In an interview with WrestlingInc.com, Matt Cardona (formerly Zack Ryder) was asked if WWE management resented him for getting over on his own through his YouTube show:
“Here’s the thing, who knows, right? People speculated at times, even I speculated, but there’s no proof of that. At the end of the day, I was given an opportunity. I was put on TV because for the longest time, I was doing the YouTube show, selling all this merch without getting the opportunity, and then I was given the opportunity. So I was on TV. I got what I asked for. I won the U.S. Title, and then things didn’t exactly go my way. You know what, I could have knocked on somebody’s door and asked, ‘Hey what’s going on here?’ But I didn’t do that. So I blame me. I don’t blame anyone else for what happened in 2012. I don’t live in the past and say what if. I try not to be bitter because what’s that going to do? It’s not going to change anything. You’re not going to be happier. I think everyone’s guilty of doing the bitter tweet, the angry tweet every once in a while. Of course, I am, but at the end of the day, what’s the point right? It’s not gonna get anything done. It’s not gonna change anything, and you’re not going to be happy. So who cares?”
