The future of former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar is now in his own hands, as his WWE contract has officially expired, making him a free agent. According to multiple reports, Escobar’s contract expired as of midnight on Tuesday, October 7, and he is now free to sign and appear for any other promotion he chooses.
The news of his impending departure was first reported by Fightful Select, which noted that while the two sides had discussed an extension, it was not expected that he would be re-signing. The report, later confirmed by PWInsider, stated that the decision to leave was based on “creative dissatisfaction” rather than financial issues, as Escobar had reportedly been offered a raise to stay with the company.
Escobar’s departure follows a long period of absence from WWE television. His last televised match was in February of this year, and he has been used sparingly in the ring throughout 2025. His absence, combined with a series of cryptic social media posts, including one with an hourglass emoji, led to fan speculation about his status with the company.
Before signing with WWE in 2019, Escobar had a long career in Mexico and on the American independent scene, wrestling under a mask as El Hijo del Fantasma. He was also a featured star in the Lucha Underground promotion, where he was known as the sinister King Cuerno.
He signed with WWE in 2019 and became a centerpiece of the NXT cruiserweight division. It was there that he unmasked and formed the Legado Del Fantasma faction, which he led to a dominant run. As the leader of the group, he held the NXT Cruiserweight Championship for over 300 days.
After being called up to the main roster, Legado Del Fantasma was eventually integrated into the reformed Latino World Order (LWO) alongside Rey Mysterio. This led to a feud that saw Escobar turn on his mentor, Mysterio, and reform Legado Del Fantasma as a heel faction.
The turn against Mysterio occurred after Crown Jewel in November 2023, where Escobar was accused of leaving brass knuckles at ringside for Logan Paul to use to defeat Mysterio for the United States Championship. This led to Escobar viciously attacking Mysterio on an episode of SmackDown, officially leaving the LWO and re-forming Legado Del Fantasma with Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo.
Interestingly, the formation of the LWO was an idea that Escobar himself had pitched to WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. In an interview, Escobar revealed that Levesque initially turned down the idea, wanting Escobar to establish his own identity first. The idea was later revived once WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio was brought in to be the group’s leader.
Escobar’s decision to turn down a new WWE contract places him among a growing number of talents who have recently opted to leave the company. In the past few months, stars like Killer Kross and Jazmyn Nyx have also reportedly passed on new offers from WWE, a trend that some observers are attributing to changes in contract negotiations under the new TKO-led management.
Now a free agent, the 41-year-old star is expected to be in high demand. A return to Mexico, where he was a top star for both CMLL and AAA, is a strong possibility. A move to AEW would also present a number of fresh matchups and a new national platform. His availability, combined with his in-ring talent and established character work, makes him one of the most prominent free agents on the market.
