How Matt Cardona Accepted Adam Copeland’s TNT Title Challenge

Tonight’s AEW Collision started with Adam Copeland throwing down the gauntlet and challenging anyone to a match for the TNT Championship. To everyone’s surprise, Matt Cardona, known as Zack Ryder during his time in WWE, answered the call. This wasn’t Cardona’s first appearance in AEW; he had previously wrestled for them in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to reports from Fightful Select, the decision for Cardona to face Copeland on tonight’s show was made just this past week. Originally scheduled to defend the Squared Circle Expo Championship against Ultimo Dragon at a Black Label Pro event, Cardona relinquished the title on Friday night to make it in time for the AEW match. It’s worth noting that Cardona has not signed with AEW and will continue to work as a free agent, a status he has had since leaving WWE in 2020.

The match between Cardona and Copeland was a hard-fought battle, with Cardona giving it his all. In the end, Copeland emerged victorious, retaining the TNT Championship after hitting his signature spear move.

The excitement around this match was palpable, with fans and wrestlers taking to social media to share their thoughts. A tweet from All Elite Wrestling hyped up the match, referring to Cardona as “The Deathmatch King” and “The Indy God”, highlighting his return to AEW to challenge his former friend, Adam Copeland, for the TNT Title.

Overall, the match between Cardona and Copeland was a highlight of tonight’s AEW Collision event, showcasing the talent and dedication of both wrestlers. The unexpected nature of Cardona’s appearance added an element of surprise and intrigue to the show, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what might happen next in the world of professional wrestling.