Cruz Montana didn’t leave TNA because he was unhappy. He left because he got too comfortable. After reaching the top of the mountain as a two-time TNA World Champion, Montana says he knew it was time to chase something bigger—even if it meant walking away from a company he genuinely loved.
Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, the former Mike Santana opened up about his move from TNA to WWE, admitting the decision was far more emotional than many fans probably realized. When Bully Ray asked if leaving TNA had been an easy choice, Montana didn’t hesitate: It wasn’t. Loyalty, he said, made the decision incredibly difficult.
“Honestly, Bully, no, it wasn’t. It wasn’t easy. Loyalty is a big thing. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t an easy decision because, like you said, they’ve done so much for me in my career, and loyalty is a big thing for me, right? Where we come from, loyalty is everything.”
Montana said he always felt he owed TNA something because the company believed in him during the biggest run of his singles career. Looking back, he believes he repaid that faith by helping elevate the promotion before moving on.
“And I felt like I had a responsibility. And honestly, during my time there, I felt like myself, along with the company, we grew together, right? And one thing we’re always taught is you do good business, and you always leave a place better than what you found it. And I feel like I’ve done exactly that.”
But despite becoming one of TNA’s biggest stars, Montana says success eventually became the reason he knew it was time to leave. After winning the TNA World Championship twice, he no longer wanted to stay somewhere that had become comfortable.
“But back to it being a difficult decision, again, TNA was somewhere where I felt comfortable, and I didn’t want to feel comfortable no more, right?”
Bully Ray suggested that once Montana had reached the top in TNA, he needed a new mountain to climb. Montana agreed, saying that’s exactly what he sees in WWE NXT. Even with a new chapter underway, Montana made it clear there’s no bad blood with his former home.
“Absolutely. And again, it was hard because I love that place. I love that place. Genuine love. Genuine love for TNA. One hundred percent.”
Montana also called TNA’s locker room one of the best environments he’s ever been part of, but said wrestling is a business where standing still can hold you back. To keep growing, he believes wrestlers have to keep moving.
“But like you said, I’m very goal-oriented, and I’m trying to grow as much as possible, right? This is… I’ve always said this is a very nomadic sport. You got to move around, right? It’s been done since the beginning of time. And I got to… I’m going to do what I got to do. I want to keep growing.”
In the end, Montana said every major decision in his career comes back to one person—his daughter. More than championships or accomplishments, he wants to make sure she’s taken care of for the rest of her life.
“I want to make sure that my daughter is set for life. I want to make sure that she never has a worry a day in her life.”
For Montana, this was never about escaping TNA. It was about refusing to settle. After winning the biggest prize the company had to offer twice, he decided the only way to keep growing was to leave the place he still says he loves.
Do you think Cruz Montana made the right decision by leaving TNA for WWE NXT, or should he have stayed where he had already become a two-time world champion? Let us know in the comments below.
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