Santos Escobar has shared new backstage details about his final WWE contract renewal and why his release on April 24 caught him completely off guard.
Speaking with TMZ Inside The Ring, Escobar explained that he initially let his contract expire in October 2025 because he was ready to move on. His main frustration at the time centered on how his character was being used.
That changed when Nick Khan personally reached out. According to Escobar, the WWE president apologized for the way his character had been handled and promised the company would do things differently. Khan also reportedly indicated he would work to get Escobar into a better position, which ultimately convinced him to re-sign.
The deal came together fast. Escobar technically hit free agency when his contract expired on October 7, 2025, but had a new WWE deal in place by October 8.
That’s why Escobar said he never expected to be let go just months later, especially given his situation at the time.
The former WWE wrestler suffered a triceps injury at AAA Rey de Reyes on March 14 and underwent surgery. A complication involving his ulnar nerve required a second procedure in April.
Escobar revealed that the call informing him of his release came roughly six days after that second surgery, while he was in the middle of physical therapy. He compared the feeling to the well-known Mickie James situation, in which James received her WWE belongings in a trash bag after her 2021 release.
Since then, Escobar served out the remainder of his contract, became a free agent in July, and retired his WWE ring name. He now plans to continue his career as Romeo Malverde.