Mike Santana has opened up about the personal significance of his second TNA World Championship reign. Speaking on Unseen with Joey Karni, Santana contrasted his recent victory with his first title win, explaining that his mindset has shifted.
“I said it when Frankie and I sat down for our contract signing my first title run was my first title win was for was a thank you to my family to my friends to my daughter for saving my life and all the people that supported and motivated me to get to that point,” Santana said. “That was my thank you to them. This one this one is for me. This one is this one is for me. This one is a thank you to me for putting the work for putting in the work for getting myself he help that I needed when I needed it and yeah man like now it’s a whole different ball game.”
Santana stated that fans can expect a different version of him during this run. “When I step foot in front of that camera on Thursday, you’re getting a whole different person and unapologetic,” he said. “Like I am probably gonna piss a lot of people off and that’s OK that’s part of the process, but I’m going to continue speaking from the heart and there’s gonna be people that don’t like it and that’s OK… I’m here for the top spot. I don’t care who takes offense to it and I feel the same exact way now when I stepped foot in front of that camera on Thursday I don’t care who takes offense. I’m here for me.”
The champion also praised the current state of the TNA locker room, comparing it favorably to when he first arrived in the company in 2017.
“I think this is the best we’ve ever been,” Santana said. “I think going back to when I first got here in 2017. There was a lot of transitions happening. A lot of people were leaving. A lot of people were coming in so it was it was a very, very shaky time but like now, I feel like we’ve gotten our footing and we have a great team and again will separate our lock room as the fact that we’re all here for a common goal and that’s to help elevate the brand… I think everyone is excited for this AMC platform that we have now and is just more of an opportunity to show what we can do and to elevate ourselves along with the company.”
When asked for advice for up-and-coming wrestlers who wish to reach the level of champions like himself, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre, Santana emphasized the importance of hard work.
“Listen to your heart listen to your heart and it ain’t gonna be easy,” he said. “Nothing that’s worth it as ever easy there’s gonna be times where you’re gonna feel like you wanna give up that’s OK but if you want it, you make it happen you know what I mean do your homework survey your environment look at how you could separate yourselves from everything else that’s going on and put in the work put in the miles. You know what I mean if you’re a young up and comer on the independents the best advice I could give you is put in the miles.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Unseen with Joey Karni with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. – Watch Unseen with Joey Karni on YouTube.
