After weeks of rumors, Mike Santana made his WWE NXT arrival this week and confronted Tony D’Angelo. However, many fans were more curious about one thing: will WWE change his name?
When Santana appeared on the July 21, 2026, episode of NXT, the commentary team never called him Mike Santana. Most of WWE’s graphics and social media also described him only as a “new face” or “brand new superstar.”
But just one day later, WWE seemed to send a different message.
WWE uses Mike Santana’s name after his NXT arrival
WWE recently shared a video of Santana’s face-off with NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo on its official Facebook page. The caption read:
“Mike Santana makes his presence felt in his first action as an NXT Superstar.”
It was completely different from what happened on this week’s NXT. During the broadcast, neither Vic Joseph nor Booker T mentioned Santana’s name. Even during his final staredown with D’Angelo, WWE never officially introduced him.
That has left fans wondering what WWE’s plans really are. On TV, it looked like the company might be preparing a new identity for him. But on Facebook, WWE had no problem calling him Mike Santana.
This isn’t the first time WWE has done something like this. In the past, some new signings have debuted without being officially named while the company finished its branding plans.
Whether this is just a temporary move or part of a bigger rollout remains unclear.
One reason for WWE’s approach could be Santana’s trademark situation.
In May 2026, while he was still with TNA Wrestling, Santana filed a trademark application for the name “Mike Santana” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The application is still pending and hasn’t been fully approved yet.
That could explain why WWE avoided using his name on TV. The company may simply be waiting until everything is finalized before officially introducing him.
Read More: TNA Reacts to Mike Santana’s Surprise WWE Arrival
