Kalisto wasn’t about to hand over everything he built just to get into WWE. The former United States Champion revealed that WWE wanted to buy his Samuray Del Sol name and mask design when he first joined the company, but he turned them down. He also revealed that Vince McMahon personally wanted him to change the way his mask looked.
During an interview with David Otunga, Kalisto opened up about the importance of owning his wrestling identity. The discussion started when Otunga brought up Sin Cara and how WWE owned the rights to his original mask design, forcing him to create a different version after leaving the company. Kalisto explained that he was determined to avoid the same situation. Even though WWE was interested in purchasing his character, he wasn’t willing to give up something he had spent years creating.
“When I first came in, they wanted to buy the Samurai soul name and design. I said no. I mean, I was flattered. I’m like, man, that’s pretty cool, but uh God forbid if anything, I want to go back to the same, you know, I want to still use this all this stuff.”
His decision meant he could continue using his original wrestling identity outside WWE. However, that didn’t mean the company was leaving his appearance completely alone. Kalisto revealed that Vince McMahon specifically wanted fans to see his eyes and mouth, which was a major departure from the fully covered masks he had worn throughout his career.
“So, uh I said no. And you know, I just took the eyes and the mouth out because uh besides that, Vince wanted to see my eyes and my mouth. And I’ve always wrestled everything covered.”
Kalisto admitted that he eventually became so comfortable with the WWE-style version of his mask that going back to his original design became difficult. He explained that he now struggles to breathe while wrestling with his entire face covered.
“And this is this actually now I’m used to it but now I can’t wrestle because I can’t like this I’ll start breathing I won’t be able to breathe you know I have to use this mask now.”
The former WWE star also explained that his mask represents far more than his appearance. He incorporated different designs representing his wrestling background, his time as the original Octagon Jr., and his journey toward becoming one-half of the Lucha Dragons.
“I mean, it’s it’s something that I’ve worked my whole life with and I guess it’s just progressed and progressed and I I made everything into a meaning. The type of highf flyier that I am my wings the three styles the first octagon junior too but also the journey that led me to be a lucha dragon. uh my mask representing hope and it’s just everything started being a meaning because I lived through it.”
Kalisto made it clear that protecting his character was one decision he wasn’t willing to compromise on. WWE may have gotten him to change his mask, but the company never got ownership of the original identity he created before signing his contract.
What do you think about Kalisto refusing to sell his character to WWE despite Vince McMahon wanting changes to his mask? Was he smart to protect his original identity, or should he have taken WWE’s offer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
