Santos Escobar is entering uncharted territory in NXT.
For nearly two decades, Escobar—Jorge Luis Alcantar Bolly—wrestled under a mask, and did so in style, starring for CMLL and AAA in Mexico, as well as with Lucha Underground and even briefly for Impact Wrestling. He first unmasked in 2018 at AAA’s Triplemania after losing a Luchas de Apuestas mask-vs.-mask match against L.A. Park, and then again in June in NXT when he chose to remove it.
Currently the reigning NXT cruiserweight champion, Escobar defends his title on Wednesday night against Curt Stallion. The match could provide a glimpse into the future of WWE, as Escobar possesses all the tools needed to become a major star in pro wrestling, particularly for Vince McMahon’s global sports entertainment enterprise.