Carlito’s first wrestling match since leaving WWE has been officially announced. On Sunday, June 1st, the former WWE US and Intercontinental Champion revealed he would not be renewing his contract with WWE. His departure became official two weeks later, with his WWE roster profile being removed earlier this week.
Now a free agent, Carlito’s debut match on the independent circuit is set for July 25th at the Big Time Wrestling event in Charlotte, North Carolina. He will go head-to-head with fellow former WWE star Matt Riddle at Truist Field, the home stadium for the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball team. WWE Hall of Famer Sting is also scheduled to appear at the event.
Following this match, Carlito is also slated to appear at WrestleCon in Newark, New Jersey, during SummerSlam weekend. After his WWE contract ended, Carlito mentioned he believed Triple H was not a fan of his on-screen persona.
Fan Take: Carlito’s return to the ring outside WWE highlights the ongoing evolution of wrestling talent post-WWE contracts, offering fans exciting dream matchups they wouldn’t see otherwise. This movement could invigorate the independent wrestling scene and reshape how WWE manages its talent pipeline moving forward.
