Santos Escobar Next Possible Destination After WWE Exit and Injury Recovery

Santos Escobar’s next move may already be taking shape, and signs point to unfinished business outside WWE.

Before his latest exit became official, Escobar had already been close to heading elsewhere once before. When his contract expired last year and he briefly hit free agency, talks with CMLL were already gaining traction behind the scenes.

Sources via Fightul Select familiar with the situation indicated that CMLL expected Escobar to join the promotion during that stretch. Had that happened, it likely would have opened the door for appearances in other companies as well. Instead, WWE stepped in late with a strong offer that convinced him to stay.

At the time, it was widely believed the financial commitment WWE made meant Escobar would remain a regular part of their plans. However, that didn’t end up playing out as expected.

Escobar was spotted backstage at least once at a WWE main roster event after re-signing, but most of his activity shifted to AAA appearances instead of WWE television. That stretch hit another obstacle earlier this year when physical issues became impossible to ignore.

Following a March appearance for AAA, Escobar revealed that he needed triceps surgery, which immediately halted his momentum and forced him into recovery.

Behind the scenes, WWE officials believed he would be healed or close to cleared by the time his 90-day waiting period ends. During that stretch, he has still been allowed to use the WWE Performance Center to rehab his injury.

Now that he’s moving toward free agency again, attention has shifted back to the same destination that nearly landed him before. Those familiar with the situation expect conversations with CMLL to resume, especially given how close both sides were to working together the last time.

Escobar has spent years building his reputation across multiple promotions, working in Lucha Underground as King Cuerno and competing around the world as El Hijo del Fantasma, including a strong run in CMLL. That history could make a return feel like a natural fit once he’s medically cleared.

With his recovery timeline lining up with his free agency window, the next few months could determine whether Santos Escobar returns to familiar ground or takes his career somewhere completely new.

Do you think Santos Escobar should return to CMLL, or would you rather see him show up somewhere unexpected once he’s cleared to compete? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.