Mike Santana parted ways with AEW back in March last year and now hes revealed that he asked for his release multiple times before they finally granted it.
While speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Mike Santana was asked why he decided to leave AEW, and he explained that hes the kind of person who needs constant growth in life. For him, if youre not growing in your work, then theres no real purpose. That mindset ultimately led to his decision.
Santana said there was a lot of unhappiness and situations he didnt align with. From a business perspective, he viewed himself as a brand just like AEW is a brand. He felt it was time to focus on his own brand and keep pushing forward, especially since wrestling is his life.
Santana added that hes not the kind of person who can just sit around collecting a paycheck, so he knew it was time to make a change. There was no bad blood or drama involved; it was simply a matter of doing what was best for his career, his life, and his peace of mind.
When asked if AEW tried to keep him, Santana revealed that he had asked for his release multiple times. After returning briefly for a short feud with his former tag team partner, he stopped getting booked on TV.
At that point, Santana felt ready to move on and told them as much. He asked two or three more times, and eventually AEW granted his release. He was grateful for that and ready for the next chapter.
Mike Santana is clearly thriving after his AEW departure since hes one of TNAs top stars and will compete for the TNA World Title at Slammiversary. Santana shows that its great to bet on yourself and fans are proud of his accomplishments so far.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
What do you think about Mike Santanas decision to leave AEW and pursue a new path in TNA? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
