Matt Cardona has provided a detailed account of the triceps tear that has put his in-ring future temporarily on hold, sharing footage and an explanation of how the injury occurred during his WWE Main Event match against Kit Wilson.

Cardona initially disclosed the injury on August 23, 2026. The match in which it happened was taped for WWE Main Event and later aired on September 3. In his new comments, Cardona walked viewers through the sequence that caused concern during the bout, beginning with a familiar move that he had performed countless times throughout his career.

“Here’s the footage of me tearing my triceps during a match against @KitWilson_PD. I hit my dropkick off the second rope, and something didn’t feel right. But there’s no way I could hurt myself on a move I’ve done hundreds of times…right? Then I clothselined him over the top rope, and that felt weird, too. Once I grabbed the rope for my baseball slide, I knew I tore my tricep. Injuries suck, but they are part of the job. I’m recovering after surgery and start rehab today. I’ll be back. I’M NOT FINISHED.”

The comments offer a clear picture of the difficult decisions wrestlers often make in real time. Cardona said he first noticed that something was wrong after delivering a dropkick from the second rope. At that point, though, the severity of the situation was not yet apparent. He continued through the match, including a clothesline that sent Wilson over the top rope, before feeling another warning sign.

It was when Cardona reached for the rope during a baseball-slide sequence that he realized the injury was more serious. Despite the physical setback, he finished his statement on a defiant note, stressing that he intends to return after completing his recovery process.

Surgery complete as Cardona begins rehab

Cardona confirmed that he has undergone surgery and has now started rehabilitation. No timetable for his return to WWE competition was included in his update, leaving the length of his absence uncertain. A triceps injury can be especially challenging for a wrestler because the muscle is heavily involved in pushing, pulling, striking, lifting opponents, holding the ropes, and absorbing the force that comes with routine bumps and falls.

That makes Cardona’s immediate focus straightforward: recover from the operation, regain strength and mobility, and progress through rehab before attempting an in-ring comeback. His message made clear that the injury has not changed his competitive outlook. Rather than framing the situation as an ending, Cardona positioned it as another obstacle in a career defined by reinvention and persistence.

The former United States Champion has endured major changes throughout his time in professional wrestling. From his early WWE run as Zack Ryder to his later work as Matt Cardona across the independent scene and multiple promotions, he has repeatedly found ways to refresh his presentation and maintain a prominent profile. His return to WWE placed him back in a familiar environment, but the triceps tear now interrupts that momentum.

The injury happened in a match with Kit Wilson

Kit Wilson was Cardona’s opponent in the WWE Main Event bout where the injury occurred. Although the match was taped before its September 3 broadcast, Cardona’s August 23 announcement had already established that he had suffered a triceps tear. The newly shared footage and explanation fill in the key details behind that announcement.

The sequence is notable because it did not involve an obviously reckless or unusual stunt. Cardona specifically identified a second-rope dropkick as the first moment where he felt something was off, then said a subsequent clothesline also felt abnormal. That is a reminder of the unpredictable physical toll of wrestling, where even established movements can become dangerous through timing, positioning, fatigue, or factors that may not be visible to an audience.

Cardona’s description also illustrates how quickly a performer must assess what is happening while a live match continues. In many cases, the first sensation of an injury can be unclear. A wrestler may feel discomfort without immediately knowing whether it is a strain, a temporary impact issue, or something requiring medical attention. Cardona continued until the rope-grab spot gave him the certainty that his triceps had torn.

There is no indication in his statement that any single person or particular spot beyond the match action itself was responsible. Cardona simply identified the progression of movements that led him to understand what had happened. His attention now is on recovery rather than assigning blame.

Cardona’s last WWE television appearance came on SmackDown

Before the Main Event match and subsequent injury news, Cardona was last seen on WWE television during the August 14 episode of SmackDown. On that show, he came out in defense of his wife, Chelsea Green, and faced Gunther. Cardona was defeated by Gunther in that appearance.

The moment connected Cardona directly to Green’s ongoing WWE presence while also putting him opposite one of the company’s most formidable competitors. Even in defeat, the segment gave Cardona a meaningful role: he stepped in on behalf of his wife and showed a willingness to confront a dangerous opponent. The triceps injury arrived soon after, preventing him from immediately building on that television exposure.

Green remains one of the central figures connected to Cardona’s WWE story, both personally and on screen. Their relationship has long been a visible part of their wrestling careers, and Cardona’s August 14 appearance was driven by that connection. For now, any potential continuation of his WWE activity will depend on the course of his rehabilitation.

“I’M NOT FINISHED” sets the tone for a return

Cardona’s final words were the most important part of his update. “I’M NOT FINISHED” was not a promise tied to a particular date, storyline, or opponent. Instead, it was a firm declaration that he expects to resume his career once he is medically able to do so.

That attitude is consistent with the path Cardona has taken over the years. He has repeatedly used setbacks and changing circumstances as motivation, whether working to establish himself in WWE, creating momentum outside the company, or returning to a national WWE stage. A serious injury presents a different kind of challenge, one based on patience and physical recovery rather than match results, but his public message leaves little doubt about his intention.

For WWE, Cardona’s absence removes a performer with established name recognition, a clear connection to Chelsea Green, and a history that can be used across several parts of the roster. It also pauses the ring activity that followed his recent SmackDown involvement. Until further information is available, there is no confirmed timetable for when he may be cleared to compete again.

Cardona has already taken the first major steps, with surgery behind him and rehab underway. The footage of the injury moment serves as a sobering look at the risks involved in professional wrestling, particularly when an athlete is performing moves that have become second nature over years of competition. For Cardona, the next chapter will happen away from the ring as he works toward the comeback he has promised.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.