Carlito believes Triple H never understood his character.
The former WWE star was the most recent guest on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. Among other things, the former US Champion also discussed his abrupt exit from the company last year in June when his contract expired. The wrestling veteran revealed that the officials had actually offered him a three-year deal in 2023, but he opted to sign for two years only because he wasn’t sure how his run would go.
Chris mentioned that being part of the Judgment Day gave him a lot more to do on WWE TV, saying he doesn’t know where the 47-year-old would fit on the show otherwise. Carlito agreed with the sentiment, suggesting that the current creative head Triple H is not a fan of his character:
“Me neither. Yeah, I don’t know, because I’ve never been Hunter’s favorite. I don’t think he gets Carlito or the character. So it is what it is. But I was gonna make whatever I did work. So Judgment Day came by, and it was fun for me.”
Elsewhere in the session, Carlito also revealed that WWE didn’t actually have a plan for his storyline with Raquel Rodriguez and wished that the company had written him off TV with an angle instead of just pulling him from the programming without an explanation.
Apart from this, Carlito discussed celebrity involvement in wrestling, the difference between his first and second run with the company, and more. You can check out his full interview below:
Carlito has started planning his wrestling retirement.
The former WWE star recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview. He talked about things such as sharing the ring with Hulk Hogan, getting the spit or swallow T-shirt approved, and more.
During the talk, the 47-year-old was also asked if he has gotten to the point in his career where he has started thinking about his retirement. Carlito noted that he still has a little gas left in the tank, but admitted that he has started thinking about his exit plan:
“Oh yeah, I’m getting there. I still got a little bit left in the tank. Not that I don’t want to do it anymore, just focusing more on the exit plan.”
When asked what the exit plan looks like, Carlito said that it looks pretty good. He noted that his recent WWE run helped set up his retirement:
“It looks pretty good, man. The WWE run helped out a lot with that, with the retirement plan. So, yeah, a couple more years, and then I can ride off into the sunset.”
Apart from this, the former US Champion talked in detail about his abrupt WWE exit last year. Carlito claimed he was not surprised by his release, but revealed the one regret he still has. You can check out his comments here.
The former US Champion talked about the abrupt end to his second WWE run during his new interview with Chris Van Vliet. The wrestling star had been a part of the Judgment Day faction when he left the company in June 2025. Though he claimed that he was not surprised by his release because his contract had expired.
During the interview, he also revealed his one regret about the way things ended. The 47-year-old, who was taken off TV without any explanation, noted that he still had some time left on his deal. Carlito wished that the company had written him off with some kind of angle instead:
“I still had two weeks left. I just wish they would have written me off somehow. That’s my only, that’s the only thing that I didn’t like. I’m a professional bro, not being in WWE is not the end of the world. So I was like, gladly come in, and you didn’t want my services, just write me off.”
Carlito was later asked what the plan was for his storyline with Raquel Rodriguez. The former Champion revealed that they didn’t actually have a plan, and it was one of the many stories that was pitched one week but never brought up again. The two kept things going on their own in hopes of getting a resolution:
“Another thing, just like I was not the main focus of the Judgment Day. They were always Dom and Liv, so it’s these ideas they threw apart. But then there would be no follow-up. So Raquel and I would do little things to keep it going. So it’s kind of up to us. That was another thing, because it was another thing I could work off.
Because going back to what I said, it’s probably this guy that doesn’t get the girl, so this was kind of the way I could be goofed by he to make it more comedic. So that was, yeah, those are just little things that we would do. But the origin that they said one week, and then after that, they didn’t bring it up anymore.”
Apart from this, Carlito discussed his viral spear spot with Bron Breakker, his retirement plans and more. You can check out his full interview below:
Carlito has explained the end of his second WWE run.
The former WWE star recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview. He talked about things such as his viral spear spot with Bron Breakker, the evolution of Dominik Mysterio, how long he will continue wrestling and more.
During the talk, Carlito was asked if he was surprised by his WWE release. The former US Champion replied negatively, explaining that he left because his contract expired. When asked why the company did not renew his deal, the wrestling veteran said that neither he nor the promotion initiated the talks for it:
“They could have renewed it, but I never went to them. They never came to me. So we never spoke or anything. I just was ready for whatever. I kind of shot myself in the foot because I signed the shorter deal and the usual. So I guess I bet against myself.”
After making multiple one-off appearances, including at 2021 Royal Rumble and 2023 Backlash, Carlito signed a new deal with the company. Initially being paired with LWO, the Puerto Rican star later turned heel and joined the Judgment Day. His run came to an abrupt end two years later, however, in June 2025.
Explaining the abnormal length of his deal, the 47-year-old revealed that the company had actually offered him a three-year contract. Fearing that he would get lost in the shuffle, he chose to sign only for two years:
“I signed for two years. They wanted me for three, and I signed for two because I didn’t think it was gonna go as good as it did. So, as I said, I bet against myself, and I would have got an extra year, and then my contract would expire. But ended up losing a year. But that’s all right.”
Carlito has returned to the independent circuit after his release, wrestling for various indie promotions in Puerto Rico and other US states.
At least two names connected to WWE in recent years were backstage at this week’s Ring of Honor tapings in Florida, according to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp.
Carlito was reportedly visiting because his cousins, Epico and Primo, were competing during the tapings. Despite a lengthy wrestling career spanning multiple promotions,
Carlito has never wrestled for AEW or Ring of Honor. He had been part of WWE programming before quietly disappearing from television.
Bobby Steveson was also backstage, though Fightful noted he did not compete at the tapings and was working at the show in some capacity. Steveson previously wrestled in WWE NXT under the Damon Kemp name before his departure from the company, and has only wrestled sporadically in the two years since.
No indication exists that either Carlito or Steveson is signing with AEW or ROH.
Carlito’s most recent WWE run didn’t end with a big send-off on screen, or even a conversation between WWE and the cool Superstar backstage. Speaking on D-Von Dudley’s podcast on July 15, 2025, Carlito shared that his contract quietly expired without any real communication from higher-ups.
\”The contract ended, and they decided not to renew. And yeah, it was like two weeks out, and I never went to them, they never came to me.\”
Rather than a thorough discussion about their reasons for not renewing his contract, WWE simply told Carlito that he didn\’t need to bother coming to Raw anymore. This struck a nerve with the former Judgment Day member, who argued that this was hardly the right way to do things.
\”I’m a professional. Treat me like a professional. Don’t treat me like a mark or something. You know, I’ll do my job and that’s whatever.\”
Carlito\’s exit was never explained on WWE TV, and instead he simply vanished from his role with the Judgment Day. At the time, many fans bemoaned WWE, not just for cutting Carlito, but doing so without a proper send-off.
Now, Carlito is ready to explore his opportunties beyond WWE. Whatever comes next, the 46-year-old wrestler hopes his next employer handles him like a professional, something he feels the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world failed to do.
Carlito isn’t surprised that his time with WWE has ended, but he is disappointed by how it happened. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Carlito shared that his two-year return to WWE went better than he had hoped.
\”I wasn’t too surprised or too shocked [at being released], you know what I mean? I signed for two years and it actually went better than I thought it would go.\”
Carlito\’s exit brought an abrupt end to his time with the Judgment Day, a role he had been in for the better part of a year. With no explanation on screen for his removal, Carlito regrets how things ended.
\”They could have told me and I would [have said], ‘OK,’ then at least let me finish up the story for Judgment Day so they can keep on going. It’s, you know, I think it’s a disrespect to the fans… they just dropped the storylines.\”
Carlito\’s comedic antics with the Judgment Day had been a hit with fans, making his exit even more distressing. Since his time with WWE ended, the on-screen product has not addressed his exit, instead acting like he was never there.
Shortly before being released, Carito returned to Puerto Rico\’s World Wrestling Council, where fans can expect to see more of him.
Carlito is ready to work and compete anywhere now that his WWE contract is officially expired. In an Instagram post, Carlito confirmed the news that his deal has officially come to an end.
Carlito\’s departure from WWE was confirmed in June 2025, but it was not a traditional release. Instead, Carlito shared that he had been informed that his contract would not be renewed when it expired, which is now the case.
Returning to WWE in 2023, Carlito became part of the Judgment Day in 2024 but never held gold during this run. Now, the cool Superstar is ready to show his talents outside of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Carlito, who didn\’t have his contract with WWE renewed, has been announced for an independent appearance during SummerSlam weekend.
Wrestlecon announced today that Carlito will be a featured guest at their convention at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott in Newark, New Jersey. He will be available for autographs and photo opportunities on Friday, August 1, from 2 PM to 6 PM, and Saturday, August 2, from 10 AM to 2 PM.
This marks his first booking since his WWE departure was announced. His appearance adds to a loaded guest list that spans multiple generations and promotions.
Other announced names include Sting, The Great Muta, Rob Van Dam, The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy), Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Saraya, Rikishi, and Abdullah the Butcher. Several other wrestling legends and current stars will also be appearing, including Lex Luger, The Honky Tonk Man, Deonna Purrazzo, Matt Cardona, and Dan Spivey appearing as his Waylon Mercy character.
R-Truth has been released from WWE, but Sheamus isn\’t concerned for the future of the former WWE 24/7 Champion. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Sheamus shared his belief that Truth\’s return to WWE isn\’t a question of if, but when..
\”So many guys and girls—have left and come back. It’s not the end. Sometimes it’s a bit of a break… There’s no way Truth’s not going to come back at some stage. I’m sure you’ll see him again. Like, a Hall of Famer. He’s definitely a pillar.\”
Sheamus\’ connection to Truth extends beyond merely being a colleague of the released talent. In the interview, the four-time WWE World Champion shared how his first WWE match was against none other than R-Truth.
\”We had a dark match together on the road, and from then we bonded. That fella walks in the dressing room and it’s just… laugh. He’s got a contagious laugh that would just light up the room.\”
Sheamus also believes that Carlito will return to WWE TV one day, despite his contract not being renewed. The Irish Superstar, who marks 16 years since his own WWE arrival this month, declared \”If you truly want to find your way back, you’ll find your way back.\”
Sheamus\’ positive outlook on these releases comes in stark contrast to the waves of backlash WWE has received in recent days. For Sheamus, fans can expect to see Truth and Carlito in some capacity on WWE TV down the line.
Carlito was missing from the group\’s segment and wasn\’t playing his PS5 as fans have come to expect. Still, Dominik Mysterio made sure Carlito’s spirit wasn’t forgotten. He quietly paid tribute by wearing a “That’s Not Cool” t-shirt, a nod to the former Superstar.
Carlito confirmed his WWE departure with a sarcastic—but pointed—tweet earlier this week. In the post, he joked that WWE had accused him of \’stealing money\’ before making clear he was grateful for all the company had done for him.
The former U.S., Intercontinental, and Tag Team Champion returned to WWE in 2023 and aligned with the Judgment Day in 2024. Now, his future will be outside WWE, and while he\’s gone, he\’s clearly not forgotten.
WWE is hoping to hype fans ahead of Money in the Bank on June 7, but the recent departures of R-Truth and Carlito is making this no easy feat. On X, WWE shared a post, revealing that they\’d released the entirity of the Money in the Bank 2010 Premium Live Event on YouTube.
? STREAMING NOW! ?
Relive the first-ever #MITB event from 2010 on WWE Vault! Watch two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, plus @JohnCena challenging WWE Champion @WWESheamus inside a Steel Cage!
The 2010 event is an exciting show which includes two Money in the Bank ladder matches, a cash-in, and a steel cage match in the main event. However, fans in the comments made it very clear that they\’d rather discuss the recent departures of R-Truth and Carlito.
Clearly, fans remain outraged over the cuts of Truth and Carlito, two Superstars who had earned the respect of the crowd for years. It remains to be seen if WWE changes course and rehires the pair in the wake of this backlash.
WWE veteran Carlito confirmed Sunday that his contract will expire in two weeks and will not be renewed by the company, marking the end of his second tenure with WWE that began in 2023.
The 46-year-old wrestler announced his departure on social media, joking that WWE was demanding he pay back money for \”apparently \’stealing money\’ from the company\” after his lawyers reviewed his recent footage. Carlito concluded his announcement by thanking WWE and fans, writing \”All jokes aside, gracias WWE & especially the WWE universe. Los quiero mucho!\”
My contract is up in 2 weeks. It will not be renewed. On top of that, WWE is demanding I pay back the $ they paid me for apparently “stealing money” from the company. I’ve had my lawyers look into it and after reviewing my footage on Netflix for the past months they suggested I… pic.twitter.com/H7depyZt5g
The news comes the same day that longtime WWE favorite R-Truth announced he is leaving the company after a 17-year run. Truth posted on social media: \”Im sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride.”
Carlito, a member of The Judgment Day faction, had been working primarily in a comedic role since his 2023 return. Just one day before his announcement, he captured the WWC Puerto Rico Championship, defeating Ray Gonzalez at WWC Summer Madness.
R-Truth\’s final WWE match was a loss to JC Mateo on Friday\’s SmackDown, coming just over a week after facing WWE Champion John Cena at Saturday Night\’s Main Event.
Both departures represent the end of significant chapters for the wrestlers, with neither receiving traditional farewell storylines despite their lengthy tenures and fan popularity.
Carlito has added more championship gold to the Judgment Day by capturing the WWC Championship in Puerto Rico. In his first non-WWE match in close to two years, Carlito captured the gold from Ray Gonzalez.
Carlito\’s victory is the latest taste of championship gold for the Judgment Day. The group already holds the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Titles curtosy of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez while Dominik Mysterio is going strong as WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Carlito\’s win raises questions about his plans both in and out of WWE, and whether his new championship will be appearing on programming. Whatever comes, this is a huge win for the cool Superstar back in his home of Puerto Rico.
Logan Paul has impressed in the ring ever since his wrestling debut in 2022, and has earned the right to be called a wrestler according to Carlito. Speaking to TalkSport, Carlito explained his stance of support for the former United States Champion.
\”He can actually get in there and do some damage. I like when they come in and they actually take it seriously and then do great things.\”
Carlito is pleased that WWE is \”on a good streak\” when it comes to celebrities in the ring as Paul isn\’t the only impressive name competing. In recent years, talent such as Bad Bunny, Johnny Knoxville, and Pat McAfee have all shown they can handle the brutality of in-ring competition.
\”They’re not just there to be a celebrity of just get their face on WWE TV. They actually put the work in and they’ve done great work.\”
Carlito\’s comments echo those of Triple H, who believes Paul is much more than a celebrity wrestler. Speaking at the post-Backlash press conference, WWE\’s CCO argued that it was unfair for fans to see Paul as a celebrity first, instead of acknowledging his contributions to WWE.
Carlito is set to make a rare appearance outside WWE later this month as part of WWE\’s ongoing willingness to work with other promotions. The Judgment Day member has been announced for WWC’s Summer Madness event on May 31 at the Pepín Cestero Arena in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
The news was confirmed by WWC (World Wrestling Council) who shared in a statement that WWE and WWC reached an agreement. WWC stated:
\”WWE has reached an agreement with WWC in Puerto Rico. Adam Pearce has authorized Carlito to be present in the island to settle unfinished business.\”
Carlito\’s time in WWC began as a cameraman in 1999 but it wouldn\’t be long before he became an in-ring competitor. In the company, he became the Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion, a Carribean Heavyweight Champion, and a 17-time Universal Heavyweight Champion.
This marks Carlito’s first WWC appearance since the promotion’s 50th Anniversary Show in 2023, which occurred before he re-signed with WWE. Now fans will get to see the Cool Superstar return to his roots in Puerto Rico and show what he can do as part of WWC once more.
The April 7, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw saw Bron Breakker deliver a series of hellacious spears, sending a clear message to any potential challengers to the Intercontinental Championship. Breakker ran down the entrance-way to spear Carlito in a move that has left the Jugment Day star believing the end is near.
On X, Carlito joked that he will have a \’funeral\’ this Friday after being speared by Breakker. The cool Superstar thanked fans for their thoughts and preayers before asking fans to respect the privacy of his family after their \’loss.\’
Thank you everyone for your thought & prayers! ??…..my funeral service is scheduled for this Friday. My family asks for privacy during this painful time, muchas gracias#WWERaw#WWERawonNetflix#spear#brokeninhalf#BronBreakker
Carlito wasn\’t the only Superstar to eat a spear during WWE Monday Night Raw. Penta and Dominik Mysterio both ate spears by the second-generation Superstar. However, it was Finn Balor who\’d have the last laugh as he attacked Breakker from behind and posed with the Intercontinental Title.
Breakker\’s WrestleMania debut will see him put the Intercontinental Title on the line against Balor, Mysterio, and Penta, the latter of whom is also making hid debut at the Show of Shows. While the odds certainly aren\’t in the favor of the champion, He at least won\’t have to deal with Carlito getting involved, at least according to the former U.S Champion.
In 2004, Carlito made his startling WWE debut by defeating John Cena in his first match to win the WWE United States Championship. On the Insight podcast, Carlito recalled believing Cena was pranking him upon his call-up to WWE\’s main roster.
\”I first thought that Cena had pranked me because as soon as I got there he was the nicest guy to me… Then we get in the ring, the bell rang, and he kicked me in the stomach so hard, that\’s like, oh, okay I see what\’s going on here.\”
Carlito shared that it was \”great\” to defeat Cena in his debut, in what would be John\’s final match for months. To explain his break from WWE to film The Marine, WWE crafted the narrative that Cena had been stabbed in a night club. Though Carlito and his then-bodyguard Jesus were suspects, the Cool Superstar denied doing the devilish deed.
\”I don\’t know what the official story is nowadays, they changed it over the year… I don\’t think it was me that stabbed him, or my my buddy Jesus. I don\’t think it was Jesus, or maybe it was, I don\’t know.\”
Cena would return to action after weeks away to take back the U.S. title from Carlito before winning his first of 16 WWE World Championships the next year. And with Cena embarking on his final year in the ring, fans can\’t count out Carlito getting payback for the \’prank\’ by Big Match John early into his career.
When Carlito saw his WWE run end 14 years ago, there was wonder if we’d ever seen “Caribbean Cool” again. Thankfully for fans the answer would be yes. The popular performer returned for a few appearances including the Royal Rumble in 2021, but the seeds for his current run were planted in 2203 during Backlash in Puerto Rico.
Carlito brought the electric crowd to his feet when he made a surprise appearance during the Bad Bunny and Damian Priest San Juan street fight. The live reaction coupled with the social media buzz and the fact Carlito was still in tremendous shape certainly caught the attention of WWE officials. Fast forward to today and Carlito has been signed full-time and a part of the Judgment Day.
“It was a weird pairing at first,” he said. “Everyone was asking what is Carlito doing with the Judgment Day. It’s kind of like a little family. We fight and have little in-fights but at the end of the day we love each other. At the end of the day, that’s the dynamic you see on TV.”
Despite having a short segment or two some weeks, he maximizes his minutes. Something the second-generation talent learned to do as the well-traveled veteran. The 45-year-old takes pride in lending a hand to emerging members of the WWE roster.
“The locker room is great,” he said. “I’m one of the elder statesmen now, which is weird. WheN I was first here, I was the younger guy. I’m one of the older guys, so it’s cool to help out and guide the new crop of talent.”
Carlito has also appreciated the diversity across the board on the shows. Not to mention the true global reach.
“I feel it’s an actual world company now,” he said. “We have talent from all over the place. We’re visiting more parts of the world now. Doing PLEs [all over]. I think it truly encompasses what [WWE] envisioned a long time ago. A world company.”
At this stage of his career he has appreciated the little things like being in WWE video games. He notices the advancement, especially compared to when he first started with the company.
“The graphics got a lot better,” he said. “My character looks a lot better these days. Definitely, a lot of advancement in that part.”
As far as what he sees for his WWE career, for him, it’s about having fun. “I want to enjoy the years I have left,” he said. “Have a good time and hopefully ride off into the sunset.”
Given his mindset and conditioning, Carlito is far from his last WWE apple. Speaking of which, if you’ve ever wondered what brand of the fruit the Raw superstar likes best, he isn’t picky.
“They all work. They all spit pretty good. It doesn’t matter what color or brand.”
John Cena: Hour-Long Showdown With Shawn Michaels.
Considered one of the best Raw matches in history, John Cena and Shawn Michaels battled for an hour in London during the April 23, 2007, show. Though Cena didn\’t win, the match, which had fans on the edge of their seats, remains a highlight of his WWE career.
Sean Waltman: Defeating Razor Ramon
The 1-2-3 Kid\’s win over Razor Ramon was Raw\’s first big upset, but would hardly be the last. Over three decades later, Waltman\’s shocking victory over his Kliq ally is an all-time Raw classic.
Mick Foley: First WWE Championship Win
Mankind\’s historic win over The Rock in January 1999 didn\’t just see Mick Foley win the big one, but also a notable shift in the Monday Night War. Tony Schiavone on Nitro spoiled the result, mockingly adding \”That\’ll put butts in seats,\” only to see hundreds of thousands of fans switch from WCW programming to Raw.
Randy Orton: Home Invasion By Triple H
Randy Orton made his feud personal with Triple H in 2009 by RKO\’ing Stephanie McMahon and sealing his dastardly deed with a kiss. On the March 9, show, Triple H showed he could make things personal as he invaded Orton\’s home, culminating in throwing the Viper through a window.
R-Truth: First WWE U.S. Title win
Over a year before they\’d be \’Awesome\’ allies, R-Truth defeated The Miz in May 2010 to win his first U.S. Championship. The win \”meant the world\” to the veteran Truth, who wanted to show \”people like me, that they can do it too.\”
Rey Mysterio: Eddie Guerrero Tribute Show
Mere days after the tragic passing of Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio competed on the November 14, 2005, Raw where he battled Shawn Michaels. Mysterio was not \”in the best state of mind\” but is pleased he was able to deliver with HBK on such an emotional night.
Carlito: First Night Title Win
In 2004, Carlito made his WWE debut on SmackDown by winning the U.S. Title in his first match from John Cena. The following year, Carlito would prove this was no fluke by defeating Shelton Benjamin to win the Intercontinental Championship in his first match after being drafted to Raw.
Big E: Dethroning Bobby Lashley
After years of speculation and fan support, Big E finally became WWE Champion in September 2021, cashing in Money in the Bank on Bobby Lashley. Though Big E\’s in-ring future remains uncertain, winning WWE\’s richest prize on Raw is a pivotal moment for the Superstar\’s career.
Fans can look forward to many more iconic moments from Raw once the red brand debuts on Netflix. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE\’s big move as a new era on the streaming juggernaut continues to draw near.
On the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Adam Copeland returned to action, but is now going by the name \’Cope.\’ The WWE Hall of Famer is just the latest wrestling star to have his name shortened, but he isn\’t the only one.
Here are some times wrestlers had their names cut short, for better or worse.
The Undertaker
One of wrestling\’s most iconic names, The Undertaker originally debuted as \”Kane The Undertaker\” during a 1990 WWF Superstars taping. By the time of his official TV debut, the \”Kane\” portion was dropped but would resurface seven years later for Glenn Jacobs.
GUNTHER
Before reigning as WWE’s World Heavyweight Champion, GUNTHER was known as WALTER. In early 2022, WWE rebranded him as Gunther Stark, but quickly shortened the name to avoid controversy, as \”Gunther Stark\” was also the name of a Nazi naval officer.
Cody
When Cody Rhodes left WWE in 2016, he competed simply as \”Cody\” due to WWE’s trademark on the Rhodes surname. In November 2020, \”The American Nightmare\” successfully reclaimed the Rhodes name, which he now proudly carries as the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion.
Sheamus
The Celtic Warrior debuted in WWE’s developmental system as Sheamus O\’Shaunessy. By the time of his main roster debut on WWE ECW in 2009, the name was shortened to Sheamus. The streamlined moniker didn’t hinder his success, as he ended the year as WWE Champion after defeating John Cena.
Riddle
Originally known as Matt Riddle, WWE shortened the Original Bro\’s name in 2020. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the change was influenced by Riddle’s MMA background and his association with marijuana.
Carlito
The Judgment Day star has been wrestling as Carlito, fans may have forgotten that he debuted in 2004 as Carlito Caribbean Cool. It wasn\’t long before WWE ditched two-thirds of the former U.S. Champion\’s name, and Carlito has gone by one moniker ever since.
The Rock
Perhaps the most successful example of a name change, \”The Rock\” was born from the transition of Dwayne Johnson’s initial persona, \”Rocky Maivia.\” The shift not only marked a turning point in his career but also cemented his legacy. To this day, even non-wrestling fans recognize \”The Rock\” as a cultural icon.
A controversial comment by Carlito made during the October 21, 2024, edition of WWE Raw has been removed from Peacock\’s upload of the show. The comment, made during a segment with Adam Pearce saw Carlito say \”I gotta learn Chinese\” after IYO SKY and Kairi Sane left the room.
Many took issue with the line, believing it played on harmful stereotypes about Asian people, as SKY and Sane are both Japanese, not Chinese. On Peacock, the segment has been edited and now Pearce simply asks Carlito what he wants, without the comment from the Judgment Day member.
The line was not scripted, with those who heard it within WWE\’s production said to have been in disbelief over what was said. This line and backlash came about during a time when Triple H\’s creative direction had come under great scrutiny by fans. The WWE CCO was criticized for his his answer on the lack of representation of black talent on WWE Premium Live Events.
Peacock Removing Content
This isn\’t the first time Peacock has edited WWE content that it feels may not reflect its values. Other examples of WWE content you won\’t find on Peacock include:
DX\’s parody of the Nation of Domination, which included the use of blackface.
Vince McMahon\’s use of the N-word in a segment with John Cena and Booker T.
Roddy Piper painting half his body black for his feud with African-American wrestler Bad News Brown.
Mickie James licking her hand after grabbing Trish Stratus\’ crotch at WrestleMania 22.
Now, Carlito\’s controversial line has been cut from Peacock, years after a \’fan\’ told SKY during a WWE NXT match to \’Go Back to China.\’ Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE.
People in WWE were apparently as surprised by the controversial Carlito segment on this week\’s episode of Raw as the fans.
The October 21 episode of the Red Branded show featured a backstage segment involving Adam Pearce, Carlito, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane. As the two Damage CTRL members walked out of the frame, Carlito said \’I gotta learn Chinese.\’
Both the female stars are Japanese. In the case of IYO, she has faced discrimination in the past as well and she has been subjected to \’go back to China\’ comments from audience members. So the line raised a lot of questions.
According to reports from Fightful, the claim from one member of the staff is that the line was not scripted. Those they have spoken to were \’in disbelief\’ that it was said.
A number of people in the company were not happy with the segment, though there is no news on any action being taken after it.
The line has been cut from the video of the segment WWE uploaded on socials. So it appears that the company is at least aware of its controversial nature.
This segment comes at a time when WWE\’s creative process is under scrutiny. The company\’s Chief Content Officer Triple H was recently criticized for his answer on the lack of representation for black talent on WWE PPVs.
Former WWE head writer Michael Leonardi also opened up about plans for a culturally insensitive segment that had been planned for Martin Luther King Day in 2016 which he changed at the last minute.
The excitement didn\’t stop at this week\’s SmackDown from Worcester\’s DCU Center after the latest episode of the blue brand went off the air.
The July 12, edition of WWE SmackDown saw the road to SummerSlam stretch on with matches set for the Biggest Party of the Summer. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa agreed to a showdown this August in Cleveland. LA Knight also has a contract for a U.S. title match with Logan Paul for SummerSlam but needs Paul to sign the paperwork to make it official.
After WWE SmackDown
The closing moments of this week\’s SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton be laid out by Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline. Rhodes was forced to watch on as Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu delivered a triple powerbomb to Orton through the announce table. After the show, Rhodes, alongside WWE officials (including Jamie Noble and Hurricane Helms) helped Orton to the back.
Fans who stuck around in the DCU Center after SmackDown got to see much more than Orton be helped to the back. In a dark match, Braun Strowman made quick work of honorary Judgment Day member Carlito.
The fans were also treated to a rematch from WWE Backlash: France as World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest took on Jey Uso. Despite a valiant effort by Main Event Jey, it was Priest who once again left with the gold.
Priest will now have to turn his attention to SummerSlam where he will defend against WWE King of the Ring GUNTHER. The 37th annual SummerSlam will take place on August 3, from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dragon Lee was unable to make it to this week\’s WWE NXT, but the reigning North American Champion lived up to his promise of a huge surprise.
This week\’s show was NXT\’s \’New Year\’s Evil\’ episode and marked the first edition of the gold brand of 2024. The show was scheduled to see NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defend against Trick Williams, who earned a title shot by winning the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. Due to the kayfabe injury \’caused\’ by Ridge Holland, Dragunov was pulled from the show. Williams would retain his spot as Number One Contender with a win over Grayson Waller.
Carlito on WWE NXT
Another match that was changed was the six-man tag pitting the LWO against the No Quarter Catch Crew. Dragon Lee was supposed to be in the match but was not in the U.S. at the time. On Twitter before the show, Lee explained how Visa issues were keeping him in Mexico, but promised a surprise for the match.
Feliz año nuevo! Sad news to kick off the year, but due to visa issues I am unable to leave Mexico right now. Por eso, I will miss @WWENXT New Years Evil… But the LWO has a big surprise for the NQCC and the NXT Universe tomorrow night.
That surprise turned out to be Carlito, who led his LWO allies to victory over Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. For good measure, Carlito delivered his trademark apple-spit to Gulak after the match.
Carlito wasn\’t the only notable name to appear on this week\’s episode of WWE NXT. During the aforementioned match between Trick Williams and Grayson Waller, Kevin Owens appeared to attack his SmackDown rival. The two have been at odds for some time, with Owens taking issue with both the Australian and his ally Austin Theory.
![\"Carlito](\"https://b1671682.smushcdn.com/1671682/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/carlito-vanishes-from-wwe-raw-after-exit-reveal-but-judgment-day-tribute-keeps-his-spirit-alive-43.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\")