Backstage Reason Dragon Lee Replaced Carlito at WWE Survivor Series

WWE may have promoted Carlito for last weekend's Survivor Series: WarGames event, but there was never a plan for the cool Superstar to compete.

Earlier this month, Escobar turned on the LWO after Carlito accused Santos of deliberately costing Rey Mysterio the United States Championship at WWE Crown Jewel. On the November 18, 2023, episode of SmackDown, Escobar confirmed his heel turn by attacking the LWO's Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro.

On the go-home SmackDown before Survivor Series, Carlito was attacked by Escobar, and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis shared that Carlito wouldn't be able to compete in Chicago. Rather than postpone the match as he planned, Aldis was convinced by Dragon Lee that he should replace Carlito in the match at Survivor Series: WarGames.

Carlito was pulled from the match, but it wasn't due to an injury, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reports. Instead, Lee was always intended to be part of the match, despite the initial Carlito Vs. Escobar announcement. Carlito's removal was not a last-minute call. There is no confirmation yet as to why WWE advertised Carlito if they had no intention of following through.

Had Carlito competed at Survivor Series: WarGames, it would have been his first singles Premium Live Event match since Unforgiven 2007. On that night, the former U.S. and Intercontinental Champion lost to Triple H in a match where No Disqualification rules applied only to Carlito.

It's called storytelling.

I really hope Carlito gets a match at WM 40.