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Profile: Carlito
A second-generation wrestler (his father, Puerto Rican legend Carlos Colón, competed in the 1993 Royal Rumble, and defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair in 1983), Carlito competed in the World Wrestling Council before and during his WWE career. In his first match on SmackDown as Carlito Caribbean Cool, he pinned John Cena to become United States Champion, and would repeat the same move after the 2005 Draft Lottery by taking the Intercontinental Title from Shelton Benjamin on his Raw debut.
Shortly after his US Title win, he and bodyguard Jesús were responsible for the injury angle that allowed Cena time off to film The Marine, but Carlito himself would suffer a real shoulder injury forcing him to lose the title back to the former champion. Following several backstage segments with General Manager Teddy Long, Carlito appeared at WrestleMania 21 during Piper's Pit, interrupting Roddy Piper and Steve Austin before receiving a Stone Cold Stunner for his trouble. Determined to outdo Piper, he introduced his own interview segment, Carlito's Cabana, in which he furthered his own feuds or incited those of his guests. After The Big Show refused to become his enforcer, Matt Morgan took the job and helped Carlito defeat the 500lb giant at Judgment Day 2005.
After being drafted to Raw and participating in the interbrand feud around Survivor Series, he pinned three opponents in the Elimination Chamber at New Year's Revolution 2006, before losing the final fall to WWE Champion John Cena. By ousting recent tag team partner Chris Masters during the match, Carlito fueled a feud between the two, and ignited it further by blaming him for their loss to World Tag Team Champions Kane and The Big Show at WrestleMania 22. At Backlash, he pinned Masters using the ropes for leverage, and began a babyface turn in response to the fans' growing cheers despite his heel tactics.
Embarking in an on-screen relationship with Trish Stratus, Carlito feuded with Johnny Nitro and Melina for a mixed tag at Saturday Night's Main Event, where Carlito pinned Nitro with his Backcracker finisher. When Trish retired in November, Torrie Wilson soon replaced her at his side, and he briefly entered another feud with Chris Masters after he attacked her in December.
In early 2007, Carlito found himself on the receiving end of a verbal tirade from Ric Flair, accusing him of taking his opportunities for granted and having no passion for the business. This stemmed from Carlito's real-life backstage heat at the time, following several late arrivals to shows. On-screen, he began proving himself to Flair, and the pair joined forces in the tag team ranks until, frustrated at a recent string of losses, Carlito attacked his partner and turned heel, splitting up with Torrie the following week while feuding with the Nature Boy.
Better received critically as a heel than a babyface, and having unleashed new moves in his arsenal, Carlito is once again in a position to establish himself as a young star to watch, if he can prove detractors wrong about his attitude.
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