Tito Santana American wrestler Date of Birth: 10.05.1953 Country: USA

1. Biography of Tito Santana
2. Early Life and Wrestling Career
3. Championship Success and Strike Force
4. World Champion and Retirement
5. Personal Life and Current Work

Biography of Tito Santana

Tito Santana, born as Merced Solis on May 10, 1953, in Mission, Texas, USA, is a renowned American heavyweight wrestler and world champion. Alongside the famous Hulk Hogan, he holds a prominent place in the history of professional wrestling. Santana, a member of the American Wrestling Federation, became one of the new symbols of wrestling in the late 80s and early 90s, just when interest in wrestling began to decline.

Early Life and Wrestling Career

Tito Santana, born into a Mexican family, attended the West Texas University where he played football for the local team with limited success. After completing his studies, Santana decided to try his luck in wrestling. By 1976, he had already become a member of the National Wrestling Federation, and in 1979, he joined the International Wrestling Federation. That same year marked his first significant success when he teamed up with Ivan Putski to defeat the WWF champions, the Valiant Brothers, at Madison Square Garden. However, their title reign was short-lived as Santana and Putski lost to the Wild Samoans in 1980.

Championship Success and Strike Force

From 1983 to 1986, Tito Santana had numerous matches, alternately becoming a champion and losing his title in various versions and with different partners. In 1987, Santana formed his own team, Strike Force. During its existence, this team achieved a significant number of titles, largely thanks to Santana's contributions. Moreover, wrestling shows featuring the team and Santana himself revitalized the dwindling public interest in wrestling, with Santana even being compared to the famous Hulk Hogan. Santana also introduced many new moves to wrestling, including one that is now known as the "Santana Loop."

World Champion and Retirement

Tito Santana won his major title in 1989 when he became the world champion in singles competition and was crowned the King of the Ring in 1989. After that, Santana continued his professional career for a short time, although he participated in numerous non-competitive exhibition matches. Following his retirement from sports, Tito Santana, together with his wife, opened a chain of hair salons in Succasunna. In 2004, he was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Personal Life and Current Work

Tito Santana is married, has three children, and currently works as a Spanish language teacher at Eisenhower Middle School in Roxbury, New Jersey.