Report: TNA Working Angle Over Mike Santana Not Being Backstage At Turning Point

Mike Santana is not backstage at TNA Turning Point, but that doesn't mean there are legitimate issues between the promotion and the former TNA World Champion.

Mike Santana is advertised to team with Steve Maclin against Frankie Kazarian and Nic Nemeth at tonight's Turning Point TNA+ special. PWInsider has reported, however, that as of 2 pm ET, Santana was not backstage at Turning Point, with the call time for the show being 1 pm ET. Santana was also absent from his scheduled meet-and-greet, and the word amongst TNA talents was Santana had not returned TNA officials' calls or texts.

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, though, the situation is simply TNA working an angle after Santana dropped the TNA World Championship to Frankie Kazarian on Thursday night's episode of IMPACT.

"TNA is trying to work an angle around Santana and the unhappiness from fans. They're claiming he isnt at the tapings and TNA officials haven't heard from him," Sapp posted on BlueSky.

Thursday night's IMPACT was TNA's first live show since the Bound for Glory pay-per-view, where Santana defeated Trick Williams for the TNA World Championship. Santana faced Ryan Nemeth on IMPACT, but the match ended in a no-contest following interference from several NXT talents. The TNA World Title then changed hands after Frankie Kazarian called his shot and pinned Santana in a short match.