A recent backstage report has shed light on a major shift behind the scenes in WWE’s relationship with Santos Escobar. Once positioned for significant elevation through AAA, those plans were abruptly canceled as contract disagreements surfaced. Now re-signed with WWE under new terms, the question is: what remains of the original vision, and how much did creative discontent drive this upheaval?
The Setup: WWE’s Ambitious AAA Plot for Escobar
Earlier this year, WWE harbored an audacious storyline for Santos Escobar and his associates, Los Garza (Angel and Humberto). The creative pitch envisioned:
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Los Garza capturing the AAA World Tag Team Titles, solidifying them as a dominant force in AAA tag division.
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Escobar defeating El Hijo del Vikingo at AAA’s marquee event, TripleMania, to become the AAA Mega Champion.
This plan would have given Escobar a grand stage in Mexico’s top lucha promotion, tying WWE’s international ambitions together with major title prestige in AAA. According to backstage observers, this would serve as both a push for Escobar’s status and a bridge between WWE’s roster and AAA’s landscape.
However, these plans were quietly scrapped. Instead, WWE shifted course, ultimately putting the AAA Mega Championship on Dominik Mysterio. Meanwhile, Los Garza were still given the AAA Tag Titles for a period, holding them for about two months before dropping them at TripleMania to Psycho Clown and Pagano.
Whether the decision was rooted in creative recalibration or Escobar’s contract status remains unclear — but the change was significant nonetheless.
Contract Expiration, Creative Frustration & Reversal
Escobar’s WWE contract officially expired on a recent Monday at midnight, prompting speculation about his future. He had been wrestling only seven times over the past year, largely in multi-man matches and battle royals, a usage rate many insiders considered underwhelming. This underutilization was reportedly a key factor in Escobar exploring free agency.
Negotiations following his departure revealed WWE’s willingness to offer more than just a financial bump. Their new offer reportedly included stronger assurances for creative direction, addressing one of Escobar’s primary concerns. Wrestling insiders suggest that these creative guarantees played as big a role as the pay increase in bringing Escobar back.
The irony is palpable: the very creative plan WWE shelved could have been part of the push Escobar hoped to realize. Now, as he returns, it’s unclear whether elements of the originally scrapped booking will be resurrected or completely abandoned in favor of fresh narratives.
Why WWE Switched Course
Several factors likely contributed to WWE’s decision to abort the Escobar triple crown storyline:
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Contract Uncertainty
With Escobar’s contract on the brink of expiration, WWE may have lost confidence in investing heavily in a storyline that could vanish with his departure. -
Creative Reassessment
The company might have pivoted after internal creative meetings, deciding a different direction (Dominik over Escobar) offered more flexibility or alignment with broader story arcs. -
Roster Balance & Priorities
WWE likely assessed where title exposure would do the most good. If they believed Dominik or others would serve better as a face of the brand or more central players, they may have moved the pieces around accordingly. -
Negotiation Leverage
Knowing that Escobar was dissatisfied, WWE may have used the threat of scrapping his boost as leverage in negotiation — “You’ll stay, but your creative plans will be meaningful, not hollow.”
Whatever the reasoning, the aborted AAA plan underscores just how volatile wrestling storytelling can be when business, contracts, and creative visions collide.
What Now? The Road Ahead for Escobar
With Escobar back under WWE’s umbrella, the pressing questions include:
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Will the AAA push be revived? It’s possible WWE reintroduces part or all of the original plan. But the risk is that fans perceive it as a “recycled pitch,” reducing its impact.
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How will WWE redeem Escobar’s underutilization? To justify his re-signing and creative guarantees, WWE will need to give him meaningful direction: featured matches, compelling feuds, and a consistent spotlight.
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What happens to Los Garza? The trajectory for Angel and Humberto may hinge entirely on what WWE re-tools around Escobar’s return. They could regain tag credibility, or see diminished roles if their original push no longer fits.
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Will Escobar trust WWE this time? The history of abandoned plans may cast a shadow over his return. Maintaining momentum and follow-through will be crucial to ensure creative confidence doesn’t erode again.
Final Thoughts
The backstage saga of WWE’s canceled plans for Santos Escobar in AAA is emblematic of wrestling’s fragile balance between vision and execution. A prestige push, world title ambition, and international brand tie-ins all existed — at least on paper. But in the world of contracts, budgets, and shifting creative priorities, nothing is guaranteed until it’s on air.
As Escobar steps back into WWE under new terms, fans will be watching closely: will this revival mark the culmination of his long-awaited ascent, or simply a reset of ambitions that were never meant to be? Only time — and how boldly WWE backs up its promises — will tell.