WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray passionately endorsed Mike Santana as the key figure for TNA Wrestling’s future and laid out a compelling storyline direction following Santana’s TNA World Championship loss to Trick Williams on the June 3rd episode of WWE NXT. Speaking on “Busted Open After Dark,” Bully declared his belief in Santana and criticized the interference that cost him the match, urging TNA heels AJ Francis and Casey Navarro to capitalize on Santana failing to deliver on a promise made to his daughter.
“I believe more in Mike Santana than I do Joe Hendry. I really do. Santana is the guy for TNA,” Bully stated emphatically. “I’m not saying that Joe has not done a good job, but I think Mike Santana and his passion and his heart is really what TNA needs.”
The main event saw Trick Williams retain the TNA World Title against Santana after interference from TNA talents AJ Francis and KC Navarro. Bully focused on a pre-match promo where Santana promised his daughter he would win. “When you tell me that you promised your little girl, you promised your daughter that you would win. That’s as close to the word guarantee as it gets to me, folks… He did not deliver on that promise,” Bully observed.
He then outlined how TNA creative should leverage this: “On TNA television this week, if creative is smart, they need to make sure… AJ Francis needs to make sure, or KC Navarro needs to make sure, or Mike Santana needs to make sure that they remind the world that they are the ones responsible for Mike Santana not keeping his promise… then the heat is on Santana for not following through.” Bully drew a parallel to his suggestion that all heat for R-Truth’s recent WWE release should go on John Cena, stating, “Francis and Navarro were the ones responsible for Santana not keeping his promise.”
Bully Ray enjoyed the match itself, noting the crowd was invested and wanted Santana to win. He expressed his desire for a rematch at TNA’s Slammiversary pay-per-view. “I want to see them take this rematch to Slammiversary. I want to see them take it into the TNA house. I want to see Mike Santana defeat Trick Williams on that TNA show.” While acknowledging a Santana win on NXT would have been “huge,” he stressed TNA needs to “put asses in seats” for their own major events.
He also praised Trick Williams’ evolving heel persona: “Trick is doing a very, very good job, in my eyes, and embracing this new heel way of thinking… I just seen a real maturing, evolving Trick Williams, who I think is diving in deep to this new heel role… and I’m digging it.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
