Former WWE star Santos Escobar recently revealed on social media that Romeo Malverde would be his new ring name after his release, shocking many fans who expected him to return as El Hijo del Fantasma. And now, while speaking to Soto619 Wrestling, the luchador addressed the decision and stressed that this iconic character never left him and remains embedded in his DNA across every phase of his career. Escobar noted that past successes under different names prove its lasting impact, yet wrestling prioritizes new stories and opportunities rather than clinging strictly to history.
“The new character, which I just announced on social media, is Romeo Malverde. For all the people out there who wanted me to go back to El Hijo del Fantasma—that has never left. If you’ve seen me everywhere I’ve gone and everything I’ve done, it’s always been embedded in my DNA. That’s why Santos Escobar was a hit. That’s why King Cuerno was a hit. That’s why El Hijo del Fantasma is still a hit if I want it to be. This business is about telling stories and putting smiles on people’s faces, not holding on to the past. It’s about creating new paths and opportunities.” – Santos Escobar/Romeo Malverde
Jorge Luis Alcantar Bolly, better known as Santos Escobar and now Romeo Malverde, debuted in 2000 as Top Secret before becoming El Hijo del Fantasma. He thrived in CMLL by capturing middleweight and trios titles, then dominated AAA as its longest-reigning World Cruiserweight Champion while starring as King Cuerno in Lucha Underground. After signing with WWE in 2019, he won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, formed Legado del Fantasma, and reached the main roster with the LWO before his unexpected 2026 release.
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