5 Potential Opponents For Carlito In WWE

That's cool.

Carlito
Source: WWE

After over a decade, Carlito is back in the WWE once again to spit apples in the face of people who aren’t cool — or not, given the current state of the world.

Carlito returned at the Royal Rumble in arguably the best shape of his career where he had interactions with other WWE stars such as Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura. On RAW the next night, he would team with Jeff Hardy and successfully defeat the team of Jaxson Ryker and Elias in his first RAW match in 10 years.

Seeing his interactions with talent the WWE has garnered over the time he’s been away, and with it being reported he is on a three week trial period much like MVP was on his return, Carlito doesn’t appear to be leaving WWE any time soon, so with that in mind: who should “Caribbean Cool” face off with?

 

1. King Corbin

King Corbin
Source: WWE

Because if there’s a character in the WWE right now that screams uncool, it’s King Corbin. Let’s be frank, Corbin is a very talented wrestler however since his King of the Ring win he’s been lumbered as “King Corbin”, a gimmick which has proven to not be popular with fans at all. Step forward Carlito to show the King just how uncool he really is.

He and Carlito would easily be able to put on a fantastic match as both are agile wrestlers with Corbin favouring a more physical striking style over the quick and speediness of Carlito.

Carlito could and should show the former “Lone Wolf” just how to be cool and hopefully remove that crown from his head for good.

 

2. Sami Zayn

Source: WWE

At the Royal Rumble fans saw a brief vision of Sami Zayn vs. Carlito and boy is it a match up that has to happen. Both men favour a Lucha Libre style in the ring which would promise an acrobatic match with a fast pace.

Sami’s current “Great Liberator” gimmick could easily feud against “Caribbean Cool” by having Sami say how much of an injustice it is that legends such as Carlito are getting the limelight more than he is. Possibly even just having him say Carlito isn’t cool would be enough to start a great comedy feud between the two with incredibly talented wrestling at the core.

Also who doesn’t want to see Zayn sell a Backstabber like a bouncy ball being launched into space?

 

3. Chris Masters

Chris Masters
Source: WWE

Now I know what you are thinking: “But Chris Masters isn’t in the WWE!”. While yes, you’re correct that “The Masterpiece” is no longer with the WWE, it hasn’t stopped Carlito taking to Twitter and asking the WWE to get “this beast” to stop by on RAW.

Masters and Carlito have met many times over their careers, both inside and outside of the WWE, so are no stranger to each other’s abilities. Masters goes hard with physicality, looking for any chance to lock in his devastating Master Lock submission.

The diversity in styles would bounce off of each other really well and would deliver as a special one off match for nostalgia’s sake.

 

4. Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura
Source: WWE

Never steal Carlito’s apple. That’s what Shinsuke Nakamura quickly learned at the Royal Rumble, earning a Backstabber for his troubles.

Even though Nakamura is currently on Smackdown, the brand split is often broken if the WWE see it right to do so and a match against Carlito may well be a great reason.

This match would be a pure spectacle of wrestling. We have seen many times how well Lucha Libre and Japanese Strong Style wrestling work together in the ring, with wrestlers like Bushi and El Desperado making the style work in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Seeing Nakamura and Carlito go at it for the first time ever would no doubt be utter magic.

 

5. Bobby Lashley

Way back in 2004, Carlito defeated John Cena to win the United States Championship in his WWE debut. An incredible moment for an, at the time, unknown talent. Fast forward to 2021 the US Championship is now in the clutches of Bobby Lashley and The Hurt Business.

While Lashley may have the ability and the physique, I’m sure Carlito will agree when I say that Lashley is missing one thing: cool. Carlito/Lashley is a match that writes itself. The agile Carlito taking on the destructive powerhouse Lashley.

If Chris Masters is unable to return to RAW for whatever reason then Lashley is certainly a suitable replacement for him, not just because of the full Nelson submission finisher and incredible physique, but because of their dominating in ring persona.

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