Santi Rivera has confirmed that he has exited the WWE ID program. Rivera, who also wrestles under the name Santi Rivas, announced the news in a public statement reflecting on the experience and the lessons he gained while involved with WWE’s independent-wrestling development initiative.

The announcement adds Rivera’s name to a growing list of wrestlers who have departed the program. Cappuccino Jones, Laynie Luck, Marcus Mathers and Sam Holloway have also exited WWE ID.

Rivera joined the WWE ID program in February 2026. His run in the program included eight matches for WWE EVOLVE, giving him a defined body of work in the WWE-affiliated environment while continuing a professional wrestling career that began in 2021.

“Don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened” Thank you @WWEID, All the experience and knowledge will be utilized and implemented. The growth I experienced as a Professional Wrestler the Hall of Famers, Producers and Coaches I’ve worked with, I’ll forever be grateful.”

For more background on this topic, read Roman Reigns Says WWE Locker Room Has Stars Who Think They Are on His Level.

Rivera reflects on growth during WWE ID run

Rivera’s message was one of appreciation rather than frustration. He did not provide a reason for his departure, identify a next destination, or announce any upcoming matches in connection with the statement. What he did make clear was the value he places on the instruction and exposure he received through the program.

His remarks specifically recognized the Hall of Famers, producers and coaches he worked with during his time under the WWE ID umbrella. Rivera said that the experience and knowledge acquired during that period will be used going forward, while describing the professional growth he experienced as something for which he will remain grateful.

That distinction matters as departures from developmental or affiliated programs can often lead to speculation about the circumstances behind them. In this case, Rivera has publicly framed the conclusion of his WWE ID tenure as a meaningful professional chapter. There is no additional explanation attached to his announcement, and no further details about the terms or timing of the exit were disclosed.

For Rivera, the WWE ID period arrived relatively early in his career. Having started wrestling in 2021, he entered the program with several years of in-ring experience but still with substantial room to develop. The opportunity to work around veteran personnel and receive feedback from established WWE figures was central to the message he shared after his exit.

Eight WWE EVOLVE matches during the program

Rivera competed eight times for WWE EVOLVE during his time in the WWE ID program. Those appearances gave him an opportunity to perform in a WWE-connected setting and represented the most concrete in-ring portion of his affiliation described in his announcement.

WWE EVOLVE provided a competitive setting for Rivera to apply the training, coaching and experience he referenced. While Rivera did not list specific takeaways from individual matches, he emphasized that the broader knowledge gained will be implemented in his work moving ahead.

The eight-match total also provides a clear measure of the in-ring opportunities Rivera received between joining WWE ID in February and confirming his departure in October 2026. It was not a lengthy run by years, but it was a period that included regular exposure to WWE EVOLVE competition and direct contact with the people Rivera thanked in his statement.

Rivera’s announcement did not include an assessment of his record in those matches, nor did it single out opponents or particular events. The focus instead remained on professional development. That approach is consistent throughout his comments: the WWE ID experience is presented as a period of education, growth and gratitude.

Another change within WWE ID

Rivera is the latest performer known to have left WWE ID, following the exits of Cappuccino Jones, Laynie Luck, Marcus Mathers and Sam Holloway. Each departure naturally changes the group of wrestlers attached to the program, while also sending those performers into the next stages of their respective careers with whatever experience they gained during their involvement.

It is important not to treat those exits as identical situations. Rivera’s statement applies to Rivera and does not explain the circumstances surrounding anyone else’s departure. Still, his confirmation is another notable personnel change for a program built around identifying and supporting independent wrestling talent.

For performers who are developing their names on the independent scene, association with a WWE initiative can offer a valuable chance to learn in a more structured environment. Rivera’s comments underline that aspect of the experience. He cited work with Hall of Famers, producers and coaches, all while having the chance to wrestle on WWE EVOLVE cards.

There is also a personal dimension to the wording Rivera chose. The opening line—encouraging people not to be sad that something has ended, but happy that it happened—sets the tone for the rest of the statement. Rather than looking back solely at an opportunity that has concluded, he stressed what remains: the lessons, relationships and development he intends to carry into future work.

What comes next for Santi Rivera?

Rivera has not announced where he will wrestle next or outlined any plans following his WWE ID exit. As a result, the immediate takeaway is limited to what he has confirmed: his time in the program is over, he is appreciative of it, and he intends to use what he learned as his career continues.

That career began in 2021, and Rivera’s WWE ID tenure now becomes one chapter within it. His eight WWE EVOLVE bouts and his access to coaching from experienced wrestling personnel are the key elements of that chapter. How those experiences shape his next matches, presentation and long-term direction will be determined in the ring over time.

For now, Rivera’s own words offer the clearest summary of the transition. He is leaving the program with gratitude for the people he worked with and confidence that the knowledge he gained will continue to be useful. No return, new affiliation or next opponent has been confirmed.

WWE ID continues to be an important point of attention for fans following emerging talent, particularly when participants move into WWE EVOLVE competition or when their status changes. Rivera’s confirmation is therefore significant both as a career update and as another development in the evolving roster of wrestlers connected to the initiative.

Rivera’s exit closes a brief but substantive period that began in February 2026. Across eight WWE EVOLVE matches, he gained ring time in the WWE-connected system and worked with coaches, producers and Hall of Famers he says had a lasting impact on his development. His next step has not yet been revealed, but he has made his perspective on the experience unmistakably clear: he intends to build on it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.