Cruz Montana says he understands Grayson Waller’s anger on NXT: ‘I had opportunities taken from me’

CM Punk reacts to Grayson Waller's WWE NXT return

Cruz Montana (fka Mike Santana) responded to Grayson Waller’s comments on the latest edition of NXT acknowledging his frustrations while defending the legacy and significance of his time as a former TNA World Champion. 

Montana sympathized with Waller expressing how he has been on the other side of things on Busted Open Radio and being targeted as a former TNA representative. 

“I’m always someone who will give props where they’re due. I was in his shoes before, I was pissed off at the world. I had opportunities taken from me. I had a ceiling put on me, I get it.”

“So I’ve got to give him props for speaking his mind, but you don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve been through. You don’t know what I’ve gone through to get here.”

“That little shot that he took about being TNA World Champion, Bully (Ray), you’re a former TNA World Champion. You know the history and the weight that title holds. Name after name after name after name.”

“For me to be among those names, to have had the opportunity to carry the brand that is TNA… TNA means a lot to me, TNA was the first place that gave me an opportunity to grow on a main platform. I’ll do anything for that place.”

Despite competing on NXT over the past year given the brand’s partnership with WWE, Montana officially joined the roster last week. He addressed fans on the July 28 edition of the weekly program highlighting his career and ambitions in the promotion. 

Rosanne Raphael
Rosanne Raphael

Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.

Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.

When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.