Carlitos Colon, better known as Carlito, made his WWE debut on SmackDown in 2004 and quickly became a fan favourite with his unique style and undeniable charisma.
Hailing from a legendary wrestling family, Carlito had big shoes to fill, but he proved that he was more than capable of carving out his own path in the industry. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Carlito’s debut in WWE and how he made a lasting impact on the wrestling world.
In this article, we’ll look at the first match of Carlito’s WWE career and how he fared in one of the most impressive debuts in WWE history. Tell us what you think about his first match in the comments section below!
Carlito’s WWE Debut
Carlito made his debut in the WWE on the On October 7, 2004 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The Puerto Rican superstar debuted under the name Carlito Caribbean Cool, although it was later shortened to just Carlito (and later changed to Carlito Colon).
As soon as he debuted, fans saw stardom in Carlito. He oozed charisma and had a unique look, that was unlike any other in the WWE at the time. He was tall, with “Sideshow Bob”-esque hair that always drew your attention.
Carlito debuted in WWE as the host of his own talk show, known as Carlito’s Cabana. However, his first appearance came when he interrupted United States Champion John Cena, who was cutting a promo in the ring.
He noted that he didn’t think that Cena was cool, challenging him to a match for his United States Championship. Cena accepted, but Carlito spat an apple into his face, introducing the gimmick that would do him well for the rest of his career.
They wrestled later that night on Smackdown. John Cena had the upper hand, but Carlito antagonised him so much that the champion resorted to try to use his title belt as a weapon.
When the referee stopped him, Carlito grabbed Cena’s chain from the ringside and nailed him in the head, wrapping the chain around his fist.
This knocked John Cena out cold, allowing Carlito to pin him and win the United States championship in his debut match in the WWE.
Carlito’s WWE debut was a complete success. In his first appearance, he introduced his character, got him a new catchphrase and gimmick, won himself a championship. Few debuts have gone better, although you can read about the ones that have down below:
