TNA World Champion Mike Santana has recently opened up about the one dream match that still eludes him in his professional wrestling career — facing WWE star AJ Styles in a high-stakes title bout. After capturing the TNA World Championship at Bound For Glory 2025, Santana expressed his desire to test himself against Styles, a fellow wrestler he has admired since his early days in the business.
Mike Santana’s Rise to TNA World Champion
Mike Santana’s journey to the top of TNA Wrestling has been one marked by resilience and determination. After years of making a name for himself in tag team competition, particularly as one half of the celebrated LAX/Proud & Powerful stable, Santana transitioned to singles competition with renewed focus. His capture of the TNA World Championship from NXT’s Trick Williams at Bound For Glory solidified him as the new face of the promotion[1].
Santana’s victory was not just a personal triumph but a symbolic reclamation of the TNA World Title after it had been held by an NXT star for several months. With his daughter watching at ringside, Santana overcame the odds to bring the championship “back home” to TNA, signifying his arrival as a top-tier world champion[1][4].
The Dream Match Challenge: Santana vs. AJ Styles
In a recent sit-down interview, Santana revealed that the only dream match left on his bucket list is facing AJ Styles, a WWE superstar and former TNA World Champion widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers worldwide[2][5]. Santana described the dream match as a TNA World Championship bout, emphasizing the personal and professional significance it would hold for him.
Santana said, “I have one dream match left. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with many incredible wrestlers throughout my career, but the one guy still left is AJ Styles. I want to share the ring with him again—this time with the TNA World Title on the line.” This statement underlines Santana’s respect for Styles and his desire to step up to one of the industry’s toughest challenges while proudly representing TNA[2].
AJ Styles: A Common Dream Opponent
AJ Styles is no stranger to TNA. Known as the “Phenomenal One,” he rose through the ranks of TNA before achieving global superstardom in WWE. Many current TNA wrestlers, including X-Division Champion Leon Slater, have expressed similar sentiments about wanting a career-defining match against Styles before their own retirements[2]. Santana’s named challenge contributes to a growing narrative within TNA that reveres Styles as a legendary benchmark for excellence.
A WWE insider hinted on record, “Styles has always been the gold standard for TNA guys who crossed over. For Santana, facing Styles isn’t just a wrestling match—it’s a passing of the torch moment, given their shared history and Styles’ legacy.”
Santana’s Reflection on His Career Evolution
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet earlier in 2025, Santana elaborated on his wrestling evolution from tag team fame to singles stardom. He acknowledged the legacy he built with Ortiz as part of LAX and expressed no regrets about moving on to chase individual greatness[3]. Santana’s recent return to TNA was described as a swift but natural progression toward the world title scene.
He reflected, “We did amazing things as a team. Now I’m continuing to do amazing things for myself. This world title run is the next chapter, and facing AJ Styles has always been on my mind.” Santana’s mindset illustrates a prepared champion ready to embrace career-defining challenges ahead[3].
What the Future Could Hold
While discussions of a match with AJ Styles remain hypothetical, Santana’s open challenge signals potential storyline developments that could create compelling narratives for both TNA and WWE fans. Given Styles’ sporadic appearances outside WWE and his ongoing ties to the industry, a cross-promotional dream match is an intriguing prospect.
Industry watchers speculate that such a bout would not only elevate Santana’s status but also pay homage to TNA’s rich legacy of producing world-class wrestling talent. Santana carrying the TNA World Title against a WWE stalwart like Styles would underscore TNA’s ongoing relevance in professional wrestling’s competitive landscape.
Why This Dream Match Resonates
From a storytelling perspective, Santana’s challenge to AJ Styles has multiple layers:
Generational Passing of the Torch: Styles, a TNA alumnus and multi-time world champion, represents the pinnacle of success for someone like Santana rising through the ranks.
Personal Motivation: Santana sees Styles as a benchmark for greatness, making the match both a professional goal and personal milestone.
Legacy Building: A high-profile match against Styles could cement Santana’s legacy and further elevate TNA’s profile.
Backstage Insights
A backstage source close to Santana revealed, “He’s laser-focused on this goal because it’s more than just a match. It’s a story about perseverance and proving that TNA can still deliver dream moments for its stars and fans.” This insight reflects the significance Santana places on securing the dream match and what it represents for himself and the promotion[2][5].
Conclusion
Mike Santana’s declaration of AJ Styles as his final dream opponent highlights not only his ambition as TNA World Champion but also his respect for wrestling history and excellence. Should this dream match materialize, it promises to be an epic showdown bridging eras and promotions in the world of professional wrestling.
As the landscape continues to evolve, fans will be watching closely to see if TNA and WWE can deliver on one of wrestling’s most eagerly anticipated dream matches — Mike Santana vs. AJ Styles for the TNA World Championship.