Santos Escobar leaves WWE as a free agent

In the United States, professional wrestler Santos Escobar's contract with WWE officially expired at midnight on October 7, 2025, making him a free agent. This significant event comes after months of speculation regarding his future, as there were indications that he was dissatisfied with the creative direction provided by WWE. Despite being offered a salary increase to stay with the company, Escobar chose not to re-sign. His exit has been discussed extensively in the wrestling community, particularly due to the changes observed in his character storyline, which many believed were indications of an impending departure. Escobar's profile has since been relocated to the alumni section of WWE's website, confirming his exit from the promotion, and leading followers and analysts to speculate on his next career move. The context surrounding Escobar’s departure includes a lack of television appearances and dissatisfaction with how his character was being utilized. In total, he wrestled only seven times during the year, which included minimal presence on televised events and significant inactivity since late July 2025. These factors have played a critical role in his decision to leave WWE, seeking better opportunities for visibility and creative expression. His recent handling in storylines, particularly his separation from established stablemates, has also raised eyebrows about the company's awareness of his intentions. As rumors of his potential signing with AEW circulate widely, industry insiders have expressed that many believe Escobar might already be in talks or have signed with the rival promotion. AEW boasts a roster that includes many top-tier Lucha Libre talents, thus providing Escobar with the opportunity to possibly reignite previous rivalries established in Mexico or during his WWE tenure. Should Escobar choose to transition to AEW, his presence could significantly affect the organization's main event scene and roster dynamics as the promotion heads towards the Full Gear pay-per-view event scheduled for next month. Despite the lack of official confirmation, wrestling experts such as Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez have sparked conversations around Escobar's likely move to AEW. They noted that the departure had been anticipated for a considerable time, especially following Escobar’s apparent lack of engagement due to the direction of his character in WWE. With his professional wrestling future wide open, the community remains intrigued by what lies ahead for Escobar as a free agent, exploring how he will navigate his career in the coming months and which promotion he might align himself with next.