Various: Romeo Malverde (Santos Escobar) on Not Going Back To His Former El Hijo del Fantasma Name, Rockstar Spud Announced For PROGRESS The Odyssey Tour 2026 Events, Current Card for Live 8/27 TNA Impact! Show

Aug 27, 2026

Romeo Malverde (Santos Escobar) Comments on Not Going Back To His Former El Hijo del Fantasma Name

As noted before, Santos Escobar was released by WWE this past April as part of a larger batch of talent releases and departures. Escobar will be going by the new ring name of “Romeo Malverde” for his post-WWE wrestling career going forward.

The Undsputed’s Justin Barrasso held a recent interview with Malverde. One of the topics discussed included Malverde’s thoughts about why he is not going back to his former El Hijo del Fantasma name for his post-WWE wrestling career.

“A lot of people have asked me, ‘Why don’t you just go back to El Hijo del Fantasma?’ I appreciate that people enjoyed my work then, but I cannot go back. That is not me. Wrestling is my life. I’ll never renounce it. I’m still El Hijo del Fantasma. That’s in my DNA. So is Santos Escobar, even if I don’t own the IP. But I cannot go back. I am all about moving forward. This is my passion, my hunger, my fire in the face of adversity. That is what my new name means. I am coming out of the fire even stronger and more ready than ever before. That is who I am, that is where I am. That is why I am Romeo Malverde.”

In a separate recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Malverde also gave his thoughts about the meaning behind his new ring name and how it relates to his current life and wrestling career.

“Romeo Malverde is a persona that I created based on my recent experiences and my DNA of who I am. It’s an underdog. It’s a combination of two names that are important to me. Romeo is a name that I’ve always liked and nowadays, it’s more important to me because I’m an actor. I’m a trained actor and that’s a little wink to that side of me. But, Malverde, for those who know Malverde, that’s a name that’s heavy. That’s a name that means something. Think of Robin Hood, think of that sort of character. Mainly, he’s an underdog. A person that in the face of adversity, always finds it within himself to advance, to move forward, to grow. I went through a very difficult time, winter nonetheless. Physical difficulties, mental difficulties. It’s not easy to go through an injury and come out top on the other side without a place to go to. That’s how life is and you shouldn’t wish for less problems or less difficulties. We should strive to be better, to grow in the face of adversity. I’m proud to say that I have. I’m ready to roll with the punches like I always have.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Rockstar Spud Announced For PROGRESS The Odyssey Tour 2026 Events

PROGRESS Wrestling announced that former TNA and WWE talent Rockstar Spud will be making an appearance for the company at their The Odyssey Tour 2026 events on September 12 in Bournemouth and September 13 in Birmingham, England.

It was also announced that Spud will be competing at both of their upcoming events.

⛵ THE ODYSSEY TOUR – ROCKSTAR SPUD WILL BE WRESTLING ⛵

1,769 days since the last time he had a match, nearly a decade since appearing in Progress, Rockstar Spud is coming back the the UK and he is lacing up the boots once again 👏🏼

One of the most entertaining wrestlers to… pic.twitter.com/WNYrC1nLXA
— PROGRESS Wrestling (@ThisIs_Progress) August 26, 2026

These will be Spud’s first matches since November of 2021.

Current Card for Thursday’s TNA Impact! Show

TNA Wrestling announced the card for Thursday’s live TA Impact! show on August 27 at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Current card for August 27th TNA Impact! show:

TNA Knockouts Television Championship Tournament Finals – Jada Stone vs. M By Elegance
Jason Hotch & Trey Miguel vs. Order 4 (Mustafa Ali & Special Agent Zero)
Elijah vs. Bear Bronson
Indi Hartwell vs. mystery opponent