Mike Santana referenced his AEW exit during a promo segment on this week’s TNA iMPACT.
This week’s episode of TNA iMPACT featured Mike Santana and Frankie Kazarian signing the contract for their world championship match at TNA’s AMC debut on January 15. During the segment, Santana mentioned both his and Kazarian’s time together in AEW, saying how the promotion drained their passion for wrestling.
“At one point in time, we were both at the same place, miserable as all hell. We were at a place that tried to drain the passion out of what we love the most. And what did we do? We held each other up, we left that place, we bet on ourselves, and today, we’re sitting from across each other, about to go toe-to-toe for the grandest prize in pro wrestling, on the biggest show in TNA history,” Mike Santana said.
"At one point in time we were both at the same place, miserable as all hell. We were at a place that tried to drain the passion out of what we love the most. And what did we do? We held each other up, we left that place, we bet on ourselves."#TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/Ch0HuHfST6
— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) January 9, 2026
Why Mike Santana Left AEW?
Mike Santana was a part of All Elite Wrestling between 2019 and 2024. He requested and was granted his release from the company in March 2024 and returned to TNA Wrestling the following month.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show last year, Santana explained he chose to leave because he didn’t feel like he was growing in AEW.
“I’m the type of person that I need constant growth in my life, and especially in this in this line of any line of work. Right? If you’re not growing, then what are we doing? Right?
“So, I’m also not the type of person that I could just sit and collect a paycheck. That’s just not me. Never has been. So it was just about that time, and there was no heat. There were no hard feelings. It was, you know, it is what it is. That’s the wrestling business. People come, people go, right? And, I looked at it as like, I need to do what’s best for me and my career and my life and my sanity,” Mike Santana said.
Mike Santana also noted that he requested his release multiple times before AEW eventually agreed.
“So I had asked for my release multiple times. Yeah. When I came back and, like, I had the short feud and match with my ex-partner, and then, after that, like, they stopped bringing me to TV, so I was like, yo, just get me out of I’m good, you know? Like, let’s just whatever. And like, I asked maybe, like two or three times, and then finally, you know, they granted me my release, and I was like, thank you,” Mike Santana said.
Read More: Liv Morgan Reveals Why WWE Stars Call Her ‘Oprah’
If you use this transcription, please credit the source, H/T WrestleZone, and link back to this page.
