WWE star touts pro wrestlers tearing it up on independent circuit

WWE star Matt Cardona names a few people who pro wrestling fans should look out for on the indies in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Matt Cardona knows a thing or two about the independent pro wrestling scene.

After his release from WWE in April 2020, Cardona rebranded himself as the "Indy God" after spending years as Zack Ryder. He spent years cultivating his new look through several independent promotions and top companies in the U.S. whose names aren’t WWE or AEW.

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Matt Cardona enters the arena before competing against Trick Williams (not pictured) during SmackDown at SAP Center on April 10, 2026, in San Jose, California. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

There are several pro wrestlers on the indies currently who are finding success with their own branding and marketing as well. Cardona named a few in a recent interview with Fox News Digital when asked who he thought was the new "Indy God."

"Who’s the ‘Indy God?’ Oh, I don’t know if anyone’s the ‘Indy God.’ But there are people who definitely have stepped up. For instance, Shotzi, who was in WWE at one time. When she left, I think she copied the Matt Cardona formula and good on her and we had some incredible matches together. She’s somebody who cares. I think effort is very, very important not just in independent wrestling but professional wrestling in general. If you aren’t doing whatever you can to succeed, like, if you don’t treat yourself like a big deal, I don’t think anyone else will. I would definitely put Shotzi on that list.

"Two others to look out for on the independents – Richard Holliday. He’s another one who is always on social media. He’s always trying to force himself down your throat just like I did