Add as a preferred source on Google Cruz Montana arrived in NXT with a co-sign from someone who watched a good chunk of his AEW run up close. Jim Ross thinks WWE made a good signing, and that the former Mike Santana has something you can’t teach.
Montana debuted on the 7/21 episode of NXT, coming through the crowd to stare down NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo after D’Angelo retained over Naraku in a street fight. Commentary never said his name, and WWE filed the “Cruz Montana” trademark days later.
One week later, in his first promo under the new name, Montana called out the returning Grayson Waller and was interrupted by D’Angelo. Waller jumped both men from behind, and the show went off the air with Montana having accidentally caught D’Angelo with Spin the Block.
On a recent episode of Grilling JR, Ross said the following:
“I like him a lot. I think they made a good hire. He’s a good guy. Fundamentally sound as hell. But the thing he has, which you can’t measure, is passion. He’s got a lot of passion. He’s self-motivated. He’s living his dream. And I love to see guys that could at least get the attempt to live their dream.
He’s a good hand. Depending on how he’s booked and what kind of creative he’s saddled with, he’s got a chance to really be special. His heritage is a positive. He’s physical. He’s a good athlete.
I spent a lot of time with him when he was in AEW before I started getting sick every f*cking week or two. So I really wish him well. He’s a good guy and he deserves success. He’s certainly paid the price, and he’s just a good dude. He’s one of those kind of guys you hope good things happen for.”
The two go back to Santana’s AEW run. He signed with the company in 2019, teamed with Ortiz as Proud & Powerful, and was part of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle. His last AEW match was a No DQ win over Ortiz on the 10/27/2023 episode of Rampage, and he left when his deal expired in early 2024.
He was back in TNA by that April and became a two-time TNA World Champion, beating Trick Williams for the title at Bound for Glory 2025 and Frankie Kazarian for it on TNA’s AMC debut in January. He dropped it to Nic Nemeth at Slammiversary on 6/28 and hit free agency shortly after.
Ross’ point about booking is already in play. Montana hasn’t had a match under his WWE deal yet and he’s already in the mix with the NXT Champion and Waller, with Heatwave coming up.