Vince McMahon Originally Rejected Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins Tag Team Title Win

Matt Cardona, known for his time in WWE as Zack Ryder, went on the Wrestling Perspective podcast where he revealed that Vince McMahon initially did not approve the idea of Ryder and tag team partner Curt Hawkins becoming Tag Team Champions at WrestleMania 35.

Ryder and Hawkins began teaming together in WWE in 2007, formerly known as The Major Brothers. After being split up as a team in 2009, the two wrestlers had separate career paths in WWE. The team would reunite and win the RAW Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35.

Cardona revealed on the podcast that himself and Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers) had a meeting with McMahon to get him to approve the New York Jets inspired ring gear, and to pitch the idea of the team of Ryder and Hawkins to win the tag team titles. All WrestleMania gear must be approved ahead of time.

Cardona said that McMahon approved the ring gear but did not like the tag team titles idea. Broski said that a few days later he received a call from someone else in WWE creative to tell him that he and Hawkins would be winning the titles at WrestleMania.

After Matt Cardona and Brian Myers were released by WWE, the two have had their career paths cross many times. The two host the Major Wrestling Figure podcast together and shared the ring in a one on one match at Impact’s Rebellion PPV in 2021.

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