Carlito made quite the impression upon arriving in WWE in 2004 but believes his introductory vignettes ripped off Razor Ramon.
On a recent edition of the “Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw” podcast, Carlito recalled his vignettes and when he learned they were a rip-off of the Bad Guy. He said,
“If you noticed, back in the day, my vignettes were all just a bunch of Razor Ramon rip-offs. I didn’t realize it until I was at the Hall of Fame for, I think for when they were inducting Razor Ramon, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, son of a… They just gave me lazy re-dos of the vignettes.
“In one of them, he was somewhere at a vendor, and he got some kind of fruit — I forgot what it was — and spat it at somebody, and then mine, my version was I was at the fruit stand, and when the guy asks for me to pay him, I took an apple, I bit it, and I spit on him.”
Carlito debuted on SmackDown in 2004 and captured the United States Championship in his first match by dethroning John Cena.
At the time, Carlito was the youngest WWE U.S. Champion in history, a record he held for close to two decades before Austin Theory’s victory in 2022.
Carlito, the former WWE superstar, recently revealed that his introductory vignettes in 2004 were heavily inspired by Razor Ramon, a character portrayed by Scott Hall. In a podcast interview, Carlito expressed his realization that his vignettes were essentially “lazy re-dos” of Razor Ramon’s iconic segments.
During the podcast episode of “Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw,” Carlito reminisced about his early days in WWE and how he discovered the similarities between his vignettes and Razor Ramon’s. He mentioned attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Razor Ramon when he finally realized the uncanny resemblance.
Carlito recalled one specific vignette where Razor Ramon was shown at a vendor, grabbing a piece of fruit and spitting it at someone. In Carlito’s version, he was also at a fruit stand, but instead of spitting the fruit, he took a bite and spat it at the vendor. This similarity made him realize that his vignettes were indeed rip-offs of Razor Ramon’s.
The Puerto Rican wrestler made his debut on SmackDown in 2004 and immediately made an impact by defeating John Cena to become the United States Champion. At the time, Carlito became the youngest WWE U.S. Champion in history, a record he held for nearly two decades until Austin Theory’s victory in 2022.
Despite the initial controversy surrounding his vignettes, Carlito went on to have a successful career in WWE. He became known for his unique character, which included his trademark apple and catchphrase, “That’s not cool.” Carlito’s in-ring abilities and charismatic persona made him a fan favorite during his time with the company.
The revelation about the similarities between Carlito’s vignettes and Razor Ramon’s serves as an interesting insight into the creative process behind WWE’s character development. It highlights how ideas and concepts can be borrowed or recycled to create new characters, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the performers themselves.
While Carlito may have initially felt that his vignettes were derivative, he ultimately carved out his own identity in the wrestling world. His talent and dedication allowed him to establish a unique persona that resonated with fans and contributed to his success in WWE.
As wrestling continues to evolve, it’s not uncommon for performers to draw inspiration from past characters or storylines. The industry thrives on innovation and reinvention, and sometimes, paying homage to the past can be a way of honoring the legends who paved the way.
Carlito’s story serves as a reminder that even when elements of a character may be borrowed or inspired by others, it is the performer’s individuality and talent that ultimately define their success. Despite the similarities in his vignettes, Carlito managed to create a lasting impact on WWE and leave a mark on the industry.