Triple H Shuts Down Chants for Former WWE Star During Night of Champions Appearance
Triple H wasn’t interested in nostalgia — or fan lobbying — during his latest post-show appearance.
Following WWE’s Night of Champions event in Saudi Arabia, fans in attendance made their voices heard, breaking into loud chants for former WWE Superstar Matt Cardona during Triple H’s post-show address.
But “The Game” didn’t bite.
Despite the crowd's persistent effort to get a reaction, Triple H completely ignored the chants for Cardona, offering no acknowledgment or comment as he reflected on the night’s matches and key moments.
Matt Cardona’s WWE Legacy and Lingering Hope
Cardona — known to longtime fans as Zack Ryder — first signed with WWE in 2005 and rose to fame alongside Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins), forming a successful tag team before carving out a solo career.
Over his 15-year tenure with the company, Cardona captured multiple titles, including the Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team Championships. He was released in 2020 during a wave of budget cuts.
In a May interview, Cardona admitted he was “surprised” he hadn’t yet returned to WWE, despite reportedly reaching out to the company “several times.” His work on the independent circuit and in promotions like GCW and NWA has earned him a cult following and sparked speculation about a potential comeback.
So far, WWE — and Triple H — aren’t biting.
Triple H on Wrestling Again: “It Would Be the Last Thing I Do”
While he remained silent on Cardona, Triple H did address another loud request from the crowd: chants for “one more match.”
“Trust me, there ain’t one more match left in this,” he said.
“You know how they say, ‘If it’s the last thing I do’? It WOULD be the last thing I do.”
The WWE Hall of Famer hasn’t wrestled since a tag match in June 2019 in Japan, where he teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura to defeat Robert Roode and Samoa Joe. His last full-time in-ring run ended back in 2010.
After suffering a serious cardiac event in 2021 and undergoing surgery to install a defibrillator, Triple H officially announced his retirement from in-ring competition the following year.
Whether the crowd was hoping for Cardona’s return or Triple H’s, the message was clear: he’s not budging — not yet.
