CARLITO

Carlos Edwin Colón Coates Jr., professionally known as Carlito, is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He performs on the RAW brand under the ring name Carlito and is an active member of the villainous faction The Judgment Day.

Carlito is the son of legendary Puerto Rican wrestler Carlos Colón, the founder of the World Wrestling Council (WWC). Wrestling runs in the family, as Carlito’s younger siblings, Eddie Colón (known in WWE as Primo) and Stacy Colón, have also competed in WWC.

Early Professional Wrestling Career

Carlito began his wrestling journey in July 1999, working behind the scenes in WWC as a cameraman. He was introduced gradually to the audience under the nickname “Carly” before making his official in-ring debut in January 2000, defeating Félix Tapia. Despite being new to the ring, Carlito was given a strong push, quickly rising through the WWC ranks and capturing fan support. Just weeks later, on January 29, 2000, he defeated González to become the youngest WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion. Although he dropped the title three weeks later due to outside interference, it marked the start of a decorated early career.

Throughout 2002 and 2003, Carlito continued to dominate in WWC. He teamed with his brother to win the WWC World Tag Team Championship, though their first reign lasted only a day. He later formed an alliance with Konnan, winning the tag titles again in March 2002 and holding them for nearly three months. After a dramatic split with Konnan, which involved an attack on his sister Stacy, he regained the Universal Championship multiple times during heated feuds with wrestlers like Chicky Starr and Sabu.

In May 2003, Carlito had two tryout matches with WWE, facing Tommy Dreamer and Jamie Noble. While both matches ended in losses, his performance impressed WWE officials. On June 2, 2003, he signed a developmental contract and reported to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Wrestling as “Carly” and later “Carlos Colón Jr.,” he honed his skills while occasionally appearing in WWE dark matches.

SHOW MORE

Carlito’s Official WWE Debut

Carlito made his official WWE debut on October 7, 2004, on SmackDown as the heel character Carlito Caribbean Cool. With his cocky attitude and infamous apple-spitting antics, he made an immediate impact by defeating John Cena for the United States Championship in his very first televised match. He remained undefeated in his next 14 matches, defending the title against major stars such as Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, and Eddie Guerrero. He eventually lost the title back to Cena after suffering a legitimate injury, ending a memorable first reign.

Carlito Wins Intercontinental Title

In the 2005 WWE Draft, Carlito was moved to RAW, where he made a strong debut by defeating Shelton Benjamin for the Intercontinental Championship. He eventually lost the title to Ric Flair but continued to rise through the ranks. He remained a fixture on RAW programming, participating in a brand rivalry that saw him represent Team RAW in the Survivor Series. That year also saw the end of his popular in-ring segment, Carlito’s Cabana.

In 2006, Carlito challenged Johnny Nitro for the Intercontinental Championship at Vengeance but was unsuccessful. He became involved in an on-screen romance with Trish Stratus and entered a short feud with Randy Orton. After Stratus’ retirement, Carlito shifted into a new “ladies’ man” gimmick, beginning a storyline relationship with Torrie Wilson and continuing to feud with top stars, including Jeff Hardy and Ric Flair. Following his feud with Flair, the two briefly joined forces as a tag team.

Teaming with Primo

Carlito returned to SmackDown in 2008 and reunited with his brother Primo. The duo won the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 25, defeating The Miz and John Morrison. Their reign came to an end at The Bash, and shortly after, Carlito turned heel by attacking Primo, ending their partnership. He later aligned with Rosa Mendes, though the alliance was short-lived.

In late 2009, Carlito engaged in a feud with John Cena and participated in WWE NXT in 2010 as a mentor figure. After briefly reuniting with Primo and forming a team with Ted DiBiase, Carlito was released from WWE on May 21, 2010, for violating the company’s Wellness Policy and refusing to attend a rehabilitation program.

Following his departure, Carlito returned to the independent circuit and WWC, wrestling under the name “Carlitos.” He performed for Lucha Libre USA and various international promotions, maintaining his relevance in the wrestling world while expanding his global presence.

Return to WWE

Carlito made a surprise return to WWE at the 2021 Royal Rumble, entering at number 8 and competing for the first time on WWE television in over a decade. The following night, he teamed with Jeff Hardy on RAW, securing a win against Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

On May 6, 2023, Carlito made another impactful appearance at WWE Backlash in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He interfered in the San Juan Street Fight between Bad Bunny and Damian Priest, assisting Bunny and aligning himself with the Latino World Order (LWO). Not long after, independent promotions reported that Carlito had pulled out of previously scheduled bookings, confirming his re-signing with WWE.

Carlito Joins Latino World Order

Carlito officially returned to in-ring action on October 7 at Fastlane, teaming with Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar to defeat Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits. A week later on SmackDown, Carlito blamed Escobar for Mysterio’s loss at Crown Jewel, prompting Escobar to attack Mysterio and turn heel. A match between Carlito and Escobar was scheduled for Survivor Series: WarGames, but Escobar attacked Carlito backstage, leading to Dragon Lee replacing him.

Carlito returned to action on January 2, 2024, at NXT: New Year’s Evil, teaming with Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde in a six-man tag win over The No Quarter Catch Crew. At the Royal Rumble, he entered at number 10, eliminated Escobar, and was later eliminated by Bobby Lashley. On the March 29 episode of SmackDown, Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee were scheduled to face Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania XL, but Lee was mysteriously attacked backstage. It was later revealed that Carlito was behind the attack, officially turning heel and betraying the LWO. Despite the turn, Carlito was drafted to RAW alongside the LWO during the WWE Draft.

Carlito Joins Judgment Day

Back on RAW for the first time in over a decade, Carlito began forming an alliance with The Judgment Day, although Damian Priest remained hesitant due to their history. On the May 14, 2024, episode of RAW, Carlito helped Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh win a fatal four-way tag match to become number-one contenders. The following week, their title match was interrupted by Braun Strowman, who stopped Carlito from interfering. On August 5, Carlito officially joined The Judgment Day after Rhea Ripley and Priest were ousted, solidifying his place in the faction and once again placing him at the center of WWE’s main-event storylines.

SHOW LESS

STATS

Birth name: Carlos Edwin Colón Coates Jr.
Born: February 21, 1979, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight: 240 lb (110 kg)
Ring name(s): Carlito, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Carlito Colón, Carlos Colón, Carly Colón
Current Roster: RAW
Finishing move: Back Cracker/Back Stabber

Carlito’s Social Media: