The landscape of NXT shifted last night as Matt Cardona made a surprise return to WWE television. His appearance on the September 23 show marked his first in the company since his April 2020 release.
Cardona wasn’t alone. He was spotted in the parking lot with TNA star Moose and Eric Young, who also returned to WWE. The trio appeared just as NXT Champion Trick Williams and TNA Champion Oba Femi arrived for their main event.
The crossover was the latest development in the ongoing partnership between NXT and TNA Wrestling. The storyline has featured talent crossing promotional lines, culminating in a champion-versus-champion match with both the NXT and TNA Titles on the line.
For Eric Young, the night carried added weight. Like Cardona, he was released in April 2020, making his return a parallel story.
Cardona’s comeback quickly drew online reactions, most notably from his wife, WWE Superstar Chelsea Green, who posted: “That’s my man ♥️ Welcome back to #WWENXT baby.”