Tito Santana Says WWE’s New Regime Treats Wrestlers Better Than the Old One

WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana didn’t hold back during his appearance on VOC Nation’s Wrestling with History podcast, sharing his candid thoughts on how wrestlers were treated during his era compared to today. According to Santana, the new regime in WWE is taking better care of talent—especially when it comes to pay.

“They weren’t very nice [to us],” Santana said, reflecting on his time in the business. “I’m doing okay, thank God. I had another career, and I didn’t blow my money away. But so many of my friends, you know, were just left in the dust.”

Santana, a staple of WWE from the early ‘80s through the mid-‘90s, revealed he made the rare move of giving Vince McMahon his notice in 1993. “Not too many people give Vince their notice—I gave Vince my notice in ’93,” he said, reflecting on his decision to walk away from the company.

Santana also weighed in on his time under McMahon’s leadership, admitting he believes his contributions were undervalued. “Should Vince have done a lot more with Tito Santana? I feel like, yeah. But I could have also done a lot worse without Vince McMahon. I appreciate everything he did. I was there longer than anyone else… I got there before Hulk in 1983, and I was there when he left.”

Despite his appreciation for McMahon, Santana pointed out significant financial disparities between then and now, particularly when it came to merchandise earnings. “I think we should have gotten paid more than what we did, especially for our merchandise,” he noted, before making a bold statement about WWE’s new leadership. “This new company is paying us more than what the WWF was paying us. They could have taken [better] care of the boys, but I don’t really hold any grudges.”

Tito Santana’s take on WWE’s evolving pay structure paints a stark picture of how far the industry has come—and how much was left on the table for legends of the past.

What do you think about Tito Santana’s take on the changes in WWE’s pay structure? Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below!