Matt Cardona offered AEW contract, status uncertain

Matt Cardona has been offered an AEW contract, although it’s unclear if he is close to signing a deal with the company.

Cardona will challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle in the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday. He returned to AEW earlier this month to build an angle for the match.

Dave Meltzer addressed Cardona’s contractual status with the company on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer was asked if AEWShop.com selling a Cardona t-shirt was a sign he is close to signing. 

“I know he was offered a contract. I don’t know if he’s signed or anything. So yeah, I guess maybe close,” Meltzer responded. 

In October, Cardona mentioned being “legit shocked” he had not received a contract offer from either WWE or AEW.

Cardona said:

“Listen, if WWE or AEW called and there was a good offer with some intent to use me in a certain way, of course, I’d have that conversation. But I’m not going to BS it, I haven’t gotten an offer from either of those companies. So until then, I just gotta keep raising my stock and elevating myself and trying to change the game on the independent level.”

In August, Cardona said he wants to end his career in WWE. 

“I’m proud to be the ‘Indie God,’ I’m proud to be the face of GCW, but when it’s all said and done, I want to end my career in WWE. I want to have another WrestleMania moment, I want to be in Madison Square Garden, but as Matt Cardona. Zack Ryder is dead.”