May 29, 2024 • 24 mins
Jeff and I had the pleasure to have Matt Cardona be part of the show and talk to us about his current injury situation and what he has been working on while on hiatus. Matt also shares some inside stories about working AEW Collision and what life is like outside of WWE in the last couple of years.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Two thousand and eleven. I had been a WWE for
a few years, and of course that was my dream
to be there, But it wasn't my dream to just
be a guy on the roster. You know what I'm saying.
Like it's cool, right, it's awesome. I can say I'm
a ww superstar, but I didn't feel like I was
a superstar.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now your main events introducing the hosts are Wrestling with Freddy,
Jef Die and Forready Prince Tunior.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to a brand new episode of
Wrestling with Freddy, also known as Wrestling with Friends, because
with me as always is the great Jeff Die and
with us today is one of my favorite guests. He's
been here before, he came to do the show again.
He is the indie god. He is the deathmatch King.
He is mister Matt Cardona. Welcome back, sir. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I'm doing great? Thank you for having me. Just got
back from the gym. Their little legs got pump, sweet pump.
Right now.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
You know, let's talk about leg day because I'm very
anti leg day. How often do you have to do
legs to not have chicken legs?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I mean, I do them at least once a week,
sometimes twice. But with this injury, it's been tough.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Week. It's to now that's all you can do is legs.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, it's also tough because I when I'm in the gym,
I had this big sling and you know, it's kind
of limiting with certain movements.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
You know, let's talk about the injury. First of all,
how far away are you from being done with physical therapy.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I'm not going to tell anybody I'm gonna have a
Royal Rumble return. Yeah, let's just say it. I'm a
year away. Oh I like that.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I like that. So then I want to talk about
the injury because an injury for a professional wrestler is
one thing. An injury for a professional wrestler in the
indie scene is a very different thing. An injury for
an actor is a very different thing. I've had plenty
of surgeries, but I have guaranteed contracts if I get hurt,
things like that, things to protect me. When you felt
(02:05):
it go, was it something that happened in a match
or was it a nagging thing that you finally just said, shit,
I have to get this cut open and taken care.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Of happened in a match, clotheslining somebody over the top rope,
something I've done thousands of times, and I felt it
right away. I've never torn my peck before, but I knew,
oh shit, I just tore my peck. Obviously, I'm hoping
that it's not that, that it's not serious. I finished
the match, and if you were in that audience, you
can just hear me screaming fuck, fuck as soon as
(02:35):
I went through the curtain, because I knew. I knew
there's there is no good time in wrestling to get injured,
but this was certainly not a good time. I've been
on the indies for four years. It was about to
celebrate all that cool things I've done in four years,
was about to drop this cool video on Monday. What
I'm gonna write, Oh dot dot dot. By the way,
(02:56):
I've a torn fucking peck, you know, And like you said,
no one's paying for this. I'm paying for this. I'm
paying for the surgery, I'm paying for the rehab. But
it is what it is, right, I mean, there's something
I can do. I can't bitch iman about it. Injuries happen,
you know. I signed up for this knowing the Risks
obviously got surgery right away, and the first forty eight
(03:18):
hours instead of just like feeling sorry for myself or
hanging out on the couch and watching Netflix, I was
just on my calendar on a computer on my phone,
rescheduling my summer because I knew I can't just have
a vacation. What shows can I do that will want
to bring me in to just talk, just talk, trash,
do commentary whatever. So being an independent contract, especially being
(03:42):
on the indies, you know, I had to reach out
to every promoter, but like, hey, guys, I can't wrestle,
do you still want me?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Cool?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
If not, I have to find another booking because I
gotta pay bills. And I got it, took that buzz alive.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
More importantly, well, you've always been good at at keeping momentum,
going and even starting momentum. I think you're kind of
the blueprint for other wrestlers to follow from the time
when you started to where you're at now. Did you
see that as a plan when you started or was
it more of a dream that just kind of happened,
(04:14):
or was it do you know what I mean? Was it?
Does that make sense? Or no?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Sure? Like so I think you're talking about the YouTube
show I started back Yeah. Yeah, so it's just one
of those things that even back then, So this is
what two thousand and eleven. I had been in WWE
for a few years, and of course that was my
dream to be there, But it wasn't my dream to
just be a guy on the roster, you know what
I'm saying. Like it's cool, right, it's awesome. I can
(04:39):
say I'm a ww superstar, but I didn't feel like
I was a superstar. I told the story so many times.
I started this YouTube show because I wanted to create Buzz.
I wanted to get noticed by enemies necessary. I either
wanted to get noticed and pushed by WWE or get
fired and that Buzz would like take me to TNA
or something like that. So I knew there was some
(04:59):
sort of risk involved, you know. I just always I'm
always trying to achieve more goals. Not that I'm not
satisfied with what I've accomplished, of course i am. But
I'm a big dreamer, just like you guys, you know,
and I feel like we only live once in yolo, right,
but like you have to go for it, Like if not,
now what.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I'm gonna let Jeff take over here, but I want
you guys to first bond on something that you both
have in common. I don't know if you've noticed, but
behind each of you are shelves filled with wrestling action figures. Yes, now,
you may be more of an expert than Jeff, but
Jeff's the most expert one I know, besides one other
actor who's not here to defend himself named Kiarenkolkin, who
(05:41):
had like over five thousand action figures all in this
one room in his New York apartment back in the day.
I don't know if he still has as them, but
you're the only three people I know that still collect these.
So by all means, if you want to dork out,
dork out, or if you want to have a professional
question for once, Jeff.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Please, professional questions ain't my style, Freddy, It's just not
what I do here. Also, I'm not a huge into
the action figures. I see that you have the gloobs
and the mattels like you're a real wrestling action figure.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Guy.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I just like one series, and it's the WWF. Has Bros.
Got you right here? Baby? You knew that I like this.
We've talked about it a few times together. I'm a
huge Hasbro guy. I want to start by saying that
I do leg day every day. I want our listeners
to know that these guys once a week, twice a week,
(06:33):
I'm doing two a day's I make seventy and five
hard Look week, dude, I'm doing all legs all day.
I'm the leg god. He's the indie god. Freddy's the
wrong com god. But Jeff Die leg god.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
It's not true at all. I never work out, but
I'm stoked to have you on this podcast. Dude, I'm
a fan. You're the man I I you. The only
reason I'm asking this question first is because you were
talking about bills. You know, you get injured, you got
peck thing, you know that you're not gonna be able
to work for a little while. I don't know how
that how long that takes. I've been with plenty of
gals that get the boob jobs. I know how long
(07:08):
those cut, how long those take. But for a peg job,
I'm not sure how it works. Maddie doing the indie scene.
Like as for comedy, like we prefer some of these
bar shows in these club shows. But they don't really
compare to the bigger mainstream things that don't come around
as often. Do you make more? Do you make less?
(07:28):
Is it worth it?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Like?
Speaker 4 (07:29):
What's the explain that to someone who doesn't know anything
about that side of the scene.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's all situational, just like I'm sure it isn't with comedy, right,
So for instance, GCW, right it if it wasn't for
me doing these GCW shows, which if you watch a
GCW show or you go to a GCW show, it
looks like dog shit, Like the the arena's horrible, like
sometimes they don't even have a curtain for the entrance,
(07:55):
or you know, there's no ring steps if you're watching
it on streaming service, it's like terrible quality. Right, But
that the environment is just so contagious and the buzz
that comes with it. So do I make less money
on those shows? Sure? But the money I make from
the exposure in the buzz from doing those shows makes
(08:17):
up for the actual pay I'm getting from those shows
at that Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I was just thinking like cause like sometimes like you know,
we'll do gigs that are like the money's better, and
then we're like, but I can't believe we're here, you know.
So I just was wondering if stuff like that happens
where they're like, I'm bringing it men, You're like, I
can't believe they're paying me for this, But you know,
we'll do it. I'll be a good sport.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
And there's certainly shows, you know that I do in
the middle of nowhere the United States, where I'm making
a lot of money. But did this day exist in
my life? Like, there is not one tweet about it.
There is no proof that this day existed in my life.
But I'm getting paid for it and getting paid hands
to me for it and selling a lot of merch
but there's no buzz. So there I try to find.
(08:57):
You know, you gotta have an equal balance between buzz money,
maybe sometimes more so buzzling.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, it's fun. Is it creatively more fulfilling?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh? My god? Man? Like these past four years being
outside WWE. Let me just say I am forever grateful
for my time at WWE. It set me up for
this run right now. But I don't care how you
define success by accolades, money, happiness. This has been the
most successful I've ever been in my career, in my life.
It is It's like I can do whatever I want.
(09:29):
I can't get fired, right I can. You know, if
you tell me a date on the on my calendar,
I can tell you where I'm working, how much we're
getting paid. You know, Chelsea, she gets called in for Oh,
by the way, you got work NXT Tuesday. What like,
I don't miss that schedule where they just call you
is that you have to be here. You have to
be there. I was used to it for so long
because that was my life, but I certainly don't miss
(09:49):
being on call.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, that was the difference between movies and TV for
me why I always preferred movies. TV shows would be crazy.
You would get calls at like two am because they're
on nights, and they'd be like, yo, actor X didn't
show up, Yeah we need you now, bro, And it's like, what,
I've got a baby in bed, Like what are you
talking about? We need you right fucking now, and you're
(10:25):
just like, yo, what the hell? And that just doesn't
happen on a movie because it has a beginning of this.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Jericho cruise that I did, Like some of the wrestlers
were a little grumpy. I'm not gonna name names. Let's
just say, let's just say crack Jerry will it maybe
it rhymes with that a little grumpy of a guy.
And I was like going, like, what is it going on.
We're on a cruise ship. We're in the middle of
the ocean.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
This is fun.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
All these wrestling fans are excited. Comedy is gonna be
awesome tonight. They were pretty upset, and then a lot
of them were like, we didn't even know where you're
coming to this. We just got like an email from
aew that we had to be here. Like they didn't know.
They weren't being paid in the extra to be on
the cruise ship. They just had to go be in
the middle of the ocean and do a bunch of matches.
And it was kind of similar to what you're saying
with WWE. They just told them like, hey, tomorrow, you
(11:09):
gotta go do this thing in the middle of the week.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
So it's tough having a boss man.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Oh go go. So like this is gonna sound really nerdy,
but I don't care. So I'm a big Disney fan,
big theme park fan. Right, And there's this one restaurant
in Disney World. It's called Victorian and Albert's the chef's table.
It is almost impossible to get a reservation there. I've
been trying for seven years to get a reservation. Okay,
seven years. I finally got Club Universal. No, no, it's
(11:39):
just a very nice restaurant in one of the hotels,
but it's so exclusive to get reservation anyway, Long story short,
finally get the reservation, Chelsea gets called I have to
go to NXT and what you know. But that's life, right.
I can't be mad at her. She can't not go.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
You know, Matt, you can be mad at her.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
That's what I'd have done. I'd have leveraged it as
some sort of power in our relationship, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Bring it up with a fight. Six months.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Remember when we didn't get to go.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
To the restaurant.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yoh, that was my life when Sarah was on Buffy
back in the day. Man, it was just because vampires
only came out at night, so our dinner plans were
fucked at least three times a week. Man. They'd be like, nope,
we need you in and be like son of a bench,
all right, go do your thing girl, all right. And
I know you've been asked this before. Is there a
dream scenario or what would it take for one of
(12:34):
the major companies to get you to come back? Like
what what would that conversation sound like?
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I Like, I said, this has been the most successful
I've been in my career. But I would be lying
if I said I never wanted to wrestle at Madison
Square Garden again or a wrestle Mania again. And a
few months ago I had that match on AW against
Adam Yeah man Edge and just man, I've griusemoms right
now thinking about it, like walking out in front of
this jam packed arena, you know, not that they were.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
And they went big for you too. They went big
for you.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Right, and it was just it was like everything I've
done for four years has worked right to get a
holy shit on my entrance, right, It just felt so great.
We had a great match, and he was my dream opponent,
so it made it so much more special. Listen, if
Tony Kahn call me or Triple H, I would of
course have a conversation, but like, I don't want to
just be back to be back, yeah, And there's no
(13:28):
guarantees in pro wrestling, I know that, but there needs
to be some sort of intention, right. Also, as Jim
Russ as the cash and creative the two c's right,
because I did the whole just beyond the roster thing,
and there's nothing wrong with that. If that's you know,
if that's how you feed your family, if you're fired
with that, that's fine. But for me, that's not what
I want. I already did it. But I'd be lying
(13:49):
if I said I wanted to end my career in GCW.
You know what I'm saying. I certainly don't. I would
love to end it in WWE or AW. But at
the same time, I don't feel like I'm close to
the end yet. Even though I just turned thirty nine,
I feel like I haven't even reached It's not.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
The end for wrestling. What do you do for wrestling?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, wrestlers don't retire, they just die. No, Well, I
don't want to buy at that point.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
You got about.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Forty more years of wrestling. Bub This is the middle.
This is not the This is not the end.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
You're talking about. I like talking to you guys about
this because I'm in the same thing. Your wife's also
in professional wrestling, Yes, and like me and my wife
doing the same job. That comes with pros and sometimes
cons Right, the pros is they're usually the only human
on earth that can understand what you're going through. They're
(14:43):
the only human on earth that can put up with
the schedule. They're the only human on earth that is
understanding about the injuries because they go through all that
shit too. And it always surprised me why so many
actors split up, because I'm like, yo, they're the only
type of person that can get you. And then I
talked to this actor who passed away. His name was
(15:04):
Brian Denahey, and he said, kid, the secret to a
marriage is the setting and the diamond. Someone has to
be the setting the ring, and they have to let
the diamond shine. And if you want to make this work,
the two of you can't ever shine at the same time. Now,
I don't think it's one hundred percent true, but it's
(15:25):
about ninety nine percent true to me and Sarah and
I have always found a good balance between her time
and my time, her opportunities and my opportunities. In wrestling,
these opportunities can come up at the exact same time.
Y'all had to go through one when you guys were
working together and all of a sudden, the WWE called
how do you guys, balance the wrestling life with the
(15:48):
marriage life. How do you guys make it work? And
I get it that marriage advice is like peanut butter.
It doesn't work for everybody, but just for you guys,
what have you found successful in it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:58):
So, like you said, we were doing our thing on
the indies. She was with me. We were probably together
ninety nine percent of our bookings, right, and all the
different promotions. And then she got the call to go
back to WWE. And of course, you know, pardon me,
is like, well why not me right? Why not? Or
why not me too? Right? But then at the same
(16:19):
time it was like, well you gotta go, but we
don't even need to have a discussion about this, you know,
like you have to go back because she never really
had her opportunity there. She was there, you know, she
was in NXT a couple couple of shows on the
main roster, got an action figure, but she wasn't really there,
you know, like she she had the pod and the curag,
but didn't didn't press it, didn't brew it, you know
(16:40):
what I'm saying. She never got a taste, like you
have to go. You have to you know, find out
for yourself. You know, you can't turn this opportunity down.
And then I think years later, well, what if I
would have gave it a shot? And I'm so glad
she did, you know, WrestleMania, New Action Figures Tag Team title.
She's all over the shows. I'm so happy for her. Yeah.
(17:01):
At that time, I was like, hmm, I kind of
wish I was there as well, but I didn't want to.
It wasn't a why her not me? It was more
like a why not me too? Especially at that time
they were hiring all these people and no offense to anybody,
but like, what was the prerecordsite for getting to be hired?
Like doing nothing right, you know, like some of these
people were doing nothing, Like yeah nothing. I'm like, I
(17:25):
am the indies right now, I am the guy. But
it is what it is. You know. Everyone has a
different path, everyone has a different story. And it just
kind of just added more fuel to my fire.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
You know. I've been getting into Japanese wrestling, yeah, and
I've never been that educated on it. I've only like
I didn't know about like the will Ospreys of the
world or any of that. I saw him in an
Instagram video and someone edited it so he had hair
like a super Saiyan in Japanese anime. That was my
knowledge of that dude. He comes to aw I like, man,
I gotta start watching this. I recorded off the TV
(17:55):
every week, but it just sits there and I never
watch it. Is Japan a place that fascinates you or
interests you in any way? Or is it just too
friggin far away from the family and the life that
you built here at home.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So I had the opportunity last year to go over
three times for a company called DDT, and I absolutely
loved it. I love the culture there, I love that
the fans there, I love the style there. It just
feels very old school to me, and I absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Now.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Would I want to go for months at a time.
That's a different conversation, right, But I was getting brought
in for these shows. Yeah, I spend a week there.
I'd go to you know, Tokyo, Disneyland. I was having
a it was like a vacation and wrestling. So I
love it over there. Would I want to spend like
six months there? Not so sure about that. You know
(18:58):
what New Japan's doing, It's you know, now they're way
more recognizable in the United States that do shows in
the US. It's it's it's it's incredible what they've done.
And so many wrestlers have made their name there and
have come over to the States. So New Japan is
definitely something I would want to do in my career.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Jeff, I have one more question. But if you have something,
I got a bunch of stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Let's go this. Well.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I love that you are married a wrestler because I'm jealous.
I would never even look at a female comedian. All right,
here we go. You, my friend, you're you're like, you're
the indie god. But you have so many belts, You've
won so many belts, you're a fan of that kind
of stuff. I we're very, very similar, you know. I'd say,
if you're if you're doing something, let's get carried away.
(19:43):
If we're going to Disneyland, let's get the stupid ears,
let's do all the stuff. Let's get carried away. Can't
be half pregnant, you know, you can't be half exactly.
Let's go all in.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Let's go in.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
And I love that about you, but I and also
some of the things I might ask you today maybe
you've covered on oother podcasts, but it's new for our listeners.
What's it's the best belt? Do you like the Winged Eagle?
But not not your best belt you've won, but just
what is the best belt?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
The Winged Eagle is definitely my favorite. To me, it's iconic.
Of course, I grew up in that era. You know,
all my favorites held it, whether it be Hogan and Warrior,
Macho Man, Brett Harshaw, Michaels, Austin, you know, to me,
that's the WWE championship. It's my favorite design.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
What about fun ones though? Did you like the twenty
four to seven belt? Did you think that's cool? Did
you like the hardcore? Do you like the spin.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Hard bro I loved the John Cena Spinner, and then
when I won the GCW title, I had a GCW
spinner made eyes purple strap spinner, even the Bellcrow because
now WWE titles use bell crow and the buttons don't
really strap up, so that was a big heat magnet
at gc Doug, I tend.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
To like all the crappy ones, like for whatever reason,
like the more gimmicky is the more I'm on boy.
I love the twenty four to seven.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I liked that would look like.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I know it looked.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Crappy, but I loved the idea of it. I kind
of liked it. It looked like I loved the two
O five Live. I loved that. That that that that
thought it was cool.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
That's that's great.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Well the wing the wing tiggle is is that's the
that's the right answer.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
But yeah, okay, good. I've got to have you know if.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
You're comfortable on our Thursday show, so you guys don't
get to hear it now. I would love to talk
to you a little bit about my federation, because you're
one of the first people I ever spoke to about it.
I'd love to get advice as far as what do
you think the mistakes that promoters make versus the good
choices they make to give listeners and and people who
(21:43):
still have that dream a little information based on your experience.
Maybe we can even talk about you and me working
together and us in our and our desire to do that.
I don't mind. I don't mind spilling a little tea
on Thursdays.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Talk some cash and creative.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How does four mill over in twelve months sound?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
What the fuck is that?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Bro? That sounds great? John? I love you, Hey, and
yes I like that, Jeff.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
All right, I'll help with that part. All right, you guys,
we're gonna get into the final part of the show,
which is our listener reviews. And today's listener review comes
from dude, your name Rocks. It's Michael Jackson. He and
the headline was new to this and he gave us
(22:35):
five stars, and here we go. Just came across this
is like just sweet and nice. I was hoping for
a mean one one of these days. Just just came
across this podcast and can't stop listening. Great and entertaining.
The only downfall is I wish the podcasts were longer,
So do we, Sir? You have to call your representative
in whatever state and make them demand that iHeart makes
(22:56):
our episodes longer. This is a government issue, it's not
it's not my fault. So stay tuned, you guys. Thank
you for that. Please, if you want to write a
mean one, write a mean one. I'll take I'll take
it anyway. Stay tuned, friends. Sanctioned Thursday, we're gonna continue
our conversation with the Deathmatch King. He's got about twenty
seven titles right now. His name is Matt Cardona and
he's going to join us tomorrow on on sanctioned Thursdays.
(23:18):
Mister Cardona, please let the people out there know where
they can reach you if they want to harass or
praise you.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Oh yeah, I got social media. Instagram is it called
what is Twitter? What are we calling it these days? X?
Okay at the Maccardona And and since I'm gonna plug something,
go to majorbendiz dot com. I have my own toy brand,
my own toy company. We've got these big rubber guys
out these major bendies. Get them at major bendiz dot com.
Maybe one day we'll make a Freddy and Jeff that heh.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
We get once win our titles, dude, once we get
our tag team titles. Podcast Division.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Thanks for listening, everybody on behalf of Matthew Cardona, Jeffrey Dye.
I'm Frederick Ends and this was wrestling with Freddy Peace.
This has been a production of Iheart'smichael Toura podcast Network.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Two thousand and eleven. I had been a WWE for
a few years, and of course that was my dream
to be there, But it wasn't my dream to just
be a guy on the roster. You know what I'm saying.
Like it's cool, right, it's awesome. I can say I'm
a ww superstar, but I didn't feel like I was
a superstar.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now your main events introducing the hosts are Wrestling with Freddy,
Jef Die and Forready Prince Tunior.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to a brand new episode of
Wrestling with Freddy, also known as Wrestling with Friends, because
with me as always is the great Jeff Die and
with us today is one of my favorite guests. He's
been here before, he came to do the show again.
He is the indie god. He is the deathmatch King.
He is mister Matt Cardona. Welcome back, sir. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I'm doing great? Thank you for having me. Just got
back from the gym. Their little legs got pump, sweet pump.
Right now.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
You know, let's talk about leg day because I'm very
anti leg day. How often do you have to do
legs to not have chicken legs?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I mean, I do them at least once a week,
sometimes twice. But with this injury, it's been tough.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Week. It's to now that's all you can do is legs.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, it's also tough because I when I'm in the gym,
I had this big sling and you know, it's kind
of limiting with certain movements.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
You know, let's talk about the injury. First of all,
how far away are you from being done with physical therapy.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I'm not going to tell anybody I'm gonna have a
Royal Rumble return. Yeah, let's just say it. I'm a
year away. Oh I like that.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I like that. So then I want to talk about
the injury because an injury for a professional wrestler is
one thing. An injury for a professional wrestler in the
indie scene is a very different thing. An injury for
an actor is a very different thing. I've had plenty
of surgeries, but I have guaranteed contracts if I get hurt,
things like that, things to protect me. When you felt
(02:05):
it go, was it something that happened in a match
or was it a nagging thing that you finally just said, shit,
I have to get this cut open and taken care.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Of happened in a match, clotheslining somebody over the top rope,
something I've done thousands of times, and I felt it
right away. I've never torn my peck before, but I knew,
oh shit, I just tore my peck. Obviously, I'm hoping
that it's not that, that it's not serious. I finished
the match, and if you were in that audience, you
can just hear me screaming fuck, fuck as soon as
(02:35):
I went through the curtain, because I knew. I knew
there's there is no good time in wrestling to get injured,
but this was certainly not a good time. I've been
on the indies for four years. It was about to
celebrate all that cool things I've done in four years,
was about to drop this cool video on Monday. What
I'm gonna write, Oh dot dot dot. By the way,
(02:56):
I've a torn fucking peck, you know, And like you said,
no one's paying for this. I'm paying for this. I'm
paying for the surgery, I'm paying for the rehab. But
it is what it is, right, I mean, there's something
I can do. I can't bitch iman about it. Injuries happen,
you know. I signed up for this knowing the Risks
obviously got surgery right away, and the first forty eight
(03:18):
hours instead of just like feeling sorry for myself or
hanging out on the couch and watching Netflix, I was
just on my calendar on a computer on my phone,
rescheduling my summer because I knew I can't just have
a vacation. What shows can I do that will want
to bring me in to just talk, just talk, trash,
do commentary whatever. So being an independent contract, especially being
(03:42):
on the indies, you know, I had to reach out
to every promoter, but like, hey, guys, I can't wrestle,
do you still want me?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Cool?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
If not, I have to find another booking because I
gotta pay bills. And I got it, took that buzz alive.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
More importantly, well, you've always been good at at keeping momentum,
going and even starting momentum. I think you're kind of
the blueprint for other wrestlers to follow from the time
when you started to where you're at now. Did you
see that as a plan when you started or was
it more of a dream that just kind of happened,
(04:14):
or was it do you know what I mean? Was it?
Does that make sense? Or no?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Sure? Like so I think you're talking about the YouTube
show I started back Yeah. Yeah, so it's just one
of those things that even back then, So this is
what two thousand and eleven. I had been in WWE
for a few years, and of course that was my
dream to be there, But it wasn't my dream to
just be a guy on the roster, you know what
I'm saying. Like it's cool, right, it's awesome. I can
(04:39):
say I'm a ww superstar, but I didn't feel like
I was a superstar. I told the story so many times.
I started this YouTube show because I wanted to create Buzz.
I wanted to get noticed by enemies necessary. I either
wanted to get noticed and pushed by WWE or get
fired and that Buzz would like take me to TNA
or something like that. So I knew there was some
(04:59):
sort of risk involved, you know. I just always I'm
always trying to achieve more goals. Not that I'm not
satisfied with what I've accomplished, of course i am. But
I'm a big dreamer, just like you guys, you know,
and I feel like we only live once in yolo, right,
but like you have to go for it, Like if not,
now what.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I'm gonna let Jeff take over here, but I want
you guys to first bond on something that you both
have in common. I don't know if you've noticed, but
behind each of you are shelves filled with wrestling action figures. Yes, now,
you may be more of an expert than Jeff, but
Jeff's the most expert one I know, besides one other
actor who's not here to defend himself named Kiarenkolkin, who
(05:41):
had like over five thousand action figures all in this
one room in his New York apartment back in the day.
I don't know if he still has as them, but
you're the only three people I know that still collect these.
So by all means, if you want to dork out,
dork out, or if you want to have a professional
question for once, Jeff.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Please, professional questions ain't my style, Freddy, It's just not
what I do here. Also, I'm not a huge into
the action figures. I see that you have the gloobs
and the mattels like you're a real wrestling action figure.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Guy.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I just like one series, and it's the WWF. Has Bros.
Got you right here? Baby? You knew that I like this.
We've talked about it a few times together. I'm a
huge Hasbro guy. I want to start by saying that
I do leg day every day. I want our listeners
to know that these guys once a week, twice a week,
(06:33):
I'm doing two a day's I make seventy and five
hard Look week, dude, I'm doing all legs all day.
I'm the leg god. He's the indie god. Freddy's the
wrong com god. But Jeff Die leg god.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
It's not true at all. I never work out, but
I'm stoked to have you on this podcast. Dude, I'm
a fan. You're the man I I you. The only
reason I'm asking this question first is because you were
talking about bills. You know, you get injured, you got
peck thing, you know that you're not gonna be able
to work for a little while. I don't know how
that how long that takes. I've been with plenty of
gals that get the boob jobs. I know how long
(07:08):
those cut, how long those take. But for a peg job,
I'm not sure how it works. Maddie doing the indie scene.
Like as for comedy, like we prefer some of these
bar shows in these club shows. But they don't really
compare to the bigger mainstream things that don't come around
as often. Do you make more? Do you make less?
(07:28):
Is it worth it?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Like?
Speaker 4 (07:29):
What's the explain that to someone who doesn't know anything
about that side of the scene.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's all situational, just like I'm sure it isn't with comedy, right,
So for instance, GCW, right it if it wasn't for
me doing these GCW shows, which if you watch a
GCW show or you go to a GCW show, it
looks like dog shit, Like the the arena's horrible, like
sometimes they don't even have a curtain for the entrance,
(07:55):
or you know, there's no ring steps if you're watching
it on streaming service, it's like terrible quality. Right, But
that the environment is just so contagious and the buzz
that comes with it. So do I make less money
on those shows? Sure? But the money I make from
the exposure in the buzz from doing those shows makes
(08:17):
up for the actual pay I'm getting from those shows
at that Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I was just thinking like cause like sometimes like you know,
we'll do gigs that are like the money's better, and
then we're like, but I can't believe we're here, you know.
So I just was wondering if stuff like that happens
where they're like, I'm bringing it men, You're like, I
can't believe they're paying me for this, But you know,
we'll do it. I'll be a good sport.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
And there's certainly shows, you know that I do in
the middle of nowhere the United States, where I'm making
a lot of money. But did this day exist in
my life? Like, there is not one tweet about it.
There is no proof that this day existed in my life.
But I'm getting paid for it and getting paid hands
to me for it and selling a lot of merch
but there's no buzz. So there I try to find.
(08:57):
You know, you gotta have an equal balance between buzz money,
maybe sometimes more so buzzling.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, it's fun. Is it creatively more fulfilling?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh? My god? Man? Like these past four years being
outside WWE. Let me just say I am forever grateful
for my time at WWE. It set me up for
this run right now. But I don't care how you
define success by accolades, money, happiness. This has been the
most successful I've ever been in my career, in my life.
It is It's like I can do whatever I want.
(09:29):
I can't get fired, right I can. You know, if
you tell me a date on the on my calendar,
I can tell you where I'm working, how much we're
getting paid. You know, Chelsea, she gets called in for Oh,
by the way, you got work NXT Tuesday. What like,
I don't miss that schedule where they just call you
is that you have to be here. You have to
be there. I was used to it for so long
because that was my life, but I certainly don't miss
(09:49):
being on call.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, that was the difference between movies and TV for
me why I always preferred movies. TV shows would be crazy.
You would get calls at like two am because they're
on nights, and they'd be like, yo, actor X didn't
show up, Yeah we need you now, bro, And it's like, what,
I've got a baby in bed, Like what are you
talking about? We need you right fucking now, and you're
(10:25):
just like, yo, what the hell? And that just doesn't
happen on a movie because it has a beginning of this.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Jericho cruise that I did, Like some of the wrestlers
were a little grumpy. I'm not gonna name names. Let's
just say, let's just say crack Jerry will it maybe
it rhymes with that a little grumpy of a guy.
And I was like going, like, what is it going on.
We're on a cruise ship. We're in the middle of
the ocean.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
This is fun.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
All these wrestling fans are excited. Comedy is gonna be
awesome tonight. They were pretty upset, and then a lot
of them were like, we didn't even know where you're
coming to this. We just got like an email from
aew that we had to be here. Like they didn't know.
They weren't being paid in the extra to be on
the cruise ship. They just had to go be in
the middle of the ocean and do a bunch of matches.
And it was kind of similar to what you're saying
with WWE. They just told them like, hey, tomorrow, you
(11:09):
gotta go do this thing in the middle of the week.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
So it's tough having a boss man.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Oh go go. So like this is gonna sound really nerdy,
but I don't care. So I'm a big Disney fan,
big theme park fan. Right, And there's this one restaurant
in Disney World. It's called Victorian and Albert's the chef's table.
It is almost impossible to get a reservation there. I've
been trying for seven years to get a reservation. Okay,
seven years. I finally got Club Universal. No, no, it's
(11:39):
just a very nice restaurant in one of the hotels,
but it's so exclusive to get reservation anyway, Long story short,
finally get the reservation, Chelsea gets called I have to
go to NXT and what you know. But that's life, right.
I can't be mad at her. She can't not go.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
You know, Matt, you can be mad at her.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
That's what I'd have done. I'd have leveraged it as
some sort of power in our relationship, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Bring it up with a fight. Six months.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Remember when we didn't get to go.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
To the restaurant.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yoh, that was my life when Sarah was on Buffy
back in the day. Man, it was just because vampires
only came out at night, so our dinner plans were
fucked at least three times a week. Man. They'd be like, nope,
we need you in and be like son of a bench,
all right, go do your thing girl, all right. And
I know you've been asked this before. Is there a
dream scenario or what would it take for one of
(12:34):
the major companies to get you to come back? Like
what what would that conversation sound like?
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I Like, I said, this has been the most successful
I've been in my career. But I would be lying
if I said I never wanted to wrestle at Madison
Square Garden again or a wrestle Mania again. And a
few months ago I had that match on AW against
Adam Yeah man Edge and just man, I've griusemoms right
now thinking about it, like walking out in front of
this jam packed arena, you know, not that they were.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
And they went big for you too. They went big
for you.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Right, and it was just it was like everything I've
done for four years has worked right to get a
holy shit on my entrance, right, It just felt so great.
We had a great match, and he was my dream opponent,
so it made it so much more special. Listen, if
Tony Kahn call me or Triple H, I would of
course have a conversation, but like, I don't want to
just be back to be back, yeah, And there's no
(13:28):
guarantees in pro wrestling, I know that, but there needs
to be some sort of intention, right. Also, as Jim
Russ as the cash and creative the two c's right,
because I did the whole just beyond the roster thing,
and there's nothing wrong with that. If that's you know,
if that's how you feed your family, if you're fired
with that, that's fine. But for me, that's not what
I want. I already did it. But I'd be lying
(13:49):
if I said I wanted to end my career in GCW.
You know what I'm saying. I certainly don't. I would
love to end it in WWE or AW. But at
the same time, I don't feel like I'm close to
the end yet. Even though I just turned thirty nine,
I feel like I haven't even reached It's not.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
The end for wrestling. What do you do for wrestling?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, wrestlers don't retire, they just die. No, Well, I
don't want to buy at that point.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
You got about.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Forty more years of wrestling. Bub This is the middle.
This is not the This is not the end.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
You're talking about. I like talking to you guys about
this because I'm in the same thing. Your wife's also
in professional wrestling, Yes, and like me and my wife
doing the same job. That comes with pros and sometimes
cons Right, the pros is they're usually the only human
on earth that can understand what you're going through. They're
(14:43):
the only human on earth that can put up with
the schedule. They're the only human on earth that is
understanding about the injuries because they go through all that
shit too. And it always surprised me why so many
actors split up, because I'm like, yo, they're the only
type of person that can get you. And then I
talked to this actor who passed away. His name was
(15:04):
Brian Denahey, and he said, kid, the secret to a
marriage is the setting and the diamond. Someone has to
be the setting the ring, and they have to let
the diamond shine. And if you want to make this work,
the two of you can't ever shine at the same time. Now,
I don't think it's one hundred percent true, but it's
(15:25):
about ninety nine percent true to me and Sarah and
I have always found a good balance between her time
and my time, her opportunities and my opportunities. In wrestling,
these opportunities can come up at the exact same time.
Y'all had to go through one when you guys were
working together and all of a sudden, the WWE called
how do you guys, balance the wrestling life with the
(15:48):
marriage life. How do you guys make it work? And
I get it that marriage advice is like peanut butter.
It doesn't work for everybody, but just for you guys,
what have you found successful in it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:58):
So, like you said, we were doing our thing on
the indies. She was with me. We were probably together
ninety nine percent of our bookings, right, and all the
different promotions. And then she got the call to go
back to WWE. And of course, you know, pardon me,
is like, well why not me right? Why not? Or
why not me too? Right? But then at the same
(16:19):
time it was like, well you gotta go, but we
don't even need to have a discussion about this, you know,
like you have to go back because she never really
had her opportunity there. She was there, you know, she
was in NXT a couple couple of shows on the
main roster, got an action figure, but she wasn't really there,
you know, like she she had the pod and the curag,
but didn't didn't press it, didn't brew it, you know
(16:40):
what I'm saying. She never got a taste, like you
have to go. You have to you know, find out
for yourself. You know, you can't turn this opportunity down.
And then I think years later, well, what if I
would have gave it a shot? And I'm so glad
she did, you know, WrestleMania, New Action Figures Tag Team title.
She's all over the shows. I'm so happy for her. Yeah.
(17:01):
At that time, I was like, hmm, I kind of
wish I was there as well, but I didn't want to.
It wasn't a why her not me? It was more
like a why not me too? Especially at that time
they were hiring all these people and no offense to anybody,
but like, what was the prerecordsite for getting to be hired?
Like doing nothing right, you know, like some of these
people were doing nothing, Like yeah nothing. I'm like, I
(17:25):
am the indies right now, I am the guy. But
it is what it is. You know. Everyone has a
different path, everyone has a different story. And it just
kind of just added more fuel to my fire.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
You know. I've been getting into Japanese wrestling, yeah, and
I've never been that educated on it. I've only like
I didn't know about like the will Ospreys of the
world or any of that. I saw him in an
Instagram video and someone edited it so he had hair
like a super Saiyan in Japanese anime. That was my
knowledge of that dude. He comes to aw I like, man,
I gotta start watching this. I recorded off the TV
(17:55):
every week, but it just sits there and I never
watch it. Is Japan a place that fascinates you or
interests you in any way? Or is it just too
friggin far away from the family and the life that
you built here at home.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
So I had the opportunity last year to go over
three times for a company called DDT, and I absolutely
loved it. I love the culture there, I love that
the fans there, I love the style there. It just
feels very old school to me, and I absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Now.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Would I want to go for months at a time.
That's a different conversation, right, But I was getting brought
in for these shows. Yeah, I spend a week there.
I'd go to you know, Tokyo, Disneyland. I was having
a it was like a vacation and wrestling. So I
love it over there. Would I want to spend like
six months there? Not so sure about that. You know
(18:58):
what New Japan's doing, It's you know, now they're way
more recognizable in the United States that do shows in
the US. It's it's it's it's incredible what they've done.
And so many wrestlers have made their name there and
have come over to the States. So New Japan is
definitely something I would want to do in my career.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Jeff, I have one more question. But if you have something,
I got a bunch of stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Let's go this. Well.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I love that you are married a wrestler because I'm jealous.
I would never even look at a female comedian. All right,
here we go. You, my friend, you're you're like, you're
the indie god. But you have so many belts, You've
won so many belts, you're a fan of that kind
of stuff. I we're very, very similar, you know. I'd say,
if you're if you're doing something, let's get carried away.
(19:43):
If we're going to Disneyland, let's get the stupid ears,
let's do all the stuff. Let's get carried away. Can't
be half pregnant, you know, you can't be half exactly.
Let's go all in.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Let's go in.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
And I love that about you, but I and also
some of the things I might ask you today maybe
you've covered on oother podcasts, but it's new for our listeners.
What's it's the best belt? Do you like the Winged Eagle?
But not not your best belt you've won, but just
what is the best belt?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
The Winged Eagle is definitely my favorite. To me, it's iconic.
Of course, I grew up in that era. You know,
all my favorites held it, whether it be Hogan and Warrior,
Macho Man, Brett Harshaw, Michaels, Austin, you know, to me,
that's the WWE championship. It's my favorite design.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
What about fun ones though? Did you like the twenty
four to seven belt? Did you think that's cool? Did
you like the hardcore? Do you like the spin.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Hard bro I loved the John Cena Spinner, and then
when I won the GCW title, I had a GCW
spinner made eyes purple strap spinner, even the Bellcrow because
now WWE titles use bell crow and the buttons don't
really strap up, so that was a big heat magnet
at gc Doug, I tend.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
To like all the crappy ones, like for whatever reason,
like the more gimmicky is the more I'm on boy.
I love the twenty four to seven.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I liked that would look like.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I know it looked.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Crappy, but I loved the idea of it. I kind
of liked it. It looked like I loved the two
O five Live. I loved that. That that that that
thought it was cool.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
That's that's great.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Well the wing the wing tiggle is is that's the
that's the right answer.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
But yeah, okay, good. I've got to have you know if.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
You're comfortable on our Thursday show, so you guys don't
get to hear it now. I would love to talk
to you a little bit about my federation, because you're
one of the first people I ever spoke to about it.
I'd love to get advice as far as what do
you think the mistakes that promoters make versus the good
choices they make to give listeners and and people who
(21:43):
still have that dream a little information based on your experience.
Maybe we can even talk about you and me working
together and us in our and our desire to do that.
I don't mind. I don't mind spilling a little tea
on Thursdays.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Talk some cash and creative.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How does four mill over in twelve months sound?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
What the fuck is that?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Bro? That sounds great? John? I love you, Hey, and
yes I like that, Jeff.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
All right, I'll help with that part. All right, you guys,
we're gonna get into the final part of the show,
which is our listener reviews. And today's listener review comes
from dude, your name Rocks. It's Michael Jackson. He and
the headline was new to this and he gave us
(22:35):
five stars, and here we go. Just came across this
is like just sweet and nice. I was hoping for
a mean one one of these days. Just just came
across this podcast and can't stop listening. Great and entertaining.
The only downfall is I wish the podcasts were longer,
So do we, Sir? You have to call your representative
in whatever state and make them demand that iHeart makes
(22:56):
our episodes longer. This is a government issue, it's not
it's not my fault. So stay tuned, you guys. Thank
you for that. Please, if you want to write a
mean one, write a mean one. I'll take I'll take
it anyway. Stay tuned, friends. Sanctioned Thursday, we're gonna continue
our conversation with the Deathmatch King. He's got about twenty
seven titles right now. His name is Matt Cardona and
he's going to join us tomorrow on on sanctioned Thursdays.
(23:18):
Mister Cardona, please let the people out there know where
they can reach you if they want to harass or
praise you.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Oh yeah, I got social media. Instagram is it called
what is Twitter? What are we calling it these days? X?
Okay at the Maccardona And and since I'm gonna plug something,
go to majorbendiz dot com. I have my own toy brand,
my own toy company. We've got these big rubber guys
out these major bendies. Get them at major bendiz dot com.
Maybe one day we'll make a Freddy and Jeff that heh.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
We get once win our titles, dude, once we get
our tag team titles. Podcast Division.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Thanks for listening, everybody on behalf of Matthew Cardona, Jeffrey Dye.
I'm Frederick Ends and this was wrestling with Freddy Peace.
This has been a production of Iheart'smichael Toura podcast Network.
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