Carlito believes that there is one modification of a move that is not cool.
Now back in WWE full-time, The LWO member will hope to repeat the successes of his first run, where he previously held the Intercontinental and United States Championships. One thing that is unsure to return is the use of the backstabber in every match as a finisher.
Speaking with Cheap Heat, Carlito discussed how the move became one of his signatures, noting that John Cena was the one who pushed him to use it while also admitting that it can be painful after repeated use:
“I used to do it as a move, and Cena was the one who said, ‘That’s a cool move, you’ve got to do it as a finisher.’ I said, ‘Ah, I don’t know man, I don’t want to do that every night,’ it’s painful for both of us. I’m taking that person’s weight on top of mine. When we hit the mat they’re coming on top of me and some of these are big boys and that can put a lot of pressure on your back.”
When the standard finisher is not enough to get the match done, many wrestlers execute it from a height for a more devastating effect. The LWO member recalled his match at WrestleMania 24 where he hit a backstabber onto Chris Jericho off a ladder when both competitors were a part of the Money in the Bank ladder match. The former United States Champion confirmed that this particular variation would not be making a return:
“That one I gave Jericho off the ladder, that was the worst one I’ve ever done,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever do that again. Imagine just falling off a ladder with Jericho on top of me, brutal.”
Carlito Returns After Lengthy Absence
The former Intercontinental Champion is back in WWE full-time following sporadic appearances at the 2021 Royal Rumble and Backlash 2023. Being away from the company for over a decade, Carlito has cited miscommunication as the main reason why he was away from WWE for so long.
H/t to Wrestling Inc.