Former WWE star Santos Escobar has officially returned to the ring, making his in-ring comeback under the new identity Romeo Malverde.
Malverde wrestled his first match in over six months on September 27 at the 5th International Lucha Libre Festival in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Teaming alongside lucha libre legend Blue Demon Jr., Malverde secured a victory against Magno and Steven Juarez in his first bout since competing for AAA on March 14.
Overcoming Injury Complications And WWE Exit
The extended absence followed a grueling series of medical setbacks toward the end of his WWE tenure. Malverde underwent surgery for a torn triceps in March, followed shortly by a second procedure in April to address issues with his ulnar nerve.
WWE released him from his contract in April while he was still recovering from surgery, and he officially entered free agency in July.
The Meaning Behind The Romeo Malverde Persona
In an interview with Denise Salcedo, the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion explained the personal inspiration and cultural weight behind his new moniker:
“Romeo Malverde is a persona that I created based on my recent experiences and my DNA of who I am,” Malverde explained. “It’s an underdog. It’s a combination of two names that are important to me. Romeo is a name that I’ve always liked and nowadays, it’s more important to me because I’m an actor. I’m a trained actor and that’s a little wink to that side of me.”
Malverde further detailed how the second half of the name reflects resilience through personal and physical hardship:
“But, Malverde, for those who know Malverde, that’s a name that’s heavy,” he continued. “That’s a name that means something. Think of Robin Hood, think of that sort of character. Mainly, he’s an underdog. A person that in the face of adversity, always finds it within himself to advance, to move forward, to grow. I went through a very difficult time, winter nonetheless. Physical difficulties, mental difficulties.”
Sunday’s appearance marks the formal beginning of Malverde’s post-WWE chapter on the international independent scene.
RELATED: Santos Escobar Rebrands as Romeo Malverde, Shares Lessons Learned Behind the Scenes
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