away to college and instead enrolled in professional wrestling school, beginning the journey that would ultimately become his career.
“I graduated Calhoun in 2003 and instead of going away to college, I joined a pro wrestling school. Long story short, I’ve been a pro wrestler for 23 years.”
More than two decades later, Cardona has competed around the world, won numerous championships, had action figures produced in his likeness and performed at WrestleMania.
Despite everything he has accomplished, Cardona made it clear that he still believes there is plenty more to come.
“I’ve been fortunate to wrestle all over the world, win championships, have action figures made of me, wrestle at WrestleMania, etc. It’s been a rough ride but I’M NOT FINISHED! Congrats to the rest of the inductees.”
It was an honor to be inducted into the Calhoun High School Athletic Hall of Fame today. Luckily, they made a sports ENTERTAINMENT category for me. I wasn’t a star athlete in high school. I was on the wrestling team…shout out to Coach Muscarella…he is an absolute legend! I was average at best. I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t work as hard as I could have. I was too focused on pro wrestling. I took World Trampoline Wrestling, my backyard fed, VERY seriously. I graduated Calhoun in 2003 and instead of going away to college, I joined a pro wrestling school. Long story short, I’ve been a pro wrestler for 23 years. I’ve been fortunate to wrestle all over the world, win championships, have action figures made of me, wrestle at WrestleMania, etc. It’s been a rough ride but I’M NOT FINISHED! Congrats to the rest of the inductees.
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) October 3, 2026
