“All I’ve ever wanted was opportunity, and I’m being given opportunities, I’m creating my own opportunities. and I’m gonna run with this f—— ball.”
These words partially described the mindset of Matt Cardona when he looked back on 2021, what he called the best year of his wrestling career, and discussed his ongoing run throughout the wrestling world. Over the last several months, he has firmly stepped into the spotlight in IMPACT Wrestling, Game Changer Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance.
In an interview with WrestleZone’s Colin Tessier, Cardona shared his thoughts on this remarkable chapter of his career. In one highlight, he previewed his match at IMPACT Hard To Kill, where he’ll challenge Moose for the IMPACT World Championship in a Triple Threat Match that also includes W. Morrissey. The reigning Internet Champion expressed his love for the promotion and noted that he made his IMPACT debut at Hard To KIll 2021, so the story of his rise to the top wrote itself.
“I love IMPACT, I’m going for the world title, IMPACT World Title,” said Cardona. “Hard To Kill, last year I make my debut. A year later, going for the world title. That’s a story right there. That’s a story that just wrote itself, you know, in true life.”
Later in the interview, Cardona described how the IMPACT fans haven’t turned on him (yet), as they still “love” him, though he has become one of the most buzzworthy heels in the wrestling world through his work with GCW. Whereas his world title win in GCW infuriated the fans in attendance, to the point that they threw a pizza cutter at him, “The Deathmatch King” will have the chance to receive a more positive reaction if he emerges victorious on Saturday night.
With this in mind, Cardona explained that winning the IMPACT World Championship would be a great way to kick off 2022, following his incredible 2021, and he’s looking forward to this career milestone.
“What a way to kick off 2022,” said Cardona. “My 2021 was incredible…but what a way to start 2022. IMPACT, pay-per-view, for the title. It’s definitely a career milestone for me, and I’m very, very excited for it.
Last year at #HardToKill, I made my @impactwrestling debut. This year at #HardToKill, I plan on winning the World Championship!
Watch this Saturday on PPV! pic.twitter.com/pTaeZz3jMB
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) January 7, 2022
Cardona has certainly come a long way since the peak of his WWE career, as he has enjoyed many highs and endured plenty of setbacks. But through it all, he continued to persevere. As he explained in another highlight of the interview, while nobody has been “counted out more” than he has, he is the “cockroach” of the wrestling world because he will keep pushing forward.
“Nobody in this business and I mean this as well, nobody in this business, in the history of this business, has been counted out more times, whether it be by management, the boys in the back, the fans, no one’s been counted out more times and come back more times than me,” said Cardona. “I’m the cockroach of this wrestling business, you cannot get rid of me, you cannot kill me, go steal a line from Matt Hardy, I will not die, and I won’t. I’m gonna keep trying, I’m gonna keep fighting.”
Given the way he has dealt with plenty of obstacles, Cardona aims to capitalize on any and all opportunities that come his way. That’s why his saying, “Alwayz Ready” is much more meaningful than “just a cute little f-cking hashtag.” Instead, it’s his mantra for his entire carer and his mission to knock every opportunity out of the park.
“It’s the way I live my life, my career because when you get that opportunity, you better be always ready to deliver,” said Cardona. “And someone like me, I’m not complaining about it, but I don’t get opportunity after opportunity. So when I get one, you better be always ready.”
This is my night. https://t.co/ZnwIwyDGRe
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) January 5, 2022
On the heels of a banner year in 2021, it might seem difficult to imagine how Cardona plans to deliver a 2022 that’s even better. But when asked about his goals for the new year, he named simultaneously holding the world title in IMPACT, GCW and NWA as his ultimate objective.
“It was great to wrestle in IMPACT [in 2021] and wrestle in GCW and wrestle in NWA,” said Cardona. “What if I win all three of their world titles next year? What if I have them at the same time? That would be cool.”
Ironically, Kenny Omega was the IMPACT World Champion for a few months in 2021; during this time, he also held the AEW World Championship and the AAA Mega Championship. Time will tell whether Cardona can become the next “Belt Collector”, but he’ll have the chance to win the first title of his coveted trio Saturday night at IMPACT Hard To Kill.
The updated match card for IMPACT Hard is as follows:
IMPACT World Championship
Moose (c) vs. Matt Cardona vs. W. MorrisseyIMPACT Knockouts Championship
Mickie James (c) vs. Deonna PurrazzoKnockouts Ultimate X Match
Lady Frost vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary vs. Chelsea Green vs. Alisha EdwardsJosh Alexander vs. JONAH
10-Man Hardcore War
The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) & Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, & Joe Doering) vs.Willie Mack, Rich Swann, Eddie Edwards, Rhino, & HeathROH World Championship
Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Chris SabinX Division Championship
Trey Miguel (c) vs. Steve Maclin
WrestleZone will have full coverage of the show when it airs.
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