When Matt Cardona was released from WWE in 2020, few fans expected him to become a multi-time champion, a world traveler, and a performer so prolific on the indies that he became an unofficial “Indy God” for his hardcore efforts with the Major Players, The Cardona Family, and paired up with Steph De Lander.

When that all happened, however, fans did expect to see Cardona draw interest from the Big 2, AEW and WWE, as a potential free agent addition, but alas, that just hasn't happened, with the “Broski” currently on the shelf after undergoing surgery on his pec.

But why? Why isn't a man who is crushing it on the indies, has a very popular podcast that could promote shows, and even runs his own toy line, in demand from a promotion like WWE or AEW, the latter of which was started based on a very similar DIY philosophy? Frankly, even Cardona isn't sure, as he detailed in an appearance on Busted Open Radio.

“Honestly, because I haven’t been offered a full-time gig by WWE or AEW. All I know is when I got released, my goal wasn’t, ‘What could I do to get back to WWE?’ Or, ‘What could I do to get AEW to notice me?'” Matt Cardona said on Busted Open Radio. “It wasn’t to prove people wrong, it was to prove myself right and to prove my fans right and working my a** off, and I feel like over these past four years that’s exactly what I’ve done. When I see Chelsea [Green, Cardona’s wife] and she’s wrestling on RAW or WrestleMania, of course, I’m happy for her, but then also I’m like, ‘S**t, I wish I was there too.”

Do promotions see something different than the fans in Cardona? Or does he simply not want to agree to a deal that isn't up to his standards? It's impossible to know, but considering Cardona is currently locked in as the GCW General Manager, drawing paychecks without having to work in the ring, it's safe to say he's not going to go away any time soon, even if he can't work.

Matt Cardona reveals how he reacted to his pec injury.

Discussing his pec injury in a special interview with Bill Pritchard for WrestleZone, Matt Cardona discussed how his surgery isn't going to prevent his forward momentum on the indies, as, with no one to answer to but himself, he needs to remain motivated and committed to remaining relevant.

“Obviously, there’s no good time to get injured in wrestling, I guess in any sport, but this is certainly not a good time. I was just hyping up, and I put out this video, four years since I’ve been released from WWE, all the things I’ve done, and then boom, same day, I knew my pec’s torn. But I wasn’t gonna say it that day. I let the video get a million or so views, and then I said, oh, by the way, tore my pec. Even that, just clotheslining someone over the top rope, shit happens, right? I felt it right away. Then I was hoping I didn’t need surgery, but I did,” Matt Cardona explained via WrestleZone.

“Fast-forward, it’s been two weeks. The tendon has been repaired, and now it’s just rehab. It’s just resting. But Matt Cardona doesn’t rest. Matt Cardona can’t sit on the coach. I can’t Netflix and chill. So the first 48 hours after I got surgery, instead of relaxing and sleeping and eating junk food, I did eat some junk food, but I wasn’t just on my email, on my phone, on my calendar, calling all these promoters, switching around my schedule because in wrestling, especially independent wrestling, it’s so hard to gain momentum. But it’s even harder to get it back after you lose it, and I wasn’t just gonna take three, four, five, six months off, no way. So I’m still gonna be making towns. I’m not gonna be wrestling, so as far as limitations, I can’t wrestle. That’s pretty much it. But I don’t think people come to see Matt Cardona have a wrestling match. I think they come to see Matt Cardona to see the entrance, to see the promo, to flip me off, and then go buy my merchandise. Sure, can I wrestle? Yes. But that’s the extra.”

With appearances booked all over the wrestling world, including all summer long for GCW, it's clear Cardona isn't going away any time soon or wallowing in the pitty of not earning another contract with WWE or a full-time deal with AEW. Still, when that day comes, it's safe to say Cardona will be placed higher on either promotion's card than he would have when he was initially released, just like Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes before him.