The anticipation for the 2024 WWE Draft is building up as it kicks off tonight’s SmackDown and concludes on Monday’s RAW. While the top Superstars are privy to their Draft picks beforehand, recent revelations shed light on internal communication mishaps within the company.
Flashback to 2007, the terrain of WWE saw its fifth Draft, marking the inception of a tri-branded Draft with the inclusion of the ECW brand. RAW revealed the first 10 picks, followed by 14 more selections in the Supplemental Draft via the company’s website.
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Notably, the 18th pick saw SmackDown snagging The Major Brothers from ECW, with Bret Major later transforming into Zack Ryder, now known as Matt Cardona, and Brian Major becoming Curt Hawkins, presently Brian Myers.
Reflecting on the past, Cardona shared his experience of discovering his Draft fate by visiting WWE.com on his trusty Motorola Razr phone, adding a touch of nostalgia to the tale.
“In 2007 I found out I was drafted to SmackDown by going to WWE.com on my Razr phone,” reminisced Matt Cardona.
Fast forward to April 15, 2020, marked the end of Cardona’s and Hawkins’ 15-year tenure with WWE due to COVID-19 related budget cuts, alongside over 50 other talents and employees.
Since then, Cardona has ventured into the realm of free agency, carving a path of success across promotions like TNA, NWA, GCW, and various top indies. With a plethora of titles to his name post his WWE departure, Cardona’s journey continues to thrive.
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During his tenure with WWE, Cardona racked up over 1,000 matches, with his final bout on March 9, 2020, against Bobby Lashley on RAW, ending in a swift defeat.
Reflecting on his departure and recent events in wrestling, Cardona couldn’t help but jest about his last match compared to the buzz surrounding Sting’s retirement at AEW Revolution earlier this year.
“Damn… I wonder why Zack Ryder’s last match didn’t get much attention. [loudly crying face emoji],” quipped Matt Cardona alongside a snapshot from the match.
Exiting WWE with a legacy, Cardona held the Intercontinental Championship once, the United States Championship once, and claimed the Tag Team Championship twice.