Mike Santana is focused on being the best pro wrestler he can be. He also focused on being a great example for his daughter.
Santana recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his year being profiled in TNA’s Immersed docuseries. The two-part feature detailed Santana’s path to the TNA World Championship, and it reinforced the idea that you need to adapt to the ups and downs that life throws at you.
“Like I told my daughter, use the bottom to rise to the top. I’ve been living proof of that since even before I came back into wrestling. Going through rehab and all those things, I used my rock bottom as the perfect foundation to build what I have today. And she got to see that firsthand,” Santana said. “She saw the constant days in the gym. When I got cleared to get back in the ring, she would come with me to see me train in the ring. So, she was an eyewitness to all the work that went into eventually getting to that moment at Slammiversary and then also getting to the moment of winning the title at Bound for Glory.
“I feel like it’s been an amazing ride. The ups as well as the downs. For me personally, I’m a human being. We have emotions, we have feelings, and we have things that we like, and we don’t like. Me having those moments were definitely—at least the bad ones, I didn’t really like. I think for me personally, and thankfully, I’ve gotten to a place in my life, and I have learned a certain set of tools that allow me to process things in a certain way, and allow me to dissect things in a certain way. So, again, I always look at those obstacles as opportunities. And that’s exactly what I try to show her every day, too.”
Mike Santana was overwhelmed by the support he got at Bound For Glory
Immersed showed a heartwarming moment backstage where the TNA roster greeted him after he won the title at Bound For Glory. Santana said he didn’t know that was going to happen, and it was an overwhelming moment.
“I’m not one that likes a ton of attention. I’m very reserved and to myself, so that moment was very like, ‘Oh my God!’ I had anxiety. But, it was a respect thing. A lot of people in that locker room have seen my journey firsthand. Not just the last couple of years, but my entire career, like 17 years,” Mike Santana explained. “There was a lot of people back there that saw the grind and saw the work that I’ve put in throughout the years. To finally get to have that moment and to share the moment with my daughter, but also share it with the entire locker room.
“I think it was just a huge accomplishment and celebration for TNA as a brand. It was something that for sure is going to live with me forever. I actually have a picture,” Santana noted, “[it’s] the view behind me, just looking out into the sea of people that was back there. It’s just awesome, and I’m probably going to get it framed. But yeah, amazing, amazing moment, for sure.”
Mike Santana was humbled, yet thankful after title loss
Santana ultimately lost the title four weeks later, which was also his first live appearance on TNA programming as champion. A “part three” to Santana’s story feels appropriate, and he says having the title ripped away just makes him want to work even harder.
“I did a promo in the ring after Turning Point, and I said it. We live life on life’s terms, you know what I mean? And life is going to do what it does, and there’s gonna be moments where you’re at the very peak of what you feel is you and everything you worked for, and life will come and humble you real quick. I feel like that’s exactly what it did in that moment. But again, I’m thankful for it. Because now, it makes me want it even more. There’s more gasoline for the fire and another opportunity that comes out of that obstacle.”
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