Matt Cardona Thinks Not Signing With AEW Was A Blessing In Disguise

Matt Cardona has established himself as one of the top stars outside of WWE since his release from the company in April 2020, having wrestled in featured matches for the likes of IMPACT Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, and GCW.

Before re-establishing himself as a star in 2021 through his feud with Nick Gage, Cardona had a short-lived run in AEW in the summer of 2020 that even saw him wrestle on pay-per-view for the promotion as he teamed with Scorpio Sky, Dustin Rhodes, & QT Marshall to defeat Dark Order's Brodie Lee, Colt Cabana, Stu Grayson, & Evil Uno at All Out. 

Cardona wasn't signed to a long-term deal with AEW during his brief run and The Indy God admitted that was a "blessing in disguise" to The Wrestling Classic.

"Cody, right away put me in contact with his agent. You know, gave me some great advice. But, like in the wrestling business, if a producer or agent is giving you feedback on a match, sometimes that advice doesn't work for you. And I realised I didn't need an agent. I wanted to be that guy in the trenches. I wanted to be that guy doing the numbers and negotiating. Cody [Rhodes] set me up for sure, got me that AEW cup of coffee run. I am grateful for that. Didn't work out at the time, I'll admit I was bummed out. I was like, 'Oh sh** now what.' Looking back, a blessing in disguise. If I had signed with AEW then, I'd be on f***ing Dark right now. No offence to those guys, but that's not what I want. I was already that guy in WWE. I want to be in control of my own destiny," Cardona said.

If Cardona could return to AEW in the future is unknown but the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion has been linked with a return to WWE throughout 2023.

H/T to SEScoops