Mike Santana, aka Mark Sanchez, made his WWE debut on May 27, 2025, on the developmental brand NXT at Battlegrounds and defeated Tavion Heights in his in-ring debut two days later.
He is a proud father to his adorable daughter, Ariana, and is focused on repairing his relationship with his family.
Highlights
- Mike Santana has kept his personal life private, including details about his marital status or the identity of his daughter Ariana’s mother.
- He openly shares his love for his daughter, and his focus remains on rebuilding his family relationships, particularly with Ariana.
- Ariana’s heartfelt Christmas wish played a crucial role in his decision to seek sobriety and repair their relationship.
Mark debuted in professional wrestling in 2007 and worked on the American independent scene for several years.
He formed a tag team with Angel Ortiz, known as EYFBO, and won titles, including the AAW Tag Team Championship, the CZW World Tag Team Championship, and the HOG Tag Team Championship.
He debuted with a ring name, Santana, as a member of The Latin American Xchange (LAX), alongside Angel, in Impact Wrestling on March 16, 2017.
Similarly, Santana and Angel debuted for All Elite Wrestling, attacking the Lucha Brothers and Nick Jackson on August 31, 2019. He changed his name to Mike Santana in AEW.
On April 20, 2024, Mike returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (formerly known as Impact Wrestling) and defeated Steve Maclin at Rebellion.
Mike Santana Hasn’t Talked Much About His Baby Mother
Mike Santana embraces a deeply personal role as a devoted father to his daughter, Ariana, outside the wrestling world.
He kept much of his personal life private, including details about his marital status or a potential wife, but has openly shared his love for fatherhood and the special bond he shares with his little girl.
Mike opened up about the joys and challenges of raising his daughter in an interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard.
One of the key aspects of their relationship is maintaining an open line of communication, which he believes is crucial, especially as she grows older.
Just maintaining and building that open line of communication, especially the older she gets. I think it’s very important, especially with girl dads, to maintain that because I feel like when kids get older, they start to push away from their parents a little bit, rebel, and go through different things. But for me, I’ve always did my best to maintain that open line of communication, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation may be, especially with her. I’ve always included her in the conversation.
Mike Santana
Mike’s approach reflects a modern, hands-on parenting style, where he prioritizes honesty and emotional availability.
His dedication to ensuring Ariana feels heard and understood speaks volumes about the kind of father he strives to be.
Beyond their strong communication, he also takes immense joy in watching his daughter explore the world around her.
He described her as highly observant and curious, traits that have led her to some profound realizations at a young age.
His social media occasionally offers glimpses into their bond, whether it’s playful moments or heartfelt messages celebrating her milestones.
Despite his openness about fatherhood, Mike has remained tight-lipped about his romantic relationships. There is no confirmed information about his marital status or the identity of Ariana’s mother.
Whether he is married, separated, or co-parenting, Mike has chosen to keep that aspect of his life private, focusing instead on his career and his role as a dad.
What a moment. As a kid, wrestling figures were my life. I never thought that one day I’d not just have my own, but have my kid be able to say that her Papi was immortalized in plastic. Truly a special moment.
Mike Santana
Mike Santana’s Step Towards A Better Future
Professional wrestling is an industry built on larger-than-life characters, breathtaking athleticism, and unforgettable moments.
A darker world, filled with substance misuse, addiction, and devastating losses, exists beneath the glamour and spectacle.
1 YEAR SOBER. #ADayAtATime pic.twitter.com/6Hlg6WwlED
— Mike SANTANA🇵🇷 (@Santana_Proud) February 16, 2024
Wrestlers have fallen victim to the vicious cycle of self-destruction for years, and many have paid the ultimate price.
Mike found himself dangerously close to becoming another cautionary tale, but through the love of his family, he saw the strength to step toward a better future.
Growing up in an environment where addiction was frequent, he was no stranger to the temptations that have derailed countless careers. As his addiction worsened, he became a ghost in his family’s life.
I would leave home, and I’d be out for a few days. I was usually the one that took my daughter to school and stuff in the morning. So when I wasn’t showing up in the morning, then she’s like, ‘Whoa, what the hell is going on?’
Mike Santana
His relationship with his grandmother, Raquel, grew strained and was inconsistent in the life of his young daughter, Ariana.
Mike convinced himself that Ariana was too young to understand what was happening. He assumed she was oblivious to his struggles, that she was just a kid caught up in her world.
However, children see more than others realize, and Ariana knew the absence, instability, and pain.
During the holidays, when Ariana wrote her Christmas list that year, the professional wrestler expected the usual presents, but her list was a plea that left him shattered.
She just wanted her dad to stop and be back.
Around the same time, his grandmother, Raquel, sent him a heartfelt text, a letter begging him to find himself again.
Raquel wasn’t just any family member; she was the reason Mike fell in love with wrestling in the first place.
She had bought him his first wrestling action figures, nurtured his passion, and inspired him to chase his dreams. His very ring name, Santana, was chosen in her honor.
Her words, combined with Ariana’s heartbreaking wish, became the turning point.
Mike has since opened up about his journey to sobriety, acknowledging the pain he caused and the work it takes to rebuild trust.
Every match, every promo, every moment in the ring is a step toward proving himself as a father, a grandson, and a man determined to break the cycle.
Additional Information
- 34-year-old Mike Santana was born on February 4, 1991, in New York City, New York.
- His mother sold drugs for a living, and his father passed away unexpectedly on New Year’s Day 2020.
- He trained in professional wrestling under Magic.
- He stands 178 cm tall and weighs approximately 89 kg.
