WWE's Matt Cardona Offers Update On Injury Recovery

Injured WWE star Matt Cardona has provided an update on his injury recovery and when he's targeting a return.

Cardona tore his tricep in a match on WWE Main Event in August (which aired on September 3, 2026), and he had to quickly undergo surgery. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion said in an appearance on the "Casuals with Katie Nolan" podcast that he intends to recover quicker than what the doctors have predicted, aiming for a Royal Rumble return.

"The plan is to be back shorter than the surgeons say. Maybe come back to the Royal Rumble. Who knows? That's February this year. So, I got some time," said Cardona.

Next year's Royal Rumble will be held in February at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, although WWE has yet to announce a date for the PLE, with reports suggesting that it could be held on February 7. Cardona made his first appearance in the men's Royal Rumble match in over a decade earlier this year, having previously wrestled in the match way back in 2015. However, his return to the match was short-lived, as he was quickly eliminated by Oba Femi.

In the interview, Cardona also made light of the injury, claiming that his impressive physique was the reason for it.

"It's the tricep. I was just too muscular that it just ripped right off my elbow," he joked.

Cardona's injury came at an unfortunate time for him, as he seemed to be gaining some momentum on "WWE SmackDown," which included a segment and match with GUNTHER, after the Austrian ridiculed Cardona's wife and WWE star, Chelsea Green.