Browsing: Santos

By Ella Jay

Oct. 12, 2025 11:40 am EST

WWE

After one day as a free agent, news emerged that former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar had re-signed to WWE under a contract more lucrative than the one initially offered up to him.

While the exact amount of Escobar’s new deal is still unknown, Fightful Select reports that it is “great money.” Several figures in WWE are also said to be pleasantly surprised that Escobar is extending his time in the company.

Escobar’s prior WWE contract expired at midnight Tuesday morning, with WWE offering a new one that included a raise in pay beforehand. Despite this, Escobar reportedly declined to re-sign with WWE at the time, citing worries about how the company would utilize him creatively in the event that he stayed. He was reportedly not concerned with getting a big push with WWE, but he was aiming to avoid a period of being stuck “spinning his wheels” when it came to his booking. When WWE eventually re-evaluated Escobar’s creative concerns and put an even higher deal on the table, the two sides reached an agreement.

Escobar joined WWE in 2019. The following year, he emerged as the leader of Legado Del Fantasma alongside Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde. The three continued to work together through their call up to WWE’s main roster and adoption into the Latino World Order. In November 2023, however, Escobar turned on the LWO and reformed the Legado Del Fantasma with Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza, whom he remained aligned with until his contract expiration. There is no word on whether the trio will stay intact following Escobar’s recent return to WWE.Â

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On the heels of a separate report that Xavier Woods had inked a new contractwith WWE, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that his New Day teammate, Kofi Kingston, has also signed on the dotted line to remain with the company.

“Fightful Select is told that Kofi Kingston re-signed with WWE at some point earlier this year. WWE sources indicated that they were of the belief of that the deal would be a five-year contract, taking him into 2030, when he’ll be nearly 49,” Sapp wrote.

Kingston is a former WWE champion and has been a staple of the company’s programming since his arrival on the main roster in 2008. He has accomplished everything there is to in the promotion, but remains a visible and valuable asset on Monday Night Raw.

Kingston can be a beloved babyface or as we have witnessed over the last year, a despised heel, making him an adaptable performers who can still work with stars of all styles and backgrounds.

He is over with fans and a veteran of every major moment, victory, defeat, and match that can take place on any given WWE show and is a major part of the locker room, making him invaluable to the company beyond his ability in the ring.

For that reason, he more than earned one last, long-term contract and a chance to continue his WWE career rather than starting over somewhere else.

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Santos Escobar is the hottest topic of discussion within the WWE Universe right now. Right as he was heading into free agency, the Legado Del Fantasma leader shocked the industry by reaching a deal with WWE. Now it appears the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion is planning big moves for his return to the storylines.

Earlier this week when the news of Escobar’s WWE contract situation emerged, he took to Instagram with a vignette inspired by The Most Interesting Man In The World commercials. Escobar captioned the post with a message encouraging fans to “palante,” or move forward.

“Never stop. Always persevere. #luchalibre #mexico PALANTE!!!,” Santos Escobar wrote with the video below.

The Emperor Of Lucha Libre then fueled rumors and speculation in a major way today after news of his WWE contract extension leaked. The vignette shows Escobar at a photo-shoot, which many fans saw as Santos teasing a return to his El Hijo del Fantasma gimmick, or his King Cuerno character from Lucha Underground. There was no caption to the post, but the in-video caption touted how this is just the beginning.

“It is only the beginning. Never … underestimate power,” reads the caption on the video.

Escobar then fueled the gimmick change speculation with a post to X, which was not uploaded to Instagram. The photo, seen below, appears to be from the same photo-shoot, and shows Escobar with his lucha libre mask. There was no caption.

pic.twitter.com/kL11QU33I5

— S. 💀🇲🇽 (@EscobarWWE) October 8, 2025

Santos Escobar Shares Song Lyrics In Latest Post

Santos Escobar has trended all week over his ongoing WWE contract situation. The SmackDown Superstar has kept the buzz going with cryptic social media posts.

The Son Of El Fantasma took to Instagram today with another cryptic post after news of his new WWE contract was revealed. Escobar shared an intense black-and-white photo from another shoot, and captioned the post with lyrics from Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” single from 1964-1965, which has been covered by numerous notable acts over the years.

“Birds flying high… you know how I feel… sun in the sky… you know how I feel… breeze drifting on by… you now how I feel. Itâ€s a new dawn, Itâ€s a new day, Itâ€s a new life… And I feel…. GOOD,” Santos Escobar wrote with the photo below.

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One day after reports circulated that Santos Escobar’s WWE contract expired, the veteran Superstar reportedly agreed to a new deal with the company on Wednesday.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), WWE made Escobar an offer that was “significantly higher” than previous ones, which led to the two sides coming to terms.

PWInsider.com (h/t Carrier) previously reported that Escobar’s WWE contract was up at midnight ET on Tuesday, meaning he was officially a free agent for at least a short period of time.

It was also noted by PWInsider.com (h/t Carrier) that while WWE had upped its financial offer for Escobar before his deal expired, he turned it down due to concerns about how he would be utilized.

Once Escobar’s contract expired, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News) reported that multiple people within WWE expected Escobar to sign with AEW.

That would have marked the second major WWE-to-AEW defection recently, as Andrade returned to AEW last week after getting released by WWE.

However, Escobar and WWE reportedly reached a new pact, meaning the 41-year-old’s six-year tenure with the promotion has been extended.

Escobar’s greatest success in WWE came as part of the NXT brand. He won the Cruiserweight Championship shortly after his debut, and he created the Legado del Fantasma stable.

Things haven’t gone quite as smoothly for Escobar since getting called up to the main roster in 2022, although he has had his moments.

Escobar spent some time as a member of the LWO before turning on Rey Mysterio. That led to a tag team match at WrestleMania 40 that saw Rey and Andrade beat Escobar and Dominik Mysterio.

Santos reformed Legado del Fantasma with Angel and Berto, and in recent months, he has primarily served as a manager for Angel and Berto with his in-ring opportunities being few and far between.

However, with the Mexican star inking a deal to remain in WWE, it suggests that both sides are satisfied with the plans that are in place for him in the future.

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Santos Escobar is officially a free agent following the expiration of his WWE contract at midnight on Monday October 6, 2025. The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion has now been moved to the alumni section of WWE.com, signaling the end of his run with the company.

Escobar also broke his silence with a short but telling social media video, captioned “Palanteâ€â€”a Spanish expression meaning “forward†or “onwardâ€â€”indicating heâ€s ready to begin the next chapter of his career.

As previously reported on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE had been expecting Escobarâ€s exit for some time. According to Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez, internal preparations were made ahead of his contract expiration. Meltzer noted that multiple people believe Escobarâ€s next stop is AEW, although nothing has been officially confirmed.

“Unless he signed at the last minute, heâ€s done. Theyâ€ve been expecting him to leave for some time… And I do know people there—itâ€s multiple people there—who expect him to go to AEW,†Meltzer said.

Escobar signed with WWE in 2019 after making a name for himself in Mexico as El Hijo del Fantasma. During his time in WWE, he unmasked, formed Legado Del Fantasma, and held the NXT Cruiserweight Title for over 300 days. His final appearance came at AAA x WWE: Worlds Collide in June, and his last match on SmackDown was a loss to Rey Fenix on May 2.

Now that heâ€s officially a free agent, the question is no longer if heâ€s leaving—but where heâ€s going.

Do you want to see Santos Escobar in AEW, back in Mexico, or somewhere else entirely? Let us know your pick in the comments below.

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Santos Escobar is very likely to be leaving WWE in the coming days. The leader of Legado Del Fantasma reportedly will not be signing a new deal, making him the latest in a long line of Mexican stars who have failed to break through on the main roster. Escobar is not the first wrestler from Latin America to struggle on SmackDown or RAW, but his departure further raises the question: why has the company never managed to find the elusive “next Rey Mysterio�

Rey Mysterio: The Benchmark WWE Canâ€t Replace

One of the smartest creative decisions WWE made in the early 2000s was to bring back Rey Mysterioâ€s mask when he joined the company. He had lost it in WCW, a call Eric Bischoff has defended, but putting it back on him for WWE proved to be a masterstroke. The mask became the centrepiece of a 20+ year merchandising juggernaut, helping Rey connect with young fans.

The challenge since has been finding someone to replicate that success. WWE has tried repeatedly, but none of their attempts, from Sin Cara to Escobar, have stuck in the same way as Mysterio.

Why US Promotions Struggle With Lucha Stars

Promoters in the United States have long tried to tap into the Mexican market by importing Lucha Libre talent. WCW, ECW, TNA, AEW, and WWE have all attempted to make household names out of Luchadores. Only WWE, through Mysterio, has truly managed to do so at scale, yet they have been unable to strike gold twice.

Is the Lucha Mask the Problem?

Some have argued that the mask itself is the stumbling block. WWE requires performers who can tell stories both in the ring and on the microphone. Masks that cover the full face will limit facial expressions and can hinder promo delivery, so it’s difficult to emote and build a connection with the televised and in-building audience.

Reyâ€s mask works because it reveals enough of his face to convey emotion, while his distinctive eyes and even his custom contact lenses enhance his look. Contrast that with Mistico/Sin Cara, whose mask covered too much, muting his expressions. In Mexico, where masks themselves carry deep storytelling symbolism, this isnâ€t a problem. But WWEâ€s audience relies more heavily on visible emotion, there needs to be stories told at every element.

That being said, Escobar didnâ€t even wear a mask for most of his NXT and main roster run. So if it isnâ€t the mask, what went wrong?

Booking, Not Talent

The issue lies in how Escobar was booked. In NXT, he thrived as a charismatic, ruthless leader of Legado Del Fantasma, where the group had purpose, identity, and presence. But when they debuted on SmackDown, their momentum was immediately blunted. Instead of being positioned as a major heel faction, they were absorbed into Rey Mysterioâ€s rebooted Latino World Order. Escobar was no longer the star of his own story, but a supporting act to someone elseâ€s.

This is a pattern WWE has repeated. Andrade, Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Sin Cara, and even Alberto Del Rio at times all suffered from inconsistent creative direction. The performers had the talent, but WWE failed to sustain their momentum.

The Rey Mysterio Problem

The truth is that WWEâ€s obsession with finding “the next Rey Mysterio†has been part of the problem. Rey is unique, he’s a once-in-a-generation athlete who combined the Lucha style with US-friendly storytelling ability and mass-market appeal. His mask became iconic because of who he was underneath it.

By forcing new Mexican and Lucha-inspired wrestlers into Reyâ€s shadow, WWE sets them up for disappointment. Instead of searching for a replacement, the company needs to allow the next star to carve out their own identity, not inherit someone elseâ€s.

There are many that could do it: Penta, Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee…but WWE’s track record is not exactly glowing.

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Santos Escobarâ€s time with WWE is officially at a crossroads, and now the real reason behind his decision to leave has been revealed.

Escobarâ€s contract expires at midnight tonight, making him a free agent and able to wrestle anywhere he chooses. But it wasnâ€t money that led to this decision — it was how WWE planned to use him.

According to sources via PWInsider, in recent weeks said Escobar was upfront about his concerns over signing a new deal. He wasnâ€t worried about getting a raise or even a guaranteed push. Instead, Escobar wanted to be sure WWE had a clear plan for how he would be used moving forward. Without that, he feared locking himself into a deal only to end up “spinning his wheels†and not being utilized in the ring.

Escobarâ€s career has already spanned multiple major promotions. Before joining WWE, he built his name as El Hijo del Fantasma in Mexico, winning titles in CMLL and AAA. He later gained U.S. exposure as King Cuerno in Lucha Underground before signing with WWE in 2019. During his run there, he unmasked, formed Legado Del Fantasma, and held the NXT Cruiserweight Championship for more than 300 days before moving to the main roster.

His last televised match was in June at AAA x WWE Worlds Collide, teaming with Angel and Berto to defeat El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano, and Psycho Clown. His last match on “WWE SmackDown†was a May 2 loss to Rey Fenix.

Now, with his contract officially expiring, Escobarâ€s next move is completely open. Whether he returns to Mexico, heads to AEW, or explores another opportunity, the lucha veteran has made it clear he wants his next chapter to be about direction and purpose, not just money.

Do you think Santos Escobar made the right call by walking away from WWE? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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A new report from Fightful Selecthas provided a major update on the future of WWE SmackDown superstar Santos Escobar, revealing that his contract with the company is set to expire “very soon.”

According to WWE sources cited in the report, the current expectation is that Escobar will be leaving the company when his deal is up, a move that would make him one of the most sought-after free agents in the professional wrestling industry.

The news comes after months of speculation about his status, as he has been used sparingly on television throughout 2025 and has been making a series of ominous posts on his social media accounts. The report states that while it was implied that WWE and Escobar had discussed a contract extension, it does not appear that the two sides will be coming to a new agreement. Escobar’s last official match for the company was at a non-televised WWE SuperShow live event in Mexico, and he has effectively vanished from weekly WWE programming.

Should he become a free agent, Escobar is expected to be in high demand. Before signing with WWE and becoming a staple of the NXT and SmackDown brands as the leader of Legado Del Fantasma, he had a long and highly successful career under the name El Hijo del Fantasma, where he was a top star in Mexico for both CMLL and AAA. He also had an run in the Lucha Underground promotion as the dark and menacing character, King Cuerno.

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Santos Escobar might be on his way out of WWE as his contract is up soon with no apparent signs of an extension.

That report comes from Fightful Select Monday who reported that while it was implied he and WWE had discussed an extension, they were unable to confirm whether that has happened.

The Legado del Fantasma member hasn’t been in the ring since appearing in trios matches on WWE SuperShows in Mexico July 26 and 27. He has wrestled just seven times overall this year with two of those appearances coming in battle royals.

The former El Hijo del Fantasma, Escobar signed with WWE in August 2019, got injured while training, and then started with NXT in February 2020 under his real name (Jorge Bolly) which was eventually changed to his current moniker after winning the NXT Cruiserweight title that same year.

He, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro were called up to the main roster in October 2022 where he has remained ever since. After splitting with the LWO, Escobar has been aligned with Los Garza.

He was relatively quiet on social media for September, but has began posting pictures of him in a suit from a photo shoot including the following which included an hourglass emoji (seen below).

The 41-year-old is both a former titleholder in CMLL and AAA and has also wrestled for TNA in the past.

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