Cruz Montana left TNA because he had gotten too comfortable there.
The former Mike Santana explained the decision on Busted Open After Dark, calling it one of the hardest calls of his career and framing it as a growth move rather than a falling out.
“It wasn’t an easy decision. They’ve done so much for me in my career, and loyalty is a big thing for me. Loyalty is everything,” Montana said. “During my time there, the company and I grew together. One thing we’re always taught is you do good business, and you always leave a place better than what you found it. I felt like I did exactly that. TNA was somewhere where I felt comfortable. I didn’t want to feel comfortable anymore.”
He was blunt about what drove the jump, pointing to his daughter.
“I love that place. Genuine love for TNA. That locker room is a special place,” he continued. “This is a very nomadic sport. You have to move around. It’s been done since the beginning of time. I’m going to keep growing. I want to make sure my daughter is set for life, and she never has a worry a day in her life.”
Montana closed out TNA as a two-time World Champion. His second reign ran 164 days and included six successful defenses before he dropped the title to Nic Nemeth at Slammiversary in Boston on June 28. His contract expired on July 15, and he turned up on NXT to stare down Tony D’Angelo six days after that, with commentary pointedly avoiding his name. WWE confirmed the Cruz Montana name on July 27, a tribute to his father, who died in 2019.
No Timetable On The NXT Run
Asked how long he expects to stay on the developmental brand before a main roster call-up, Montana refused to name a number.
“I’m not putting a timetable on anything. I’m here. I’m going to go with the flow. I’m going to harvest as much knowledge as I possibly can, whether it’s six months, eight months, or twelve months,” he said. “Being able to work under Shawn Michaels is a pleasure and a gift in itself. One of the greatest to ever do it.”
That patience is worth noting given his position. Montana arrives at 35 with a world title run and an established name, the kind of signing that often bypasses NXT entirely.
Waller And D’Angelo Are Already In The Way
On Tuesday’s NXT, Montana said he wasn’t in the company to fill a spot but to take one, naming the NXT Championship as the target. Tony D’Angelo (c) came out to welcome him and refused to hand over the position.
The segment came hours after Grayson Waller’s shoot-style opening promo, in which Waller mocked Montana’s TNA run by comparing being the top guy there to being the best basketball player at a local YMCA. Waller ambushed both men to close the show, and in the scramble Montana accidentally connected with Spin the Block on D’Angelo.
All three now have a reason to want the title and a reason to want each other.
