Shortly after Rey Mysterio’s title loss to Logan Paul, a previously loyal ally turns on the crowd favorite on SmackDown.
At Crown Jewel last week, he lost his US Title to Logan Paul in controversial circumstances – now legend Rey Mysterio was back in the spotlight at WWE.
On the latest edition of the Friday Night SmackDown TV show, a previously loyal ally turned on the Hall-of-Fame member: Santos Escobar, part of Mysterio’s LWO (Latino World Order) attacked Mysterio after an escalated argument over responsibility for the title loss – the newly returned Carlito was also involved.
The segment brought back memories of famous moments in the past in which Mysterio was also involved: His legendary companions Eddie Guerrero (who died tragically young) and Batista also once redefined themselves as villains with brutal attacks on Mysterio.
Now Escobar – who had revived the LWO once founded by Eddie Guerrero with Mysterio – followed in their footsteps. The ensuing feud looks set to become a mainstay of the next big event, Survivor Series, which began to take shape this WWE week.
WWE SmackDown: Santos Escobar backstabs Rey Mysterio
Escobar’s turn was instigated in a joint appearance by the LWO, in which Mysterio lamented the loss to Paul, noting that he was certain the social media phenom could not have defeated him had he not illegally used brass knuckles against him
At this point, Carlito interjected and told Mysterio to blame Escobar: He would have left the brass knuckles behind in his (supposed?) attempt to fend off the intervention of one of Paul’s entourage members in such a way that Paul could have grabbed them.
Escobar – who had tried and failed to win Mysterio’s title several times in recent months – defended himself against the accusation that he had put Mysterio under the knife.
This was followed by a match between Carlito and LWO foe Bobby Lashley, at the end of which the thread was spun further: When Lashley and the Street Profits attacked Carlito, Escobar did not come to Carlito’s aid.
Mysterio, now angry himself, intervened, helped Carlito – and this also led to a scuffle with Escobar.
“IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME AND YOU!” @EscobarWWE has completely snapped and turned on his mentor, @reymysterioSmackDown pic.twitter.com/SnwTZ5Svlb
– WWE (@WWE) November 11, 2023
After Mysterio knocked Escobar down in self-defense, Mysterio tried to calm things down and bring his partner to his senses. Instead, he brutally attacked Mysterio, angrily using double entendres to say that he loved and admired him, but that he had betrayed their common cause (“It was supposed to be me and you!”).
A match between Mysterio and Escobar now seems imminent for Survivor Series on Nov. 25 in Chicago
Survivor Series: War Games taking shape
Three matches had already been scheduled for Monday’s RAW: A women’s title match between Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark, a title duel between Austrian Intercontinental Champion Gunther and former WWE champ The Miz, and the first “War Games Match” between the faction Judgment Day and a team led by World Champion Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, bolstered by Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.
There were also signs of a War Games match for women, with one of the presumed teams formed around WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky in the second central segment of SmackDown.
After receiving surprising help from returning compatriot Kairi Sane at Crown Jewel, her old partner Asuka joined the Damage CTRL with Bayley and Dakota Kai on SmackDown: Asuka, partnered with Sky’s rival Bianca Belair in the show’s main event, betrayed her and attacked her along with Sky and Co.
The show ended with the Damage CTRL, now apparently reinforced by Sane and Asuka, attacking Belair, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi together and towering over them.
