Why Santos Escobar Turned Down WWEâ€s Offer Before His Contract Expired

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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