Matt Cardona Suffers Significant Injury During SmackDown Taping

It's been quite the up and down month for the Cardona/Green household.

Two weeks after Interim WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green suffered a broken orbital bone on SmackDown, her husband, Matt Cardona, announced his own injury Sunday afternoon on social media. And it's one that could keep him out of action for the next several months.

"I wish my arm was this jacked. Unfortunately, it’s just swollen because I tore my triceps in a match on Friday night. (I still went to the gym today and did legs) I’ll keep you updated. I’M NOT FINISHED," Cardona wrote on his X account.

Matt Cardona will now be sidelined for the next few months

I wish my arm was this jacked. Unfortunately, it’s just swollen because I tore my tricep in a match on Friday night. (I still went to the gym today and did legs) I’ll keep you updated. I’M NOT FINISHED. pic.twitter.com/g8HoBGFZl8
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) August 23, 2026

Cardona's match in Toronto took place prior to SmackDown going live on the USA Network. His last appearance on television was during the August 14 edition of the Blue Brand. He came to the aid of Chelsea Green after she found herself face-to-face with Gunther, which caused General Manager Nick Aldis to book an impromptu match.

Gunther would go on to defeat Cardona via submission, and Matt would later be featured in a digital exclusive alongside The Miz and Kit Wilson.

It appeared as though the WWE creative team was laying some ground work for a story involving Cardona, Miz and Wilson, but that will likely now be shelved due to Matt's injury. With rest and rehabilitation, Cardona could recover from a partial triceps tear with 8-12 weeks, according to a quick Google search. If surgery is required to repair the damage, he'll be out significantly longer.

I’m sick of @mikethemiz and his mouth.

Also, I don’t have any of your figures pal.@MajorWFPod pic.twitter.com/rlsk9ojbtU
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) August 15, 2026

The month of August started off incredibly well for the Cardona's. Chelsea Green defeated Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton and Lash Legend in a Five-Woman Ladder Match at SummerSlam to capture the WWE Women's Championship, but her subsequent world domination tour was nearly cancelled.

Green and Stratton challenged Fatal Influence for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles on the August 7 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, and thanks to Jacy Jayne's outside interference, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid retained by pinning the WWE Women's Champion.

Unfortunately, it was during Henley and Reid's Fatal Flaw double team finishing maneuver that Chelsea suffered her broken orbital bone.

There was some speculation early on that she would have to relinquish the WWE Women's Championship, but Nick Aldis instead gave her 30 days to gain medical clearance. Green has also revealed that she has a protective mask ready to go when the doctors do allow her to get back in the ring.

The Takedown on SI wishes the best possible recovery for both Chelsea Green and Matt Cardona. We'll continue to provide updates on both Superstars as more information becomes available.

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