Photo: Anton Jackson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Matt Cardona, long known as Zack Ryder, is one of pro wrestling's great self-made stories. When WWE wouldn't push him, he built his own audience through YouTube and sheer hustle, effectively pioneering the influencer playbook years before it was standard. That entrepreneurial grit is what I find genuinely admirable. After leaving WWE he reinvented himself on the independent scene, became a beloved figure among hardcore fans, and turned his obsessive love of action figures into part of his brand. The 6-foot-2 New Yorker embodies the idea that talent plus relentless self-promotion can outlast any company's plans. I respect the resilience.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Matt Cardona
- Name (Japanese)
- ザック・ライダー
- Reading
- ざっく・らいだー
- Born
- May 14, 1985 (age 41)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Ox
- Origin
- Merrick, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 188 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- professional wrestler / YouTuber / actor / television producer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Sanford H. Calhoun High School
- University
- Nassau Community College
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Matt Cardona born?
Born May 14, 1985 (age 41).
Where is Matt Cardona from?
Matt Cardona is from Merrick, New York, United States.
What does Matt Cardona do?
Matt Cardona works as professional wrestler, YouTuber, actor, television producer.
How tall is Matt Cardona?
Matt Cardona is 188 cm.
Professional wrestler — see all → · YouTuber — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.