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Carlito reveals how he joined the LWO after fans demanded his WWE return and insists he wants to become a mentor this time around in the company now he's in a 'different space'

Posted: Jan 18th 2024 By: Alex McArthy

Carlito has revealed how 'everything worked out perfectly' with his WWE return that saw him join the LWO.

The WWE star returned to the company last year after nearly 14 years away, joining the popular stable Latino World Order alongside the likes of Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega.

The Puerto Rico-born wrestler was one of the most popular stars during his first run in WWE from 2003 to 2010, having been scouted in his homeland by executive Bruce Pritchard, but departed for the independent scene.

There was no scouting the second time around, though. A call from WWE boss Triple H was all it took for all parties to align, and Carlito returned for good in October last year following sporadic appearances previously.

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport's Alex McCarthy, he revealed how the stars aligned after an appearance in Puerto Rico earlier that year, and how fans getting onside persuaded him a homecoming was the right thing for him.

'One thing led to another, you know?' the 44-year-old began. 'I mean, was it 13 years to get back It was a long, it was a long process. But I think everything happened at the right time.

'Everything was in different parts. First Bad Bunny, then Puerto Rico, the Rumble before that, and then LWO. Everything kind of just meshed together and just worked out perfectly.

'It [2021 Royal Rumble appearance] was during COVID, so there was no audience there. That was that was a little different, it was weird coming out to just a bunch of screens in the background. But just having seen the reaction after all that, online generally positive comments, that when that's when I kind of started thinking, "Okay, maybe".

'The LWO thing was just the opening at the time. The beginning was just the overall feeling of wanting to come back to and having the desire to come back, stuff I could still do, and knowing exactly I want to do.'

During his first run in the company, Carlito was an Intercontinental Champion, Untied States Champion and tag team champion, enjoying feuds and partnerships with the likes of Randy Orton, Torrie Wilson and Ric Flair.

While he wanted to reach the top, it seems he has a different mission now. Aged 44, Carlito is looking to help other wrestlers around him in his 'very few years left' as a wrestler.

He has been involved in a feud with Escobar, who turned on the LWO in November as he cost Mysterio his United States Championship in a match against Logan Paul and has sided with Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro and Zelina Vega in the feud, with Angel and Humberto joining Escobar and Mysterio out injured.

'I just told them I was ready to come back full time, do as much as I can, he said. 'I've got, very few years left, so I want to take advantage of the years that I have left in this business.'

'I think I'm in a completely different space now. I know that I'm older, I know, I'm not what it used to be. But I know I still have a lot to give, there's a lot in the tank. And I guess my goals now is to mix it up with the young guys and just help the next generation of wrestlers and the business as best as I can putting in my little input on it.

'That's that's kind of my goal, too, to elevate the other guys. We all know who Rey Mysterio is, and Escobar seems to be on a path going up. So, any other members that come in, the new guys, that's what I want to do, to elevate them and make them just as big as any other part of the LWO.'