Carlito must face a hated two-time WWE champion and repeat something he did 18 years ago

Fans were ecstatic to see Carlito at Backlash, and even though reports suggest it was a one-off appearance, WWE must get him back for a high-profile feud with two-time United States Champion Austin Theory.

One glance at the numbers on WWE's socials indicates that the fanbase wants more of The Caribbean Cool! Carlito himself is open to all kinds of possibilities, and considering that he seemingly has the momentum on his side, WWE must strike while the iron is hot.

Carlito is not the performer he was during his first WWE run. The 44-year-old is more mature now and can be an asset to the company if utilized correctly. Despite boasting of a WrestleMania victory over John Cena, Austin Theory is struggling for relevancy on WWE TV as he's not been getting the kind of reactions that the management probably envisions.

The United States Champion might be entering the "go away heat" territory, and that's the last thing any top heel wants. Theory is young and has the potential to be a major superstar, but he might require a proper storyline that takes him to the next level. Carlito is precisely the type of rival the youngster needs to justify the trust of high-ranking officials.

The exciting thread is that a Puerto Rican veteran won the United States Championship in his first match on the main roster 18 years ago. Even more fascinating is that Carlito achieved the feat at just 25 years old, which is Austin Theory's current age.

The ideal angle would be for Carlito to return and win the US Title from Theory, which would regain the lost interest in the championship and give it a much-needed boost. A short reign coupled with a series of matches against Austin Theory will elevate the United States Championship and also be the perfect way to push Carlito as a returning fan-favorite.

Theory potentially winning back the belt and winning the feud in the process would make him a bigger deal and hopefully help his character add a few more layers.

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Is Carlito interested in a more prominent WWE role following Backlash 2023?

It should be noted that, as per Fightful's latest report, Carlito has not signed any deal with WWE, and the company had no plans beyond his Backlash cameo.

However, the executives were thrilled by how everything panned out, and the situation between the promotion and the former United States Champion could change anytime soon.

During an interview in the days leading up to Backlash, Carlito confirmed that he'd listen to a reasonable offer, irrespective of where it came from, effectively leaving the door open for another on-screen run.

"Yeah, I'm open to whatever, any good offer from anywhere, it doesn't matter. Thing is, nobody calls me, so I don't sit by the phone either. If something comes up, great; if not, I keep doing what I'm doing."

Would you like to see Carlito vs. Theory? Sound off in the comments section below.