Carlito is opening up about his WWE exit, and he now admits one contract decision may have cost him another year with the company.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Carlito said his WWE exit did not come as a shock because his contract simply expired. When asked if the release surprised him, Carlito made it clear that he saw the situation coming: “No, because my contract expired.”
Chris Van Vliet pointed out that WWE still could have renewed the deal, but Carlito explained that neither side ever really started that conversation. He said WWE did not come to him, and he did not go to them either, so he was prepared for whatever happened next.
“They could have renewed it, but like I said, I never went to them, and they never came to me. So we never spoke or anything. I was just ready for whatever.”
Carlito then admitted that he may have hurt himself by signing a shorter deal than what WWE originally wanted. Looking back, he said he chose a shorter contract because he did not expect the run to go as well as it did.
“And yeah, I kind of shot myself in the foot because I signed a shorter deal than usual. So I guess I bet against myself.”
When Van Vliet asked about the length of the deal, Carlito revealed that WWE wanted him for three years, but he only signed for two. He explained that if he had taken the original offer, he would still have had another year left on his contract.
“No, I signed for two years. They wanted me for three, and I signed for two because I didn’t think it was going to go as good as it did. That’s why I said I bet against myself.”
Carlito then broke down exactly what that decision meant for him. He acknowledged that the shorter deal left him without that extra year, though he did not frame it as something he was losing sleep over.
“I could’ve had an extra year, and then my contract would expire later. So yeah, I ended up losing a year, but that’s all.”
When asked if he regrets the decision now, Carlito made it clear he is not dwelling on it. For him, the situation already played out, and there is no point in looking backwards: “No, because it is what it is at this point. There’s no point in thinking about that.”
This comes after Carlito previously told Busted Open Radio that he is now open to opportunities outside WWE. When Tommy Dreamer asked whether he would consider AEW, another promotion, or the independent scene, Carlito said his mindset had changed after feeling that WWE did not show him the same loyalty he once gave the company.
“Yeah, I mean—but now, at this point, I’m like a beaten housewife. Loyalty goes two ways. They weren’t loyal to me, and at this point I’m open to everything. I wanted it to be like that, but if they don’t love you back, you’ve gotta get out of the relationship, you know what I mean?”
Carlito’s comments make his WWE exit sound less like a sudden cut and more like a contract situation that quietly ran its course. He may not regret signing for two years instead of three, but he clearly knows that one decision changed the timing of his departure.
Carlito is no longer tied to WWE, and now he is looking at what comes next with a much more open mindset. Whether that means AEW, another promotion, or the independent circuit, he seems ready to move forward instead of chasing a past that has already ended.
Do you think Carlito should have signed the three-year WWE deal, or was he right to take the shorter contract? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
