After mediating a collaboration between WWL and The Crash though Konnan, a talent exchange took place beginning at Golpe de Estado 2017. Following the WWL's summer season, Meléndez -who had an offer to book for The Crash- left WWL amidst internal differences with the owner of the promotion's ring and his tag team partner, returning shortly afterwards after the latter left for WWC. However, after hurricanes Irma and Maria passed over Puerto Rico during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Meléndez lost power for several months and WWL came to a halt and entered a hiatus. During this period of inactivity, Konnan also left The Crash for Aro Lucha, formally ending the talent exchange (though Konnan later expressed interest in returning individually). As the return of WWL approached during early 2018, Meléndez resumed his work as booker, appearing in several videos where he approached figures like Mr. Big (Miguel Maldonado) and Dennis Rivera in an effort to create a faction that would oppose the heels led by Manny Ferno.