[4] On January 14, 2017, Concepción and the Westside Mafia addressed the crowd in an event where he announced a premature retirement citing lingering injuries and in the process vacating the WWL World Heavyweight Championship.

[1] However, later that night he made an appearance in Championship Wrestling School (CWS), a developmental promotion that had recently received the support of a returning Negrín, pursuing vengeance against BJ and attacking other heels.

The character of El Nazareno was born after fans used the term (literally meaning "the Nazarene") as a non-swearing insult in WWL's social media to criticize his jump to CWS, going viral and inspiring a number of memes superimposing his face in religious icons.

[6] On July 15, 2017, 450 defeated Joseph Cruz "J.C." Navarro in a first contenders match, stole the WWL World Heavyweight Championship belt and rebranded himself the Mecha Wolf 450, also turning on the Westside Mafia.

[9] On February 9, 2018, Concepción made his debut for Cleveland Knights Championship Wrestling (CKCP), helping Fashion win the "Chase for the Case" six-man ladder match.