Reactions from WWE's Saturday Night Main Event and an exclusive interview with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana

24:26O'Shea:I know, but, like, it's just something that don't. It seems a little, like, he seems a little more terrifying in black or red. Yeah, yeah. Something about that. Blue Penta seems like a little bit more like a little happy Penta. But I saw, you know, Lucha Underground Penta. And I'm going to be honest with you, that Penta El Zero Meadow, he scared me. Yeah. Because that was a dude who was snapping arms. He was beating up men and women. Yeah, shout out to EO. You know what I'm saying? Kyrie too got it. You know what I mean? So that Penta was legitimately terrifying. And I'm hoping that at some point we get that Penta.

25:01We won't now because he's way too over. Way too over. He's going to have that belt. He's going to have a belt at some point. I don't know if it's going to be an Intercontinental because I came up with an idea this weekend that I think that Dominic Mysterio, listen to me now, should be the forever Intercontinental champion. I don't think Dom should ever lose that belt. I think Dominic Mysterio should go on a 10 year run. Oh my God. That would put him 30 years in the business. Yeah, man. And he'd still only be 40. So what are we doing? You know, but I just, I was thinking that the other day, like Dom should never, he's so entertaining.

25:37Name it after him. You know what I'm saying? So yeah. So Dom gets the big win in the triple threat. He brought the hammer back in. It looked like he was trying to get away with some stuff. He didn't use it. He didn't use it. He didn't use it. That's a clean win. That's dirty Dom. And then we had the world heavyweight championship match between Charles Montgomery Punk and Jay. It was okay. It was an okay match. Yeah, I got to be honest. Something felt a little off. You look back and you see the clip of the neck breaker that I guess Jay over-rotated and it looked sloppy and Punk got up, kicked him in the head and did it right.

26:15There was also the move where he hit him with the go to sleep, bounced off the rope. Now that I get because that was a little timing that was a little awkwardness. So he went to, as Jay bounced off the rope, landed on Punk's shoulders, Punk couldn't quite get him over. It fell, but like true professionals, no one's bringing this up. Do you see the way they immediately went and Jay put him in a sleeper hole? Yeah. Like they went and they worked. They worked for about three minutes.

26:43O'Shea:Cody had a moment like that too. Yeah. With the ref getting in the way and then, you know, so you have to tip your cap when you see them in full flow. Yeah, when you know. Still get something out of it. Yeah, so they did that. Jay went for the sleeper. They kind of chain wrestled a little bit for about two minutes, and then they hit the spot again and went from there. And that just goes to show you, man, I think I hate when fans yell botch or something. Because to me, I'm surprised there aren't more botches in wrestling matches. A hundred percent. You know what I mean? You're out there. You're sweaty.

27:15You're tired. You're trying to have perfect timing with another human being. And like, it's amazing that it doesn't happen more often is all I'm trying to say.

27:25O'Shea:Yeah. And, you know, at the end of the day, it is you try to go and do a full workout in front of the millions. And millions. And live. And it all goes smoothly. Bro, I am exhausted. I got to carry this 200 pound too on my shoulders real quick. And like make it look seamless and all that. Either way, kudos to both performers. They got through it. And at the end of the day, CM Punk. CM Punk, man. And I told you, my heart wanted CM Punk. My mind said it, Jay. But CM Punk getting that title, what does this mean? Braun Breaker, I'm sure, is chomping at the bit. We got to see. And I hit Punk immediately.

28:08O'Shea:Obviously, we're talking about the Dodgers, talking about him winning a world title. I said, bro, my friend won a world title and my baseball team won a world title. I'm having a pretty good Saturday. And then I was like, don't worry. I'm definitely going to make sure I give you a nod on the show. And he was like, what time do y 'all do that show? And I was like, you're going to be doing Raw. And he was like, all right, all right. So he's keeping an eye on us. Who is this? CM Punk. Oh, that's right. CM Punk, bro. But we got to have him. We're talking about world champions, though, right? Yeah.

28:37Talked about the Dodgers. Yeah. Talked about Jade Cargo. Yeah. Talked about Charles Montgomery Punk. Yeah. Talked about Dominic Mysterio. Yeah, yeah. Talked about Alexa Bliss and Charlotte. Yeah. They're all champions.

28:48O'Shea:Yeah. So I think right now it only makes sense for us to bring another champion into the fold. Oh, I love how you did that, TJ. That is my favorite segue you've ever done. Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, let me just say, in this world of professional wrestling, we are forced to believe. We watch and we accept a world of smoke and mirrors. And within that world, every now and then, the real shines. And you can tell. You can tell when the real is shining. And there are few people that can take on the moniker of a baby face but still show that real person in there. One of the realest to do it in today's wrestling, your TNA world champion, Mike Santana.

29:38O'Shea:Welcome to the pod, bro. What's good, man? How you feeling? Yo, TJ, what's good? What's up, baby? I'm feeling amazing, man. Thank you guys for having me. As you should be, dog. Look at this. The world champion, Mike Santana, in the building with us. BK's finest. Stand up. It's dope. Oh, you're from the Bronx. My bad. BX. My bad, Mike. From the BX. Yeah, I'm with disrespect. I said K. I meant the X. Nah, thank God. I'm in the BX right now. Thank God I didn't have this on speaker and have everybody listen. Well, Mike, first and foremost, I got to say thank you. You know, back in April, we came to a TNA show.

30:18O'Shea was going to do some color commentary on your match. And then AJ Francis invited him to come out to the first class penthouse segment. And then things got a little, they took a turn. A little disrespectful there. Now, it looked like AJ and Casey Navarro were about to, you know, get my man here caught up in the mix. Now, you know, I would have helped him, but I had a drink in my hand. Like Daryl from Coming to America. you know so i couldn't really you know my guy you know i'm in the i'm in the crowd you know i'm saying i couldn't really help my tag team partner but lo and behold i heard some music and i said oh you know what my man's gonna be all right because here comes mike santana to save the day for you and i thank you because if had you not i might be sitting here dolo you know yes sir yes sir i was just helping a good brother out i'm glad i was there and able to make it happen but uh yeah man it was a good time and that was i think that was the first time we all got to meet and and it was awesome man like uh what you guys are doing now and and just like putting a spotlight on on a bunch of stuff man it's dope man so thank you guys yeah you know we um we talk

31:24O'Shea:so highly of tna um i've been i've been to a lot of wrestling shows throughout my life and i've never felt as welcomed and just involved and, you know, appreciated the way that TNA shows love. And just being able to see you guys in Guerrilla and how you guys work amongst each other and just the camaraderie that you feel being at a TNA show. Talk to us a little bit about what TNA means to you and just that, that environment that we felt as outsiders being let in. Yeah. I mean, uh, going to, to what you just said, man, I feel like TNA even going back to when I first joined in 2017, always had the reputation of having a tight knit locker room and a locker room that everyone helps elevate each other.

32:22You know, this, as we know, it could be a very cutthroat business, right? And, And it's you in there with sharks and it's every man for himself. But honestly, with my experiences at TNA has been the total opposite. If anything, we're all just trying to work together collectively to elevate each other and elevate the brand. And I think that's what's been shining through all these years is that like we all have a common mindset. Right. And I think that's important for a wrestling company. And by all means, everybody has their own ways of doing things. and everyone finds success in their own ways.

32:58But this is the thing that's helped TNA throughout the years. And I'm glad that so many people are starting to see it, experience it firsthand. And, you know, you saw it firsthand, like you said, when you were in Guerrilla and you saw everybody just hyping each other up and making sure that we were all cheerleaders for each other. And, I mean, you know, as for me, TNA and what it means to me, Like, again, TNA put me on the map when I first came in in 2017. It was the place that put me on a bigger platform, introduced me to a bigger audience. Because before that, for maybe like six or seven years, I was grinding it out on the independents.

33:38You know what I mean? Just paying my dues and getting my name out there as much as I could. And, you know, finally something popped off and an opportunity opened up. And I'm thankful, man. And here I am because of that.

33:50O'Shea:A friend of the show, one of our first few guests, you actually won that title off of Trick Williams. And even there was a picture that got out, a little peek behind the curtain a little bit for everybody. But Trick was even there for when you got in the back and you had that title coming through the curtain. Speak to us a little bit about, we know the Trick Williams on camera, but the trick off camera and you know what he's uh been like through this journey of yours man i'll keep it a buck with you man like you saw he was front and center when i came through that curtain um and you know just the camaraderie that we built and the trust that we built within each other because as you know as you guys follow the business like we're putting each other's lives in our hands.

34:45And there has to be a certain level of trust and respect when it comes to that. And that's something I take very serious. And so does he. And when we first started working together, that was one of the things that we connected on, that we both had a respect for the business, a respect for each other. And at the end of the day, we're doing what we can to help elevate each other and I was selfless he was selfless and that's what helped us a lot like allowed us to create the magic that we did and tell the story that we did um but yeah man he's a total pro uh you know he's came up under some of the best guys in the business and been taught by some of the best guys in the business so um yeah man like that dude has paid his dues and he's continuing to pay his dues and it was a joy getting to work with him and getting to work with a lot of the other people at NXT and yeah, man, it's, it's just been a wild journey to say the least just overall, man.

35:42Like I, I was taking this, I always try to take a second to reflect on things. Right. And just thinking back on like two and a half years ago, before I came back into wrestling after my injury, it was like, man, there was a moment where I didn't think this was going to happen and anything. and the fact that I'm you know sitting here in front of you guys as a TNA world champ is is pretty amazing so hard work pays off for sure that's absolutely all right so I don't want to get you emotional here champ but I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you a question that might take you down that path uh there was a uh a letter to Santa that was written that seemed to change everything for you can you share with the people listening to no contest what exactly i'm talking about and what that letter meant to you oh man so back in you know so i was struggling with addiction for i'd say three four years like it got really bad when my dad passed away in 2020 That's when like a whirlwind just hit me.

36:58You know what I mean? All the things that I ran from and I didn't deal with growing up, everything just like it was the soda bottle popping off. You know what I mean? And my dad passing away set me down a dark path and along with other things that was going on, especially at work and my personal life and stuff like that. So, yeah, it led me down some dark, dark roads. And, you know, like there was the holidays were coming up. It was 2023 and it was December. And my daughter always wrote Santa her list every year since, you know, since she could write. And specifically like those, I'd say six months, it was bad.

37:48Like it got to the point where, you know, to be real, like I wasn't coming home for days. And that's when she started to notice, you know, she started to notice, oh, Bobby's not here in the morning to take me to school. Something's wrong. And yeah, man, like she wrote that letter and she gave it to she I think she was at her grandmother's house at the time. and her grandmother had told her mom and and stuff like that and that's when it was like all right this is this is enough you know and everyone at that point had had enough and it was brought to my attention and that was my rock bottom that was my rock bottom because you know as me personally as a child that grew up in a household where addiction was so prevalent and drugs and abuse and violence and all these things, I always vowed to never give that life to my daughter.

38:50And the fact that I was on the road to giving her that same life, it was just like, nah, I can't do this. And I'm thankful to this day, man, because if it wasn't for that letter and if it wasn't for, you know, my family and their support, I wouldn't be here today. And that letter set me on the path of recovery.

39:20And I'm thankful, man, because I remind myself every day. If I can ask, what exactly did the letter say? The first line, it was, Dear Santa, can you please make my papi stop and and I can't tell you how low I felt you know for some people you know it's losing everything some people is losing their home some people is losing their car losing money losing this for me it was the realization that my daughter was was knowing what was going on and you know her mom told me straight up after that she was like either you get your yourself clean and you get yourself together or we're gone and and she had every right and um that was it that was all i needed absolutely and what is your daughter's name my name is ariana ariana so shout out to ariana and she oh yeah she got a good she got a good shot in on trick too during the world title match you know she actually slapped the uh the face off of trick's lips yeah she it was funny because she um in the back afterwards she comes to me And she was like, I put everything behind that slap.

40:52I was like, I believe you. Now, but, you know, because of all that and what we went through, I felt it was important for me to present the title to her and for her to share in that glory and that moment with me. Because, again, it wasn't for her. It wasn't for my family. I wouldn't have been doing what I'm doing. I wouldn't be here today. And that was a thank you. That was such a beautiful moment.

41:21O'Shea:Yeah, as a girl dad myself, my daughter Jordan is eight years old. And, you know, I tell people, it's nothing like those little hands touching my face or hugging me. You know how many times I had to hold in boo-hoos because she'll say randomly, I'll randomly, she'll see something and be like, Daddy, I'm proud of you. like yeah thank you i appreciate that uh yeah just hold on one second i go to the bathroom those moments like even when um when i perform and i need uh i need some quick tears i think about them little moments you know and when i saw that i was like dang like that you know i'm i'm choked up because i i feel you 100 everything that you do you do for her and everything you don't do you don't do it for her even more importantly and so yeah that moment right there dude that's what i was like yo this is like it's just one of those moments that the world has stopped between those two like there's no one in that arena in that moment like that and so you know it's great to see you finally climb that mountain finally get to anybody who's in the intro i gave for you that real people feel that real when they when they look at you and then you find out the stories and then you're like yeah man that that's it and now now that you are world champion i want to pull back a little bit because there's a question that i usually start interviews off with but you know we we kind of got going um when did you get bit by that wrestling bug when did you know like oh this is uh this is what i want to do damn so i've been into wrestling all my life i feel like in the first time that i discovered pro wrestling it was uh my grandparents so my dad and my uncle they grew up watching wrestling so i grew up on their vhs tapes that uh that they they you know recorded through the years so the the very first memory that i have of watching pro wrestling was wrestlemania 7 and it was the first match was the heart foundation versus the nasty boys and when i saw brett and anvil coming through down that aisle bro and just the pink and the black and the shades and the jackets and the flashing lights from the photography and the crowd bro that was it yeah i was like these are the two coolest dudes i've ever seen and uh and uh yeah man so like that was my very first vivid memory of watching wrestling and then through the years man like i was obsessed like you could ask anybody in my family all i did was watch wrestling and play with wrestling toys i didn't want like i remember my grandmother telling me a story back in the day that she thought something was wrong so she saw a therapist and asked uh you know like my grandson he's like obsessed with this thing and it's all he does and she was afraid that i was going to turn out to be violent which i wasn't violent because of wrestling i was violent because of other things but uh but yeah man so like wrestling was always my thing and then I did the backyard wrestling when I was when I was a teenager and a kid you know what I mean with my friends and stuff like that and um in high school I remember being in gym class I was uh I think junior year I was in gym class and I saw this dude changing next to me and he went in his bag and he pulled out like wrestling shoes and kick pads and and all these things and like my nosy ass i was like yo you do uh mma or something and he was like now i'm training to be a pro wrestler and i was like wait where at like where is this happening and uh he told me that at the time i was living on Staten Island and he uh yes sir yes sir and uh he told me yo there's a school it's on the other side of the island uh it's in the middle of nowhere but if you want I could take you one day and introduce you to the trainer and I was like that's exactly what you're gonna do how old were you at this point i was 17 17 okay yeah so then i went he took me he introduced me to the trainer and we were talking and he was like listen before you train before you pay for anything i want you to go and bring me your diploma and uh that alone meant a lot to me because at that time in my life, he was one of the very first people to like show that he cared about like my education and cared about me, you know, being successful in other ways.

46:24So, um, I was like, yes, sir. And after that, I went back to school. I did what I had to do, got my diploma. And the next day I was like, you go, sir. And that's, that was it.

46:38O'Shea:Now, that's that's always great to hear, because, you know, there's always people who have those moments on on somebody's road to success that they might not even know. They know what they're saying at the time means something, but you never know if it sticks with the person. You know, you never know if like if that is something that they'll remember that you did for them. who yeah if you you know take the time to let us know who are the people who without them we don't get the mike santana that we see before us today

47:20damn there's a good few man um first and foremost i have to give a shout out to my father in heaven, man, because he was my biggest cheerleader, you know. And when I was growing up, we didn't have like, he was always present, but we didn't have the greatest relationship because he struggled with addiction himself. And also having a disability, he struggled with the thought of not being enough and not and not being able to be the father that he wanted to be. So he struggled with that a lot. And I didn't understand it because I'm a kid. And I just think he's, you know, a jerk because whatever. But, you know, he was dealing with his own demons.

48:14And thankfully, we got to have a conversation when I got older and had my daughter. And I got to understand him more. He got to explain a lot of things to me. And that was it, man. Like, honestly, he's the biggest influence that I have in my life, whether it's movies, music, television, like he put me on to everything, you know.

48:37And also the rest of my family, my, you know, my grandparents, my daughter, her mom, like there's just so many people that I could, you know, list off that played such an integral role in getting me here. um but yeah like you know i've always said i have a very small circle i don't like put myself out there a lot and i just you know come from a background that like i wasn't really able to trust a lot of people so i feel like i've i've carried that on into my adulthood you know there's there's very few people that i could say yo you know this is my homie but um but yeah i'm very family oriented you know what i mean like my family is everything so i'd say like without those people also in in wrestling i'd have to give a shout out to homicide um i'd have to give a shout out to conan yeah to uh the amazing red um a lot of like those those uh old school new York, you know, crew that like saw this poor Puerto Rican kid from the projects and was like, yeah, we want to take him under our wing and, and, and put him on and help him out.

49:53And, you know, cause we all came from similar backgrounds, you know, and yeah, those dudes really like were a part of putting the battery in my back and, and, you know, like influencing me a lot. so mike you know i got family in uh jamaica queens and i i grew up i grew up in a little town in the smack dab in the middle of pennsylvania so when my cousins would come from jamaica you know we're kind of you know looking back at it now i didn't realize it then but i can see why they thought we were country a lot of grass like i said a middle the middle of the state and i would always knew though that my cousins coming in from jamaica queens they grew up a lot different than I did.

50:37Like, you know, they were hard rock kids, you know what I'm saying? Like cats that you didn't want to mess with. But I also got everything in terms of hip hop and fashion from my cousins when they come down. So just what was it like for you as a kid growing up in the Bronx? Because I've always said New York kids grow up different than kids anywhere else, man. It's a whole nother ballgame growing up in New York. What was life like for you? so for me i'm originally from the lower east side man so i was born and raised on avenue on avenue d uh jacob reese projects that's like where all my family's from a lot of my family is still there um so i mean growing up there and then i moved around a lot from there i went to the bronx from the bronx i lived in harlem from harlem i went to stan so i i did a lot of moving around as a kid.

51:31My mom, God bless her, you know, she, a teenage mom, you know, I was born, she was 15 years old. So you have a child raising a child. And, you know, I feel like she was always chasing that fresh start. And that's why we moved around a lot. But, you know, growing up, just put it like this, growing up in New York City, like you said, it was, totally different ballgame. And at the time, like a lot of things for me were happening at home that just weren't good. A lot of abuse, a lot of drug abuse. And I did anything not to be home. So what happens to a kid that, you know, is trying to find love and trying to find attention and all these things, they try to find it in the street.

52:19And that's the worst place that you can look, as you know, you know, so, um, you know, I, I, I got involved in a lot of things and with a lot of people, a lot of things that I ain't proud of, but at the end of the day, it allowed me to learn. And, you know, I'm thankful that I had this wrestling thing. I'm thankful that I had family members to, to help school me. Um, but yeah, you know, there was situations that I went through in the street that could have not had me here today. And that's just real talk. And, um, again, like when I think about it now, man, it's, it's wild because my, my daughter's mom, she, we met when we were in high school and she's every now and then she'll remind me, like, it's amazing to see who you are today, knowing who you were back then.

53:15um and she tells me all the time she's like yo i didn't think you were gonna make it because a lot of our friends that we grew up with they not around and um i could have easily been one of those people and i was on that road you know and she tells me all the time like especially when uh when she was helping me find uh a rehab to go to like before then she she sat me down and she was like yo like look at what you've done look at what you've accomplished look at what you've survived and you're gonna piss that all away because of drugs and alcohol like what are you doing you know and i'm thankful that she opened my eyes to a lot of things because she saw who i used to be and she's like yo you you survived that like so you're gonna give in because of this and yeah man gratitude is a big thing for me and I'm just thankful to again have people in my life today that remind me of like yo you again a poor Puerto Rican kid from the projects and got to see the world with wrestling how crazy is that that.

54:36You know, like we didn't, we didn't have a lot of people to look up to. We didn't have a lot of people to, to help guide us to on the right paths, but you found your way. And the best thing about it was that like, I built this myself from nothing. I didn't have a handout. I didn't have someone in the business that like helped steer. I didn't have nothing. This is something that I given to me and that's why I take so much pride in it and I take it so serious you know you always hear people say wrestling saved my life and I feel like in this case it seems like Mike that is truly what happened and what wrestling did for you 100 there's no no doubt in my mind that like

55:24O'Shea:wrestling saved my life for sure now we know the you know the the uplifting that you got in your personal life and now we know you know we know how serious you take the the growth that you've had and now that you have the and you know being a guy from tna the ultimate accomplishment in tna but you are also the first puerto rican born i mean like dude what is that level yeah hold down hold on oshay i'm sorry i'm sorry to cut you off but you got to say that again i've been making Everybody say it again. Like Jimmy, two times. I'll get the papers. First ever Puerto Rican TNA world champion. Yes. And now I know that's got to feel.

56:10O'Shea:Number one, talk to us about how amazing that feels for you. And then speak about the level of responsibility you feel being the first and what that means for others watching you. Man, as far as how much that means to me, man, I've been very open and very honest about how I feel about my people. And just from the beginning, again, I was looking back at some pictures. And my very first promo pic that I took, I was 18 years old. It was right before my very first match. And I remember taking this picture in my bedroom. And I was like, the dude needed a picture of me so he could use as a graphic. And I was like, all right, I'm gonna put my tights on and stand in front of this white wall and take this picture.

56:59But in that picture, I have a Puerto Rican flag on my shoulder. And it was something that like I told myself, you know, coming into this, I want to represent my people and put on for my people. Because, again, growing up, we didn't see a lot of Latinos in the game at a high level. you know for us it was like you know my my dad and my grandfather's generation was pedro morales and then yeah we grew up with the sabio vegas but like he wasn't like a top top name you know what i mean yeah and you're probably too young to remember carlos and then same thing carlos exactly right um so like it was eddie guerrero that was that was as as as close as as we got right but there was never a boricua there was never a top guy who was puerto rican and that i at least i got to see in my lifetime so that was something i always strive for and also a lot of the guys that i grew up watching from the independence the homicide the low-key the amazing red uh you know the sat is like these were all boriguas from new york city that again similar backgrounds similar upbringings and they made something of themselves and they got to see the world and travel the world and i was like yo i want to be like that that's what i want to do um but again going back to now being the first ever tna world champ to be boricua and what responsibility that means to me is like my whole thing with my representation and, and just like with all of that is showing that it's possible.

58:44Yeah. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, uh, what you've been through. It's possible. Um, again, like there was a lot of people that laughed at me, some in my own family. There was a lot of people that doubted me. Some, some people who I considered brothers and friends, um, Um, but at the end of the day, I use that as a fuel to, to keep light in that fire. You know what I mean? And just like to show other Boricuas that are coming up in the game that it's possible to, to dream as big as you can and to make it happen. Um, there ain't a lot of us, so we, we gotta make it happen. You feel me?

59:25And again, if, if I have to be the face of that and I have to be the catalyst of that by all means. I always said if I didn't get into wrestling I wanted to do something that was going to help people in general and I feel like wrestling is my way of doing that and especially for people in my culture.

59:43O'Shea:You're so many, you always have naysayers. You always have people always talking about, you know, why does it matter so much? Why does it matter so much to be the first or you have people who yeah, I'm not even going to get into it. Yeah, they don't, you know, they don't. No, we got to get into it. We got to get into it. Because they don't get, you don't get it because you've seen you do it a thousand times. You've seen people that look like you a thousand, you don't, when it's people that look like you or me or Mike. Yeah. We don't, we don't always see that. You know how long I've been watching WrestleMania?

1:00:17You know how long it took for me to see a world champion that looked like me? Yeah. It was Ron Simmons. And that was, you know, that was what, 1992. Wrestling's been around forever. Yeah. That's how long it took.

1:00:28O'Shea:Yeah, and it's just something that there's no way to explain it or describe it to those who don't get it. But, like, it's something that happens in you when you feel like you saw you do it. Exactly, man. And that's all somebody needs to, like, be the match that lights a fire up under them. And so, you know, we are extremely proud of you for that, man. And I know that's got to be a crazy feeling for you to have the flag and your daughter, just that that moment. You got to have it framed somewhere. So, you know, that picture's got to be hanging up in the crib. Are you kidding me? You know what happened?

1:01:09It's great. It's crazy, too, because, like, you say that, man. And one of the best like feelings and moments for me to, aside from, you know, having my daughter be a part of this and like I love when I go back to the hood and and I mean, I live I live in the BX. Right. But when I go back to visit like my grandparents and on Avenue D and seeing people like that I grew up with or that have known me since I was a kid and know what I'm doing now. And they see me still walk in the same streets that I came up on, still, you know, in the same neighborhoods and just like especially kids, man, like they're like, yo, like you still here.

1:01:53and I love and I love for me I love that accessibility that I'm able to offer right um I again like a lot of us didn't grow up with seeing guys that we watch on tv or or this like walking the street like I go to the mall with my daughter I walk through the streets with my daughter and people stop and people you know talk to me and she's like here we go again but it's so But for me, it's so dope, man, because I didn't get to have that. And the fact that I get to offer that to someone else is pretty amazing to me. And that's something I don't take for granted. That's something that I appreciate.

1:02:35And, again, I want to continue doing the absolute most with my platform and with what I'm doing today. And, like, the key is to aspire to inspire, right? and and if i could continue doing that bro like by all means and especially the fact that i get to do it being me yeah yeah um i feel like it's it's the biggest part right like i told myself when i came on this journey like i took a risk as we all know i've spoken about it many times i took a risk i bet on myself and i told myself that like yo if i'm gonna do this i'm gonna do it my way and I'm gonna do it being me and you know like you're gonna hit roadblocks there's gonna be people to tell you no there's gonna be this there's gonna be that but staying true to yourself as you guys know bro staying true to yourself is is is key so I feel like I've maintained that and I'm gonna continue maintaining that for the rest of my days I feel like

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1:04:43O'Shea:In the beginning of your wrestling journey, what was your welcome to wrestling moment? Either a bump that you took that was like, okay, all right, you got me on that one. This is what I'm doing now for the rest of my life. So what was that welcome to wrestling moment for you? uh man i think it was a few years in um i was i was on this like kick uh my boys and i we came up in the same circles and we were pretty much traveling a lot together we came up on this kick where we were like yo we want to pay homage to the guys who came before us from nyc like that that doghouse crew and that that old school crew but also take the reins from them and carve our own path and i remember we were doing that like we started wrestling them a lot uh throughout the the northeast we did a series of matches with the hit squad which was uh dan moff and steve mack old school tag team uh we wrestled homicide and okie we wrestled you know the amazing all these guys and um finally it all culminated in a big match where it was for Jersey All-Pro.

1:05:59And Jersey All-Pro back in the day was like it. That was like Ring of Honor before it was Ring of Honor. And that's where all the all-stars went. And we got to finally wrestle there and wrestle against the guys who were the forefathers of NYC. And they whooped our ass so bad. when I tell you they made us earn it they made us earn it for real but I tell you what after that that was the biggest battery in my back that I needed because after that they were like yup I got it okay

1:06:38O'Shea:that's what it takes and I just got to give a shout out because you mentioned him Pedro Morales he was the people I know we got a lot of younger people But I think our show runs the gamut from older fans to younger fans. But to the younger fans, you've got to understand, Pedro Morales was the first ever WWE Triple Crown winner. He was the first man to ever win the WWF Championship, the Intercontinental Championship. And he and my guy, Bob Backlund, were the WWF Tag Team Champions, albeit for like a day. They beat the Wild Simones, and then they had to give the belts up because Backlund was the world champion and Pedro was the IC champion.

1:07:15And they had a rule back then that you couldn't have two belts, unlike now. So yeah, just to give a shout out and a little history lesson about the greatness that is Pedro Morales held that belt for almost three years. So I just like to throw that out there. That's why you're here. Yeah, man. And yeah, man. And during that time that he was champion, like, you know, in the years of the seventies, I feel like was like a renaissance year for Puerto Ricanos in New York city. Right. It was a huge deal to have a Puerto Rican world champion, But at the same time, like a little history lesson, that's when the salsa music genre started blowing up, you know, with the Hector Laval, with the Willy Colón, with Celia Cruz, the whole Fania All-Stars.

1:08:01Like, it was such an integral era for Boricuas in the city. So, like, we were hitting on all cylinders during that time.

1:08:12O'Shea:I was on fire. That's what's up. Hell yeah. Now, you've been a fan of wrestling for a long time. You know, we love when we have guests that are fans because they remember moments and things like that. Can you tell us when, as a fan, when you can remember the first time or any time where wrestling broke your heart? An example that I use for me all the time is watching Hulk Hogan run the rock over in an ambulance with a semi truck. I was heartbroken. I was like, he's dead. It's over. You know what? Do you remember a time as a fan when wrestling broke your heart? There was two moments and they both have to do with the same people.

1:09:04okay and i feel like and i feel like that is the uh the like epitome of the the era that i grew up in like really watching heavy so the first moment was wrestlemania 12 brett versus sean i was always a brett guy uh growing up because again going back like he was the guy that that really inspired me to be a wrestler because he was like Bret Hart was Bret Hart, right? And he spoke about his family, his values, the way he came from. He represented heavy. And so, yeah, I was always like drawn to Bret and then Sean was just the nastiest. You know what I mean? So, like, I remember that match happening and I remember staying up and just like, I did not move from that television and when the time went out in the iron man oh right i was like all right yeah brett gets brett gets to keep the title i was hyped i was like we good and then gorilla monsoon no jack tunney comes out and he's like yo i think we gotta go to set in death He's like, what the hell?

1:10:22And I was like, yo, what are we doing here? And when Sean gave him the Sweet Cher music, bro, and he, yo, first of all, that was the deepest cover I've ever seen in my life, bro. He made Brett eat his knees, bro. Like he had that, yo, bro, it was so tight, bro. He made sure he wasn't kicking off. He's like, you ain't getting out of this. So I remember, hell no. I remember that breaking my heart. And then another one was Survivor Series 97, bro. Yeah. That'll do it. Bro, I'll never forget. I watched it live and the bell rang. And I was like, wait. He didn't tap out. Like, what's going on here? Like, I knew something was wrong.

1:11:24Like, but then when I saw Brett get up and spit in Vince's face, bro, like, it was like I started crying because I knew something was terribly wrong. Like, something is not right. So, yeah, man. So those are the two moments that broke my heart. That'll do it. For those who aren't aware, we're talking about the Montreal Screwjob. in 1997, which and to this day, you know, there are still people that say that the screw job was was a work. It wasn't a shoot. I don't know if we're ever truly going to find out, but watching the footage of Vince wobbling down the hallway after Brett apparently socked him in the eye socket, it looked pretty real to me.

1:12:13You know, it's still real to me, damn it.

1:12:16O'Shea:Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, yeah. That makes sense. That's amazing. Let's jump ahead in your career a little bit, if we could. Debuted in 2007. Mm-hmm. Started a tag team. And then you guys in 2017, under the name of Santana Ortiz, you made your way to Impact Wrestling. Let's talk about Impact back in those days. And what was it like? Were you hooked up with Conan? You formed LAX, the Latin American Exchange, and you guys were on fire. Back then on fire so much that I believe you held the record, right? 600 plus days as tag team champions. What was it like back then in impact?

1:13:02Well, it was, uh, it was an interesting time, man, because there was so many transitions going on. You know, it went from Jeff Jarrett was the boss. And then from Jeff, it went to Scott, you more, then it went to Antha. There was just a lot of transition going on. But thankfully, we had someone like Conan that, I mean, what better learning tree we could have asked to sit under at that time, especially than Conan's, right? It was an awesome time because, again, we were learning something new and we were placed in this high-level position, not having television experience, not having experience on a bigger stage.

1:13:44and it was almost like that sink or swim feeling and um i'm thankful because if there's anything you know it taught me that like yo when the pressure's on is when i'm gonna do the best and do the most so um yeah it was it was an interesting time but it was a great time man because there was so much learning happening and we got to work and learn from so many other guys that that were there at the time and uh yeah man that LAX run was truly truly special man like we got to travel the world that was the first time that you know we went to England we went to Germany uh got to do cool you know matches and and have cool moments with like the Lucha Bros and stuff like that but um yeah man it was it was an awesome time and again like for me what I take away from that time the most is just the knowledge that I gained, you know, and, um, learning about the business is one of my favorite things.

1:14:41So being able to learn from guys like Conan, guys, like Scott guys, like homicide and everyone that was there at the time, uh, it was a huge deal, man. And us like, also, I don't think a lot of people remember we came in right after the Hardys had left after doing their broken hearty uh run there and they were like the hottest thing they brought so many more eyes back to uh tna and impact at that time so they had left and showed up at wrestlemania that year so we were coming in to fill that spot so having the pressure of having to take over that spot was immense, bro. So, you know, there was a lot of times where me personally, I was like, oh, man, this is rough.

1:15:37But, again, sink or swim and chose to swim, man, and I'm thankful. You know, we spoke about Penta earlier in the show. You guys, you and Ortiz and the Lucha Brothers, Pentagon Jr. and Ray Phoenix. You guys had some classic matches. Let's tell people who weren't necessarily watching at that time or don't know, man. Let's talk about some of those battles between LAX and the Lucha Brothers.

1:16:15Bro, we took that match all around the world, literally. We wrestled each other, I think it was 24, 25 times in one year. so after we did the first initial i think our first ever match against them was in rhode island at a place called beyond wrestling and then that match popped off and everybody started talking about it and then the next time i think it was at uh in la we did it in la and that match was even better and it popped off and then once conan you know got tna to bring them in it was a wrap and I knew right away that we were going to be married to them for a while and like you said man our chemistry with them was like anything I've ever experienced like it got to the point I'll tell you a quick story there was one time we went to England together and we were a part of this tournament it was uh uh what was it it was like the the dream tag team tournament or something like that in england and i remember we weren't scheduled to wrestle each other at all which was surprising um because at that point we had wrestled each other a bunch all over the indies and all tna and stuff so one of the teams that the lucha bros were supposed to wrestle one of the guys got injured uh the day before in the tournament so he wasn't able to have the match the next day so the promoter comes to us was like yo you think you guys could open the show that mind you this is maybe 15 minutes before show starts um yo you think you guys could open the show with the lucha bros um and and uh we just look at each other we yeah right we look at each other we look at the lucha bros and we don't even say anything And we're like, yo, I bet.

1:18:12And I could honestly say us and the Lucha Bros didn't speak about anything other than the finish. And we went out there and had one of the best matches still that I've probably ever had. And I remember a vivid moment of me and Phoenix standing in the middle of the ring before the bell even rang. and the crowd was going ridiculous we didn't even touch each other yeah here we go and the crowd was bro the crowd was bugging and i remember at one point me and phoenix look at each other we go yo we don't even have to do anything we start walking out the ring and uh but yeah and then at one point we we do a crazy spot and all four of us are laying on the ground bro and the crowd was going so crazy that the ring was trembling oh yeah and uh and it was like that moment still lives with me so yeah getting to work with them was awesome and just to see what they're doing now like those dudes i got to go like they took me to their mother's house and where they grew up in like in their hood in mexico those dudes deserve everything that's coming to them everything that they've done they like myself we came from the bottom like those dudes like deserve everything man so i'm proud of them i'm happy with them and and like we still keep in touch we still chat here and there and uh yeah man it's always good times i don't think that story's done yeah you know your past going across again especially with the part and you know something real quick can I ask him something because I like to talk to wrestlers you know entertainers about this your medium is more on film right so you don't get the the immediate reaction of the crowd after they see Den of Thieves but someone like you Mike who's in the ring and you hear that like someone like me I work on a sports talk show right so I'm never going to know what that feels like but share with us man when when when that many people whether it's 500 people or 50 000 people and they're on their feet and they're showing you love and and and applauding you and cheering for you and rooting you on what does like can you even describe what that feeling is like there's no better drug in the world there's there's nothing that could truly take the place of that.

1:20:47And I've been blessed in my career to wrestle in front of 80 ,000 people. And, bro, there's that rush that you get, that adrenaline rush, that, like you said, it's hard to even explain, like, unless you live it, you know? And I'm thankful that I have a job where I get to live that every week. But yeah, man, like it's something that I can't even describe. It's like that it's such a euphoric feeling, you know, the fact that like the crowd, there's nothing like having the crowd in the palm of your hand.

1:21:34Mind you, like we get to do it with movement. We get to do it verbally. We get to do it like in so many different ways. But my favorite, again, is telling stories and getting the crowd invested into what you're doing and taking them on a roller coaster ride, bro. Like that to me, that's that's it. Like and I feel like I've been doing that with the story I've been telling at TNA and yeah. And just get it started, you know. But again, it's a hard feeling to describe.

1:22:06O'Shea:Now, we were talking about Pinta and how you guys are definitely going to cross paths, especially with the partnership that WWE and TNA have been having. But I got two questions about this partnership. Number one, was there ever a conversation? Because the NXT people came in and they was kind of taking belts from TNA left and right. Was there ever like a, hey man, hold on. Your cousin come in that you just met and you're just taking all the toys out the house. Right. Hold on, bro. So what was that like? You know, obviously we know that there's plans down the road and things like that. But is there ever like at least somebody joking backstage of like, hey, it's kind of empty back here.

1:22:55O'Shea:It's cracking. First of all, they're definitely wearing jokes. Everybody was straight. everybody was straightforward and pissed off i'll tell you that especially the guys like you know the original core guys like uh like guys like me guys like uh kazarian i'm sure and moose and kazarian yeah and all these guys like we were like yo we gotta we gotta change this me like this this is not you know what i mean and then this is a little one-sided like yeah and of course you don't like to listen to what other people are saying or whatever but especially not on the internet that kind of gets to you yeah that kind of gets to you too you know what i mean but again i feel like the best thing that came out of it was that it motivated everybody and it and it got everybody like bro the the uh the fire that was lit backstage was like, yo, this is not, we ain't popping off like this.

1:24:00This is not happening. You know, and we all banded together. We were like, yo, we got to do something about it. And yeah, that's when everything started to kick off and we started making more moves on their end. And yeah, and I remember when I first went to NXT, I made a very known, Intrix Face. I was like, yo, we ain't living like this, man. I'm glad that I was the one to do it, man. Because, yeah, man. But, again, it just motivated the hell out of everybody. So I think it did some good.

1:24:38O'Shea:And then the second thing, we've seen this farewell tour of John Cena. and on on this this farewell tour we kind of got word that aj styles will be on a farewell tour himself next year it'll be his his last year now how bad do you need that i know come on i know I need to know bro I again I've been very blessed in my career to have worked with so many different people especially people that I grew up watching guys that I played with their action figures guys that I've you know what I mean like I've been very very blessed um but there's only one dream match that I'm chasing. There's one left for me.

1:25:33And that is AJ Styles. AJ Styles for me is truly like there's no one like him. And I think when he's gone, there ain't going to be no one like him, you know? And the fact that he hasn't been in TNA, what, since 2016? 2015? the fact that he still recognized still to this day after every amazing thing that he's done since leaving the fact that he's still synonymous with TNA and still considered the face in the original homegrown talent of TNA just speaks volumes bro and again the fact that I'm also like in this position as as the face of the company and another homegrown talent uh of tna like i think the story is there the story writes itself and to be able to get in there with him and learn from him and just say that i went toe-to-toe with one of the absolute best in professional wrestling ever is it and if I could do it for the TNA world title in a TNA ring

1:26:55O'Shea:that's it right there I'm going to tell you right now Mike as a co-host and my co-host sitting next to me right here on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast we will pump Mike Santana vs AJ Styles propaganda as many weeks as it takes straight in the vein you know bless ESPN for giving us a platform we will push this propaganda until this match happens here at ESPN so yeah I had a different question Mike but I'm going to pivot because you just said something and it's a question we say tends to ask but we haven't you just mentioned that you're the face of the company so a question that we also do like to ask all the time.

1:27:43We didn't get to you yet, but like that night, we talked about your daughter, Ariana. You went in the title, you know, presenting it to her. But that night, dog, you go back to the hotel, you go back to the crib, wherever you were, and you lay your head down at night and you've got that 20 pounds of gold that's sitting on your shoulder. Shay, go ahead and finish the question because I know it's yours, man.

1:28:07O'Shea:What is it like when you lay your head on the pillow as champion of the world for the first time. First time.

1:28:21It's crazy. It's been, what, two, three weeks since Bound for Glory. And I could still hear the crowd in my ear when I lay down. And, again, it's a moment that's going to be with me probably for the rest of my life. It's my very first world title win.

1:28:50But the feeling is, I'll put it this way. The feeling is I'm just getting started and the work continues. The real work continues. because now like i've said it i've carried my city my culture my family on my back but this time i have a company i have a locker room i have a brand on my back and if there's anything i know about myself is that I thrive in the trenches. I thrive under pressure. And that pressure is just used as gasoline to continue lighting this fire. Because like I said before, if there's one thing that I know about myself is that I'm going to put in the absolute most and do the absolute best.

1:29:55and I said it after my match whoever is coming at me better come with the same fire and passion that I bring because I do not care what three letters you represent I don't care who you are where you come from if you don't come with that same fire and that same passion I'm gonna eat you alive. That's just me being, like you said, that's just me being as real as possible. But going back, what I feel is let's get this pressure. Let's get it. Like I'm, I'm excited. I'm ready to go. And especially being the face of the company, going into this new era of the company and this new path where the company is going is a huge deal.

1:30:44And, um, obviously the company has a certain level of trust to have me in this position and um i embrace it and i and i get that you know i like to i guess you and i both like to throw our own personal stories in but something you said kind of took me back 22 years ago when you were like now it starts right because i can remember i remember the show punked that used to be on mtv yeah okay so at that time i'm roommates with ashton kutcher and so at that night it was a monday it was march 2003 the very first episode of punk came on it was the frankie munoz where they they repossessed his car it was justin timberlake thinking that his house was going to get repossessed punk came out i was at a club called joseph's that monday night and when i tell you the entire club was talking about punk and everyone was like congratulating me even though i hadn't even started working on the show yet and i got home that night and i told kutcher and i was like yo man everybody in the club because you know he didn't go out he was a workaholic and i was like everybody in the club tonight b was talking about punk i'm like it's a hit and i expected him to be real hyped and i never forget he looked at me he was like okay cool well now the work starts because he knew that like yeah getting there was one thing but now you got to work hard you got to keep it and that that was a mentality that I don't know that I ever had until he said that to me at that moment.

1:32:14So it just, what you said took me back and just, I wanted to put that out there. I get what you're saying, man. It's one thing to get there, but now you got to keep it. And everybody's going to be coming for you and that belt.

1:32:28O'Shea:Now, speaking of everything, oh, go ahead. No, that's you. Go ahead. Oh, no. Yeah, man, like, again, the work starts and And I'm just like, I remember when I got back to the hotel, I was the last person. It was me, Bubba Ray, and one of my camera dude friends, his name is David. We were the last three people to leave the Sangha Center. And I was still full of blood. I was still in my gear. and uh i remember getting to the hotel and almost the entire roster was in the lobby celebrating and you know having food and drinks and everybody was chilling i walk in everybody congratulating and um i said what's up i walked past everybody and i went straight to my room and I remember sitting on the bed I put the title down and I sat on my bed and I was like that's exactly what I said to myself I was like the work starts let's go absolutely dude speaking of everybody coming at you we have our number one question on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast you know you've given us your time for a little bit over an hour now so I feel like It's a great time for us to bring up the question.

1:33:58O'Shea:Now, it's a scenario-based question. You in a bar, you in a restaurant, whatever location it is, there are 50 dudes in this location that got problems with Mike Santana. They don't want you in there. I need you to pick a team of you and four other wrestlers to make sure that the champ is getting to the car and back to the room safe. Back to the BX. and these could be wrestlers from any era, anytime, Mike. First off, I'm going to let y 'all know real quick, I'm spitting two blades out of my mouth. Are we going to work?

1:34:40So buck 50s, everybody's getting a buck 50. A yard and a half. A yard and a half. Yeah, everybody. Mike, that is the first time we, by the way, the first time anyone's ever said they're going to give somebody a buck 50. Yo, listen, I'm spinning those two blades down and we're going to work. But, man, so I'll keep it simple. I won't go too far ahead. I'll keep it simple. I'll say my boy Josh Alexander is one of them. Okay. Okay. The walking weapon. You don't get a name like that for no reason. I mean, that's for real.

1:35:22My boy Steve Macklin is another one. Oh, yeah. You know, that's a former Marine there, so I feel good about that. Yeah, he's biting faces for sure. I would say Moose.

1:35:39O'Shea:Yeah, solid. Yeah, that's a big dude. That's a big dude. That's one more. Damn. And I'll say Eddie Edwards. Okay. Solid. Solid. Yeah, those four, honestly. And I mention those four because I will say that we've kind of been in situations where shit almost popped off. Oh, let's talk about that. Let's talk about it. And we all just give a look and we're like, I agree. Let's get it. Are there one of these stories you can legally share with us? i mean uh nah i mean and mind you they happen in separate occasions like i i'd say i had a moment with you know moose eddie edwards like in england at one point there's you know josh and steve i feel like we just all have a common mindset of like we just give each other a look and it's like there's go time and um but yeah like i would i wouldn't say specific you know whatever it's just moments that we were like, yeah, if it gets rowdy, then we get rowdy.

1:36:57Time to get busy with it. After what I saw with her taking some thumbtacks, you picked Eddie Edwards. I might say you might want Alicia, too, because a few weeks ago. First of all, I've known Alicia over 10 years. I know where she comes from, and she bought it for real. I'll put it that way. I get the feeling about Alicia that she's about that much. Yeah, she bought it for real. And she don't care you man or woman. She getting busy.

1:37:33Let me ask you this, Mike. You know, we have and don't tell everybody about this because I don't give the keys to everybody. I'm going to let you know. We got our own time machine here at No Contest Wrestling. Doc Brown from Back to the Future hooked up the LeBaron and the DeLorean. Why did I say LeBaron?

1:37:52O'Shea:LeBaron? It's a DeLorean. I don't know why I said, I think LeBron was on my mind for some reason. The DeLorean. Chrysler LeBaron, though, that was the move back in the day. We got a DeLorean, right? It's a little time machine. No big deal. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to give you the keys, right? And I'm going to give you a chance to go back in time to have five main event caliber matches with any wrestler from any time period in your LeBaron slash DeLorean. Who are you going to travel back to? Either go back to their time or bring them forward to this time. You get five matches. Main event caliber.

1:38:34Woo. Terry Funk. Oh, forever. Yeah. Forever. Bruiser Brody. Oh, man. You want to go to bed sore that night. I mean, we're going to work. Eddie Guerrero.

1:38:55O'Shea:Okay. Of course. So that's three, right? That's three, yep. Bret Hart, of course. I was waiting for that one. And, man, I got one more.

1:39:21I'd say Pedro Morales

1:39:23O'Shea:I was kind of thinking that right mainly mainly just to to feel that atmosphere during his time of him being on top as a Boricua in New York City at the Garden. He sold the Garden out many, many, many times. Yeah. Yeah, so just to live that and experience that, for sure. And he doesn't have to say AJ, because we're going to get that. Yeah, we're getting that. That's coming. That's next year. We're going to see that match. Absolutely. No, I don't need a time machine for that one. That's what I'm saying, right? so Terry Funk, Bruiser Brody Pedro Morales, Eddie Guerrero and the hitman Bret Hart I like that buying tickets to all five of those I'm hoping maybe we might get a comp ticket from our boy the champ we'll see how that goes either way man Mike dude this has been a great interview man I hope you have fun with us I hope we treated you right man there's so much more we could discuss too man but next time we get you we'll go down to that And I don't be rocking people's shirts when I interview them.

1:40:44O'Shea:Come on, man. Come on, man. I got you right here. Oh! Push that out. I got you, dog. Appreciate it. He saved me, man. That's the homie. That's right. Because like I said, Mike, I had a drink in my hand and I couldn't quite get over the barricade that comes. So thankfully, you saved. Yeah, you fool shit. You saved my brother. You know what I mean? Mike Santana, y 'all, make some noise. The championship.

1:41:14O'Shea:There you have it. Mike Santana. World champion. World champion. That's how we do here. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I mean, not always, but. Yeah. That was nice, dude. That was dope, man. I feel like Mike's the type of cat that I want to sit around and chop it up with for real. Yeah. You know what I mean? Does he feel the real? Feel the real. You know, and like I said, just New York cats are different, man. Yeah. They really are. So he spit two razor blades. Yeah, but somebody getting buck 50, or I guess that's a 300. My God. That's good math, TJ. Thank you. And I ain't good at math. For those that don't know what a buck 50 is, well, we're on the Disney platform now, so I'm not going to tell you, but you Google it.

1:41:55You don't want no parts of it, is all I'm saying.

1:41:57O'Shea:How about that? Have you ever seen Above the Rim with Tupac? He keeps a blade in his mouth, and that's for protection. Yeah, so that's fun. You don't want no parts of that, folks. You really don't. Yeah, TJ, that was a good episode, man. Yeah, that was fun, bro. That was fun. We got to head out of here and catch us on Monday Night Raw. I just want to remind everybody that the Dodgers, that the Dodgers are your back-to-back World Series champion. And our pal, CM Punk, is your World Heavyweight Champion. Come on now. And you want to know something else? You want to know something else? What's that, B?

1:42:37O'Shea:He is still your AEW world champion. That's right. That's history. That's history. You know, and speaking of which, you know, we can talk about, you know, the picture going around. You know how our people are on the Internet. Now you have half the people. Blacks? Well, no, just wrestling fans. Okay. Yeah. Wrestling fans. You know, that picture that Punk put out of MJ and Cody. Yeah. You know, but here's the deal. You can play that on both sides of the fence, right? You can go over to ADW and say, well, look, there was a point where their champions were all, you know, you guys who are so caught up in this.

1:43:15It's okay, guys. It's fine, bro. It's okay to like all different types of wrestling. It's okay to like both companies. It's okay to like New Japan. It's okay to like Ring of Honor. It's okay to like CMLL and Triple R. By the way, even Paige said that he and Chelsea Green are that. the triple uh mixed tag champions and i had never heard anybody call a triple uh like that before so yeah man like well man my niece is calling me right now i know that means she wants some money uh so i'm gonna decline this call uh black people but yeah man it's uh wrestling it's it is what it is man you either get caught up in that stuff or you just enjoy what you're watching i guess hey listen of all people to take a job

1:44:03O'Shea:kind of funny. It's kind of funny. Anyway, guys, you know where we at right now, but TJ, can you tell them where to find us? Oh, I sure can. Listen, if you want to follow us on social media, here's where you can do it. And make sure when you get to all these places, you subscribe or you follow or you like. You know, you do all that. But on Twitter slash X, there's no contest. On Instagram, no contest wrestling podcast. On TikTok, talk no contest wrestling pod and of course you go to youtube you type in the rich eisen show you can find all of our videos from cm punk episode one to this episode with the tna world heavyweight champion mike santana and everything in between that's right man uh from my co-host tj i am o'shea jackson jr make sure y 'all have a good day but not too good because who the hell do you think Thank you, TJ.

1:44:56O'Shea:Both rocking fours today, I see. Oh, yeah, bro. What'd you say? May the fours be with you? Yeah, you see what time it is. Hey, man. Love you, bro. My man. See you guys next week. I'm sure it's going to be a great episode. I don't have a guest yet, but we will. Yeah. Yeah. Once again, congratulations to the Dodgers. Your back-to-back World Series champions. Have a good day, y 'all. Konnichiwa, bitches. Bye, Miss Parker. Bye, Miss Parker.

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