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Matt Cardona knows a thing or two about the independent professional wrestling scene.
Following his departure 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 various independent promotions and major companies in the US whose names are not 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)
Currently, there are several professional wrestlers on the indies who are also finding success with their own branding and marketing. Cardona named a few in a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital when asked who he thought was the new “God of Indy.”
“Who is the ‘Indy God?’ Oh, I don’t know if anyone is the ‘God of Indy’. But there are people who have definitely stepped up. For example, Shotzi, who was in WWE at the same time. When she left, I think she copied Matt Cardona’s formula and it was good for her and we had some amazing matches together. She is someone who cares. I think effort is very, very important not only in independent wrestling but in professional wrestling in general. If you’re not doing everything you can to succeed, if you’re not treating yourself as important, I don’t think anyone else will. I would definitely put Shotzi on that list.
“Two others to watch out for on the independents: Richard Holliday. He’s another one who’s always on social media. He’s always trying to force it down your throat, like I did when I left. When you’re not in WWE, you can’t take a day off to be on your phone. For example, Chelsea (Green), she was always yelling at me for always being on my phone: ‘You’re posting too much on social media.’ I told her, honey, if you don’t want to be on your phone, WWE will post about you, WWE Shop will post about you, USA Network will post about you, ESPN, Netflix If I don’t post about me, no one will post about me Richard Holliday is taking this very seriously.
Ben Bishop excites Richard Holliday in Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
Ben Bishop offers support to Richard Holliday in Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
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“Also, Ben Bishop, another guy. So, I’d say, Shotzi, Ben Bishop and Richard Holliday, three to watch out for.”
Currently, Shotzi is the Major League Wrestling Women’s World Champion and has appeared in several different promotions around the world.
Holliday and Bishop have also built a large following on social media, which has helped them boost their profiles in the sport.
Major League Wrestling star Shotzi wears his battle hat to the ring. (MLW)
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Cardona shared some advice to those trying to follow his path.
“It’s funny because the guys and girls from the independents always asked me for advice. The answer was simple: don’t quit,” he said. “Everyone has a different path. Everyone has a different path, but if you don’t quit… this is what I would say: If you don’t quit, you might make it. If you quit, you definitely won’t make it. It’s as simple as that.”
