Folks, let me tell you about a story of two wrestlers, Santana and Ortiz, who found themselves at a crossroads, kind of like when you’re deciding between attending a family barbecue or a fancy dinner party. Now, these two were hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July in the wrestling world, making waves and turning heads left and right. They were the talk of the town after their stint with Impact Wrestling came to a close.
So, there they were, sitting down with Chris Van Vliet on his podcast, spilling the beans about how they ended up in AEW instead of WWE. “We had a chat with WWE, and they laid out the red carpet for us,” Santana said. But here’s the kicker, folks – they had already shaken hands with Cody Rhodes over at AEW. In the world of wrestling, much like in life, giving someone your word is as sacred as my grandma’s apple pie recipe.
Now, WWE, they tried to sweeten the deal, promised them the moon and the stars. They even said, “Hey, you won’t have to move to Orlando, you can stay put in New York.” But here’s the thing, Santana and Ortiz, they’re family men, see? They didn’t want to miss their kids growing up, trading bedtime stories for endless nights on the road. AEW offered them something more precious than any title belt – time with their little ones.
Despite never snagging the AEW tag team gold, Santana and Ortiz carved out a legacy that’s about more than just wins and losses. It’s about staying true to your word and putting family first. Ortiz is on the sidelines nursing an injury, and Santana’s moving on to new adventures, but their story is a reminder of what really matters at the end of the day.
It’s like choosing between that family barbecue or the glitzy dinner party. Sure, the dinner might have all the bells and whistles, but at the barbecue, you’re surrounded by folks who know you, love you, and just want to spend some quality time with you. For Santana and Ortiz, AEW was that family barbecue – a place where they could shine in the ring and still be there for the first steps, school plays, and everything in between.
So, as we look back on their journey, let’s remember that in the wrestling ring of life, the choices we make about where we spend our time and who we give our word to, well, they’re the real main event.