It seems the real-life break up of the Proud & Powerful tag team is playing out on ‘X’ as even more AEW backstage issues are being aired in public.
On Rampage last night Mike Santana had this to say in a video message:
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process it’s that you can’t depend on anyone to have the same passion or drive, or hell, to even have your back the same way that you would. But with that being said, the world has been asking all these questions and now the world is about to get all their answers. The road I’ve chosen to take is one that must be taken on my own. No crutch, no crew, straight dolo. Exactly how I like it. All I’ve done all my life is bet on myself but I’ll tell you this I’m not here to be another guy in the game. I’m here to be the guy and I know I’m going to piss a lot of people off but I don’t give a damn. I ain’t here to make friends. I’m here to make money and if you ain’t down, you’re gonna get run down. The nastiest is yet to come.”
“The nastiest is yet to come.”
– Mike SantanaWatch #AEWRampage on TNT!@Santana_Proudpic.twitter.com/l3QElTkYoZ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 9, 2023
Ortiz has responded with this:
What a way to find out years of having your back meant nothing.Good luck without your "crutch" Just remember it helped you walk for the last 14+ years. Hope your legs are good. Thank you for being honest for once. But you couldn't say it to my face?You know you still can, right? https://t.co/KWrXLiCDe1pic.twitter.com/qKBWlqQJvq
— Proud~N~Powerful Ortiz (@Ortiz_Powerful) September 9, 2023
Santana has replied:
https://twitter.com/Santana_Proud/status/1700553305909285328?s=20
Last year, Konnan on his Keepin It 100 podcast expressed his disappointment in the heat between Santana and Ortiz.
“It breaks my heart because I spent a lot of time with them and I’ve said before that they’re like my sons. I heard it almost got physical with Santana and Kingston over this. It’s not a good look, bro. I really hate seeing that these two guys who could have gone to WWE and really f—–g blown up, that they separated. I can see Santana when his contract is up, leaving. Ortiz is very chill and laid back. Santana is more of a hot head,” he said claiming that Ortiz is happy to be paid for whatever his role is in AEW. Santana wants better booking and angles.
In Impact Wrestling the two teamed with Konnan to be part of The Latin American Xchange (LAX). There, they won the Impact World Tag Team Championship four times.
Santana returned to AEW at All In after being sidelined with a knee injury he suffered in 2022’s Blood & Guts match for approximately a year.
On ‘X’ Santana released this statement about his journey back to AEW:
“To say that I knew what the road ahead of me was going to be like when I got hurt, would be totally false. The struggles and battles I’ve overcome to get back to what I love and have dedicated my life to is unimaginable. But the most important thing was that it taught me so much about myself and made me a 10x better person than who I was. I’m thankful that everything from the last 3 and half years happened the way they did. It needed to. Everything from losing my father, to unhappiness at work, to personal struggles, and everything in between. I’m thankful for all those things. They forced me to face me. To look in the mirror and learn to love/appreciate the person looking back. My story will be told eventually. I just want to enjoy this moment that I’ve worked so damn hard to get to. Thanks to EVERYONE who ever reached out. Every message from the fans. All the support from my family. Those who were there during my darkest days. I’II forever be grateful for all of you. NOW LETS GET TO WORK!”
Thank you. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/9yupzdfqKf
— Mike SANTANA🇵🇷 (@Santana_Proud) August 24, 2023
Top Photo: Santana and Ortiz at the Icons of Wrestling Convention & Fanfest on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the 2300 Arena, in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by George Tahinos, https://georgetahinos.smugmug.com.
