Mike Santana: It Wasn’t Jokes About NXT Taking TNA Titles, Everyone Was Pissed Off

Since the TNA and WWE partnership started in January, NXT superstars found themselves on TNA programming and holding championships. Trick Williams, Jacy Jayne, and Kelani Jordan all held top TNA Titles.

Many fans wondered when TNA would fight back and start winning NXT championships.

Speaking to O’Shea Jackson Jr and TJ Henderson on No-Contest Wrestling, reigning TNA Champion Mike Santana was asked about the vibe in the locker room as NXT talent kept collecting gold.

“They definitely weren’t jokes. Everybody was straightforward and pissed off. Especially the original core guys like me, Eddie Edwards, Moose, Kazarian. We were like, ‘Yo, we have to change this.’ You don’t like to listen to what other people are saying, but that kind of gets to you. I feel like the best thing that came out of it was it motivated everybody. The fire that was lit backstage was, ‘We ain’t popping off like this. This is not happening.’ We all banded together and were like, ‘We have to do something about it.’ That’s when everything started to kick off and we started making more moves. I remember when I first went to NXT, I made it very known, in Trick’s face, ‘We ain’t living like this.’ I’m glad I was the one to do it. It just motivated the hell out of everybody. I think it did some good,” said Santana.

Santana brought the TNA Title back across the line at TNA Bound For Glory, defeating Trick Williams in the main event.

Elsewhere during the interview, Santana discussed a potential dream match against AJ Styles. You can find his full comments here.

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.