Carlito’s first official match since his WWE exit has been scheduled, and it will be against a fellow company alumnus. Big Time Wrestling announced that Carlito is set to face Matt Riddle in a singles match on July 25th. The bout will be contested for the title of “King of Big Time Wrestling.”
The booking marks a quick return to the ring for Carlito, whose departure from WWE became official after the company chose not to renew his contract in early June. His final televised appearance for the promotion was in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on WWE SmackDown in April.
In a statement on social media, BTW promoted the contest between two well-known wrestling “kings.”
MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 Battle for the King of BTW- The King of the Bros MATT RIDDLE vs. The King of Cool CARLITO.
Carlito recently concluded his second tenure with WWE, which began in 2023 following a widely praised appearance at the Backlash event in his native Puerto Rico. His final run saw him align first with the Latino World Order before joining The Judgment Day faction. While he expressed no bitterness over his departure, he did state a desire for his storyline with The Judgment Day to have a more definitive conclusion.
Even before his WWE contract expired, Carlito returned to his father’s World Wrestling Council promotion on May 31st. In that appearance, he defeated Ray González to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship, signaling his intent to remain active outside of WWE. The upcoming match with Riddle now serves as the next significant step in this new chapter of his career.