Santos Escobar Explains Importance Of Being Part Of The LWO
The LWO surprisingly came back into wrestling’s conscience when Rey Mysterio told Santos Escobar and the rest of Legado del Fantasma they were going to reform the group.
The Latino World Order was formed in WCW as a rip-off of the NWO which saw the company’s Latino talent band together – with the notable exception of Rey Mysterio. Mysterio was eventually forced to join the group when he lost to Eddie Guerrero and proved to be the most loyal to the group’s ideals when it was disbanded as he refused to take off the LWO colours and earned a beating from the reformed, post-finger-poke-of-doom NWO as a result.
All in all, the Latino World Order lasted for fourteen weeks in WCW but someone in WWE must have remembered it fondly as the group is back.
Speaking on WWE’s The Bump, Santos Escobar noted that he was delighted when Rey Mysterio told him and the rest of Legado del Fantasma that they were going to resurrect the LWO:
“That’s the precise word I would utilize, surreal. That’s how it felt. It was a magical night. I’ve been having those pretty frequently lately, magic nights, and that night was special because it was his induction to the Hall of Fame. We were just there to be with him, and when we called us to his locker room, we were just ecstatic.
“When he told us that it was official and we were forming again the LWO, I couldn’t believe it. Emotions went through the roof. I still had to get ready for the Hall of Fame ceremony, but I went crazy for a minute there. I couldn’t believe it.”
“I love it. This is a question that some people have asked me, what does it mean to you, the LWO? Is just a re-run of the previous LWO? What do you guys stand for? I told y’all, it’s time, it’s time for the Latinos to rise, everywhere.
“We are everywhere, and yes, we are paying homage to the previous LWO, of course, and we want to make Eddie of proud. But this is a whole new, different animal. Rey, myself, Legado Del Fantasma, representing all of my Latinos in the world. Worldwide Latino pride, baby. LWO for life. It’s time.”
Escobar added that as well as Eddie Guerrero, the group represented many other Mexican stars that prided themselves on the tradition of Lucha Libre:
“Of course, Eddie. But if you remember, there was a lot of members there, important members of the Lucha Libre tradition. Damian 666, Hector Garza, who to me personally is a very important individual, may he rest in peace. He helped me a lot.
“We traveled together, he taught me a lot of things. We were champions together in Mexico. So to be a part of this reincarnation, reformation, regrouping of the LWO, it’s very important to me me because I get to carry on what they did and I get to put my own sauce and my own salt and pepper on it. I love that.”
Should Rey Mysterio be wearing his LWO colours come May 27th when WWE presents King and Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia, he will have been a member of the group for longer than his first run in WCW.