Add as a preferred source on Google Carlito left WWE in 2025 without being personally surprised, despite the negative reaction from many fans at the time.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former Intercontinental Champion said his contract simply expired and there were no formal talks about a renewal.
“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.”
Carlito explained that WWE wanted him to sign a three-year deal when he returned in 2023, but he chose to sign for only two because he did not expect his second run to go as well as it did.
“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 said his WWE release didn't come as a surprise because his contract just expired and he never went to them for renew and WWE never came to him. So they never spoke or anything:
— J O H N (@RomanEra0) May 26, 2026
“They could have renewed it, but I never went to them. They never came to me. So we never… pic.twitter.com/E2PlfsQZcX
Carlito’s exit was revealed in June 2025, when it was reported that WWE would not renew his deal, in a situation similar to R-Truth’s at the time.
Despite taking a calm tone, Carlito admitted he was bothered by not getting any kind of sendoff on TV, especially since he still had two weeks left on his contract and was part of The Judgment Day.
Don't leave without reading these
His second WWE run began after his return at Backlash 2023 in Puerto Rico, where he helped Bad Bunny against Damian Priest. He later returned at Fastlane alongside Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar.