Mike Santana, a star from TNA Wrestling, has confirmed that he was in discussions with WWE before ultimately signing with AEW. Santana disclosed that these talks happened back in 2019, prior to his AEW debut with Ortiz later that year.
In an interview with Chris Van Vriette, Santana shared his experience being part of TNA Wrestling when they first encountered The Elite, which led to their decision to join AEW. He recalls their initial meeting during the first Jericho Cruise, where they worked with The Young Bucks and had a great match, although it likely won’t be publicly released. At that time, AEW was not yet established, so they continued their tenure with TNA but stayed in contact with Cody Rhodes and others.
Santana vividly remembers receiving a text from Cody while at the cinema with his daughter, confirming AEW was becoming real and asking when his contract would be signed. That moment sealed the deal for him. Even while in talks with WWE, Santana and Ortiz were transparent about their plans and ultimately chose AEW.
The duo made their AEW debut on August 31, 2019, while still under a TNA contract earlier that month. Santana mentioned how WWE respected their decision, understanding that the demanding WWE schedule conflicted with their desire to spend more time with their young children. He emphasized that AEW offered a fresh start where his name would always be prominent and that it aligned better with his family priorities.
Santana left AEW in 2024, returned briefly to TNA Wrestling in April, and has since made several appearances on NXT through WWE collaborations.
[Transcript sourced from chrisvanvliet.com.]
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Fan Take: This revelation highlights AEW’s ability to attract top talent who value both career opportunities and personal life balance, which could strengthen AEW’s roster stability and appeal. For AEW fans, this story underscores the promotion’s growing influence and commitment to wrestler well-being, potentially reshaping the wrestling industry’s future.
