There have been countless promos in professional wrestling that went far beyond the usual threats of injury or assurances of victory. Fans have heard everything from wrestlers promising to use items in unexpected ways to suggestions of lewd acts involving opponents’ relatives. At one point, Nikki Bella went so far as to tell her twin sister Brie that she wished Brie had died in the womb.
Yet somehow, Santos Escobar delivered perhaps the most vile promo in wrestling history when he explained why he attacked his former idol Rey Mysterio a week ago.
And it was excellent.
On the November 17 edition of SmackDown, Santos Escobar stood in the middle of the ring, drawing chants of “sucks” and “what” from angry fans gathered at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. But the Técnico brought Rudo out in full force and delivered perhaps the best monologue of 2023.
Escobar began by reminding everyone that he comes from a rich Lucha Libre tradition and that his family has been called heroes. Yet it was Rey Mysterio that Escobar idolized and modeled himself after. He hoped that one day fans would see him the way he saw Mysterio, who Escobar said became a father figure to him.
But when Mysterio seemingly joined Carlito’s claims and Carlito claimed that Escobar was responsible for Mysterio losing the United States Title at Crown Jewel, Escobar was devastated. Suddenly, everything Dominik Mysterio had said about his legendary father came true for Escobar. He then accused the elder Mysterio of stealing his title opportunity and hijacking his group Legado Del Fantasma, which Rey renamed the Latino World Order (LWO).
Worst of all, Mysterio welcomed Carlito, whom Escobar described as an outsider, into his family.
As Escobar approached Carlito, he became increasingly angry. He took off his sport coat and spoke in Spanish, claiming to be Carlito’s worst enemy and vowing to punish him the way he would punish the WWE Hall of Famer. He then turned his anger back on his former hero, saying he hoped Mysterio’s pain reminded him of the suffering he caused Escobar by siding with the underdog.
From then on, Escobar not only crossed the finish line; It blurred the ground where the line was drawn.
Earlier this week, Mysterio underwent knee surgery to address a legitimate injury that WWE has since incorporated into its storyline with Escobar. Escobar acknowledged the legendary luchador’s injury, saying:
“I apologize for not causing more harm. And Rey, that comes from the bottom of my heart. I hope the operation didn’t go well. I hope you get an infection and they have to amputate your leg! In fact, I hope you never come back!”
This reprehensible statement was more than the LWO could handle when Zelina Vega came out to confront Escobar.
Through tears, Vega slapped him and said the only person she hated more than Escobar was herself because she trusted him. Then Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro, who had been at Escobar’s side since their NXT days, stepped in for Mysterio. Escobar responded by calling her a “deadweight” before attacking her. Carlito came to make the save, but Escobar left the ring.
As far as commercials go, this didn’t go beyond Austin 3:16, CM Punk’s Pipe Bomb, or Hulk Hogan’s declaration of joining the nWo at Bash at the Beach in 1996. However, Escobar’s speech was an absolute record as he perfectly laid out his actions while revealing what awaits people like Carlito.
But most of all, Escobar felt real. He spoke the way you do when you’re rightfully hurt by someone you care about, which is why he went to the darkest place possible by wishing for the amputation of Mysterio’s leg.
And as disgusting as that line was, it was refreshing. Pro wrestling, or more specifically WWE, has played it safe for too long. Due to corporate sponsorships and network contracts, WWE rarely lets its villains sink to the bottom of the barrel to infuriate the audience.
Living in this safe zone has often resulted in a tame product, which is the opposite of professional wrestling. Villains are supposed to push buttons. Their job is to make people angry and occasionally squeamish. The villains have to make fans uncomfortable so they get behind the good guys or babyfaces.
Therefore, the evildoers – in their words or actions – must occasionally cross the line. Escobar did just that, reaching into the depths of his wounded soul to spit out an instinctive hatred that would only be used to hide disappointment and sadness. And as heinous as it was, it’s a refreshing glimpse of reality that makes Rey Mysterio’s return and eventual showdown with Santos Escobar much more appealing.
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