Romeo Malverde has added championship gold to his post-WWE résumé, announcing that he won the Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship during the current Chris Jericho Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea.
Malverde, known to WWE audiences as Santos Escobar, revealed the result in a social-media message celebrating his time aboard the cruise and confirming his intention to return next year as champion. The victory came after Malverde defeated Mo Jabari for the title.
“The Emperor of the Ocean!! #andnew what a surreal experience to be onboard of the #chrisjerichocruise see you next year when I will defend this title. In the meantime this championship will be defended… no limits no borders no forbidden doors… 😉 gracias @jericho_cruise gracias @chrisjerichofozzy”
View the referenced post on Instagram
The championship win followed Malverde’s successful number one contender’s match against Ricky Knight Jr. That victory secured the opportunity to challenge Jabari, and Malverde capitalized on the opening to leave the voyage with the Oceanic Championship.
For more background on this topic, read Vanity Project Survive Hank and Tank’s Surprise WWE NXT Tag Team Title Challenge.
Malverde’s First Announced Title Win Since WWE Departure
The Jericho Cruise title victory is a notable early milestone for Malverde as he continues his career outside WWE. He has been a free agent since his WWE release in April, ending a run in which he performed under the Santos Escobar name and became familiar to a broad television audience.
As Santos Escobar, he was a prominent figure in WWE’s Latino World Order-related stories and had previously led Legado del Fantasma. His WWE tenure also included an earlier presentation as El Hijo del Fantasma in NXT before the Santos Escobar identity was introduced. The Malverde name now represents the next phase of his career, with the Oceanic Championship providing an immediate piece of hardware attached to that transition.
Malverde’s announcement emphasized more than simply winning a match. His wording positioned the championship as a title he expects to take beyond the ship itself. The reference to “no limits,” “no borders,” and “no forbidden doors” indicated that he intends for the belt to be defended wherever opportunities arise, although no specific future defenses, opponents, or promotions were announced.
That message also made clear that Malverde plans to return to the Chris Jericho Cruise next year. For now, the next destination of the Oceanic Championship remains unconfirmed, but its new holder has publicly stated that the title will be defended in the meantime.
A Championship Change at Sea
The Chris Jericho Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea has long presented a setting unlike a conventional wrestling event. Matches take place as part of a larger cruise experience built around wrestling, music, guest appearances, and fan interaction. A title change in that environment carries its own character: the champion is not merely leaving an arena with a belt, but departing an event designed as an all-encompassing destination for its attendees.
Malverde embraced that atmosphere in his message, calling the experience “surreal” and identifying himself as the “Emperor of the Ocean.” The language fits a championship specifically tied to the cruise while also giving him a clear declaration to make as he moves forward as a free agent.
The route to the title was direct but meaningful. Ricky Knight Jr. stood in Malverde’s way in the number one contender’s match, and Malverde’s victory there elevated him to the championship bout against Jabari. By beating both Knight and Jabari during the cruise, Malverde emerged from the event with a pair of important wins and the Oceanic Championship around his waist.
For Jabari, the result marks the end of his reign as Oceanic Champion. No details regarding a rematch or any immediate response from Jabari were announced alongside Malverde’s title reveal. The confirmed outcome is that Malverde defeated him to become the new champion.
What the Win Means for a Free Agent
Championships can be especially useful calling cards for wrestlers entering the independent and international landscape after time in a major company. They give performers a visible accomplishment to bring into conversations about future bookings, appearances, and matchups. In Malverde’s case, the Oceanic Championship also comes with an explicit statement of intent: he wants it defended without geographic or promotional restrictions.
There is an important distinction between that ambition and a confirmed schedule. Malverde has not named a promotion where he will defend the championship, nor has he announced a date, challenger, or location for his first defense. His comments establish an open-ended direction rather than a finalized itinerary.
Still, the phrase “no forbidden doors” is particularly fitting for a wrestler whose next chapter is not presently tied to one publicly confirmed company. As a free agent, Malverde can pursue opportunities across the wrestling world. The Oceanic Championship gives that period a starting point and a central prop for his presentation, while his own announcement suggests that he sees it as a championship that can travel.
His WWE release in April left open questions about where and how he would next compete. The title win does not answer every one of those questions, but it does provide a concrete development: Malverde has returned to championship status and has identified the Jericho Cruise as part of his plans going forward.
Ricky Knight Jr. and Mo Jabari Factor Into the Story
Although Malverde is the focal point of the championship announcement, the two opponents he defeated are essential to the result. Ricky Knight Jr. was the obstacle in the number one contender’s contest, with Malverde earning the title match through that victory. Mo Jabari then represented the final hurdle as the reigning Oceanic Champion.
That sequence gives Malverde’s victory a straightforward competitive foundation. He did not simply receive a title opportunity; he first won his way into contention and then defeated the champion. The two-match path also means that Knight and Jabari both have clear connections to the new champion’s reign should either be involved in future Oceanic Championship discussions.
At this stage, however, there are no confirmed follow-up matches involving Malverde, Jabari, or Knight. The available information establishes the contender’s match result and the subsequent championship change, but does not outline what comes next for any of the three wrestlers.
The Oceanic Champion Looks Ahead
Malverde’s message struck a celebratory and forward-looking tone. He thanked the Jericho Cruise and Chris Jericho, celebrated the chance to be part of the voyage, and made a promise to return next year to defend the championship. That return date is the clearest future commitment attached to the title at present.
Between now and then, Malverde says the championship will be defended. Whether that means appearances in multiple territories, a single recurring home, or select special events has yet to be revealed. What is certain is that the former Santos Escobar has begun this stage of his career with a newly won championship and a public desire to make its reign broader than one shipboard event.
Romeo Malverde is now the Jericho Cruise Oceanic Champion after defeating Mo Jabari, having first beaten Ricky Knight Jr. to earn the opportunity. As a free agent following his April WWE release, he leaves the current cruise with gold, momentum, and an open invitation for whatever challenge comes next.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.