Carlito made a surprising, and very cool, return to WWE during the men’s Royal Rumble match. The Puerto Rican star had not wrestled for the company since his release in 2010.
Carlito would enter the match at number 8, trademark apple in hand, and last over eight minutes in the match before being eliminated by Elias.
Reports from PWInsider have suggested that Carlito was having a tryout as a producer backstage on Monday Night RAW. He would appear on the show, competing in his first match on the red brand since losing to Evan Bourne in London, England in April 2010. Carlito was originally advertised to be part of Legend’s Night on RAW early in January 2021 but he did not appear on the show.
Teaming with Jeff Hardy, the pair would face-off with Elias and his ally Jaxson Ryker. Hardy and Carlito would win the match following a backstabber/Swanton bomb combination on Elias.
Carlito first made his debut in WWE in October 2004. He would defeat John Cena in his very first match, winning the WWE United States Championship in the process. During his tenure, Carlito would win the Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team Championships with his brother, Primo.
There were more surprises during the men’s Rumble match as Kane, Hurricane Helms and Christian would all make their returns. Last year at the Royal Rumble, MVP would make his return to WWE. He has stayed with them over the past year, forming The Hurt Business. That group currently holds the United States and Raw Tag Team Championships.
WWE furloughed a great deal of their backstage producers last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many, including Helms, have since returned to their posts.