UPDATE: Zack Ryder-WWE deal following SmackDown return

After more than five years, Zack Ryder returned to the WWE main roster last Friday on SmackDown to participate in The Last Time Is Now Tournament. The latest reports suggest a new development in a potential deal between Ryder and the company.

The Long Island Iced Z was the surprise matchup for LA Knight in the tournament to determine John Cena's final opponent. Ryder hasn't been seen since 2020, when he was left the company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryder did return to WWE as part of the TNA invasion storyline in NXT earlier this year, but that was with his Matt Cardona character. Despite taking a picture with Triple H for social media, the deal between Cardona and WWE was a one-time thing.

However, the two sides managed to agree on a different kind of contract, according to Fightful Select. While Cardona is not under a WWE deal, he reportedly agreed to a merchandise contract. It's the main reason why there was a new Zack Ryder shirt on the company's official online shop.

As of this writing, there are three Zack Ryder shirts available for fans to buy, and they are all listed as "Most Popular" and "Special Event Item."

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Zack Ryder loses to LA Knight on SmackDown

John Cena has a rich history with Zack Ryder at the height of his popularity in the early 2010s. Cena did steal Eve Torres from him in storyline, but it was great for fans to see Ryder back in WWE, even if it was just for one night.

The former Intercontinental Champion took on LA Knight in a first-round matchup in The Last Time Is Now Tournament. After a hard-fought matchup, The Megastar picked up the victory to advance to the quarterfinals.

Knight joined Jey Uso, Rusev, and Sheamus, who have all booked their tickets to the next round by beating The Miz, Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura, respectively.

The other four first-round matches include Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed, Penta vs. Finn Balor, Gunther vs. Je'Von Evans, and Solo Sikoa vs. a mystery opponent. It will be interesting to see who the superstar is, but it won't be surprising if it is again someone from Cena's past.