Santos Escobar On Achieving a Milestone At NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver, Facing Kushida This Week

Santos Escobar is set to get a rematch for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Kushida tonight on NXT, and Escobar discussed that match and more in a new interview. The Legado del Fantasma leader spoke with PWInsider, and you can check out some highlights below:

On his Cruiserweight Championship match against Jordan Devlin at NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver: “I think one of the most important learnings that I’ve had from my dad and from all the legends that have been good enough to give me advice is you make the show, you make the title, you make the division. It’s you, the talent, that gives pumps up whatever it is you’re doing. You know what I mean? When I first became the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, my whole goal was to bring the division, the title, as I said in numerous promos, from the sideshow to the main show. Then we did the first cruiserweight title defense on NXT TakeOver 31, and then again on WrestleMania Week at NXT: Stand & Deliver. To me, that was a very important milestone, not just for me in my personal career, but also for the division that I knew after that was going to be a complete different story for the division. The proof is a couple of weeks ago, main event, all cruiserweights on an NXT TV for the first time ever, I think. Now we have another good match tomorrow, title match, two out of three falls first time ever. I think my job here is done, but I can still be the champion for another 360 something days or whatever the title needs because I think I’m the best cruiserweight in the world and tomorrow, I’m going to prove it again.”

On prepping for his two-of-three falls match against Kushida: “Two out of three falls involves cardio mostly, but weight, wisdom, resources because you got to know when to use what. That is the difference between just the regular traditional one fall match because in one fall match, you just go and try to do your opponent or tap your opponents. In the two or three falls, you have to do it twice. I think KUSHIDA is in for a surprise because even though he made his debut in Mexico sometime ago, he’s been working just one fall matches for most of his career. Whereas, me, I’ve done two or three falls for a number of years, so I’ll be ready.”

On his moment with his son at Stand & Deliver: “That particular night was a night of emotions, not just because I became the undisputed NXT cruiserweight champion, but because right after that, my son was there for me. We have to remember that Lucha Libra is a family tradition and, to me, it was very important to introduce my son to the WWE universe. That was the perfect moment for it because down the line, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 years from now when he finally decides to take on the family business, he’s going to have all this iconic moments there for him.”

On how NXT’s move to Tuesday has changed the show for the talent: “I just feel like it comes faster because I usually prepare Monday, Tuesday with my cardio sessions and all my preparation for the show, but now I just feel like after Sunday, I got to be ready because it’s almost there. That’s for me and I feel it’s for everyone else, but one of the things that we are taught on the PC on NXT is that you have to stay ready and so in that sense, I think we’re ready for that, but I do feel like it comes faster.”

On his chemistry in the ring with Kushida: “Enormous chemistry. I think that’s one of the things that you pursue when having a feud with someone because let’s not forget, you still have to perform and provide for an entertaining match. Kushida, in my eyes, is one of the best cruiserweights in the world, not just NXT. For me to have this opportunity to chop it up with him, I feel honored. I’m happy because of this opportunity and of course, I’m even happier to defeat him.”

On if he’d be interested in doing acting work for WWE Studios: “Yeah, absolutely, Mike. I think my parents did an amazing job and my mom especially because they prepared me for anything that might come down my path. I became a performing artist early in my life. I started studying for acting, singing, dancing. I always complemented that with my Lucha Libre training. I didn’t put two and two together until I was later on in my career when opportunities to participate in telanovelas, commercials and the movies, that’s when I realized, oh, they did an amazing job because they did prepare me for anything. Now that I’m in WWE, I would just love to perform at my fullest. That would be, of course, what I’m doing right now in the ring as a superstar, what I do on the mic every time I just cut a promo and of course, the cherry on top would be just to have movies or anything that WWE Studios might need me for.”

On the relationships within Legado del Fantasma: “It’s phenomenal. I think, and this is important, that we started as co-workers, then we became a faction and we became friends. I can tell you right now that we became brothers and that is something you can tell by the way we carry ourselves while cutting a promo, while going through a six man tag. We are connected and I love that because that’s when all the victories and all those satisfactions come, when you have great chemistry with the people you’re in the ring with.”

On what to expect from his match with Kushida: “Well, they’ve got to watch because this is the first time ever two out of three match with two international superstars, such as the NXT Cruiserweight champion, KUSHIDA and former and next NXT Cruiserweight champion, Santos Escobar. It’s going to be a banger, five-star match, match of the year candidate of course. Of course, don’t forget, we also have Latinas in the house, Raquel Gonzales versus Mercedes Martinez for the NXT Women’s Championship. We also have NXT champion Karrion Kross and so on, all the NXT superstars, but mostly two out three falls tomorrow night, be there.”