WWE Superstar Matt Cardona says independent wrestlers have no excuse for failing to market themselves.

Talks of independent wrestling being on its last legs blew up online earlier this week after both PRODUCE Wrestling and Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW) announced they are going on hiatus. The crisis is largely attributed to issues like high travel costs for flying in talent and major promotions snapping up young wrestlers too soon.

After a 14-year run as Zack Ryder, Matt Cardona reinvented himself on the independent circuit after WWE released him in April 2020. He competed in brutal deathmatches in GCW and labelled himself the “Indy God.” He re-signed with the Stamford-based promotion in January 2026. That legendary independent run gives his recent advice to today’s young wrestlers plenty of weight.

WWE’s Matt Cardona urges indie wrestlers to step up their self-promotion

Matt Cardona responded to the “indies are dead” discourse on X/Twitter. Regardless of whether independent wrestling is struggling, he said wrestlers need to promote every show like it’s a huge event if they want fans to care and keep the scene alive. The WWE star urged them to take full accountability for their own success by leveraging free tools like social media promos and live social shopping.

“I haven’t been on the indies for a year, so I don’t know if the indies are really dead or not. The wrestlers I trust say they are not. Whether they are dead or not, why isn’t every independent wrestler taking advantage of live social shopping to increase their income and connection with fans? Why isn’t every independent wrestler taking advantage of the FREE advertising that is social media to help promote every show they are on?

“Post the poster, post the match graphic, do the cell phone promo, etc. If you don’t treat the show like it’s a big deal, then why would a fan? I could go on and on about this. I love independent wrestling. Don’t just not let it die…help it thrive!” the WWE star wrote.

Cardona is currently recovering from triceps surgery. Although he initially targeted WWE Royal Rumble 2027, he now hopes to return in time for the John Cena Classic in December 2026.