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Update On Ex-AEW Star’s Contract Expiry Amid WWE Interest

By Gaurav Singh • Published Jun 19, 2026 07:38 EDT
AEW WWE
Ex-AEW has interest from WWE (Image via-X/@AEW, @WWE)

A latest report provided an update on when a former AEW star’s current contract will expire, while there is interest from WWE as well. The star in discussion is Mike Santana.

Mike Santana gained prominence during his time in AEW, where he debuted in the company’s inception year in 2019. Santana was in a tag team with Ortiz and also in the popular ‘Inner Circle’ faction led by Chris Jericho. Santana and Ortiz later broke away from the Inner Circle and continued to rise in the tag team division.

However, Mike Santana was no longer in a tag team with Ortiz after a point, and he eventually departed AEW in 2024. Santana later joined TNA Wrestling and became one of the top stars in the company. He is currently the TNA World Champion as well. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old star’s contract is reportedly set to expire soon.

According to a report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Mike Santana’s current contract with TNA Wrestling is set to expire this summer, as his deal will last until mid-July, so he is just a month away from his contract expiration.

The report also stated that there has been interest from the WWE in Mike Santana in the past as well.

At the Slammiversary 2026 pay-per-view on June 28th, before his contract reportedly expires, Mike Santana is slated to defend his TNA World Championship against Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler).

Former AEW star heading to the WWE would not surprise a veteran

While there are rumors of WWE being interested in signing the former AEW star, Mike Santana, the wrestling veteran, Matt Hardy also reflected on Santana possibly heading to the Stamford-based promotion.

Speaking on his Extreme Life podcast, Matt Hardy said that Mike Santana going to the WWE would not surprise him at all, as his goal is to work for the Sports Entertainment Juggernaut. Hardy also believes that most kids’ goal is to work for the Stamford-based promotion at some point:

I mean that, that, that wouldn’t surprise me. I would guess that’s probably Mike Santana’s ultimate goal [is] to work for WWE.

You know, most kids who grew up loving wrestling, their goal is to work for WWE at some point, have a WrestleMania moment, whatever else. That [him going to WWE] wouldn’t shock me at all.”

Only time will tell if Mike Santana will be in WWE.

Also read: 15-Time WWE Champion Announces Exit: “All Relationships Come To An End”