Interview Highlights Tito Santana recalls working with a rookie WWE Hall of Famer in his first match, his post-wrestling career as a teacher, Ultimate Warrior's negativity Sep 2, 2008 - 10:03 AM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing Monday Night Mayhem radio with Tito Santana Hosts: Big Mosh, Blade, DFL Available at MondayNightMayhem.com. Tito Santana was welcomed back to The Mayhem, coming off the heels of the sold-out first print of his autobiography, "Tito Santana: Tales From The Ring," published by Sports Publishing LLC. As many of Tito's fans know, he has ventured into the career of education, as he has been an elementary school teacher for several years since retiring full-time from professional wrestling. Mosh asked Tito if it is more difficult gearing up for the first day of school or preparing for a match. Tito's surprising reply was getting ready for the first day of school, because that day is very important/crucial in laying the foundation and the groundwork for how the rest of the year will flow from there. He compares getting ready for a match almost to "riding a bicycle," as after he has done that so many times, it comes natural to him. You would think someone of Tito's stature would have an "star struck" effect on some of the children he teaches. On that subject, Blade asked Tito whether or not any of his students ever wanted to "grapple" with him. Tito has no problem separating Tito Santana The Teacher from Tito Santana The Wrestler. When there is a little down time, Tito takes some questions from his students, and that there is a tremendous respect factor between himself and his kids. He breaks some possible bad news to those parents who want Tito to teach their child/children: You will not get any extra credit/bonus points by wearing an El Matador t-Shirt to class. Tito has seen "an unbelievable response" to his new book, "Tales From The Ring." Over 5,000 copies were sold through the Sports Publishing website, Amazon.com, and several online retailers -- to the point where a second printing should be announced shortly. He believes he is the only person to have copies left of the book, so for those who want to get their hands on a copy and for those who do not want to wait for the second printing through Sports Publishing LLC, you can contact Tito via his official website, www.TitoSantana.net, and order one through Tito directly, or head over to his hair salon in New Jersey to pick one up live and in person! "It's a great feeling to know that the fans still care...I told my wife that as long as the fans don't chant 'You old fart,' I gonna' keep doing it." Tito loves being able to have a one-on-one interaction with his fans at various conventions/appearances/independent events throughout North America. Mosh, Blade, and DFL brought up the archived footage of some of Tito's best matches and moments in the WWE that have recently been seen as part of WWE's 24/7 and WWE's MSG Classics. Between that and YouTube, Tito has been blown away the number of newer fans that he has made long after his retirement from the business and several years after his induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame. He believes that those watching his matches and those of some of his peers can see the quality of the performances and the wrestling vs. some of what people even seen today. He is very blessed and thankful that he was able to perform in front of "the parents," and in turn, is able to also do that in front of "the parents' kids." Generations of families have been able to follow his legendary career, and he considers himself fortunate for that to be the case. Tito is glad that some of the superstars he worked with are still very successful today: including "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. He made a valid point that both guys have been able to give back to the young, up and coming talent, but that such talent as HBK and "The Dead Man" are only able to work with one or two talents at a time. He wishes that there could be more talented individuals willing to give of their time such as them. Tito also is impressed with the work of the current WWE Champion Triple H and "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton, and how they have carried the torch for the fans of today. We are counting down the months to WrestleMania XXV @ Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. Tito has a very fond place in his heart for "The Showcase Of The Immortals," and having the abilities to be a part of the first WrestleMania through the ninth installment at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV. "It does not make any difference who you went up against...The key was to be a part of it. Not everyone was able to be a part of WrestleMania. It was a real honor for me to be a part of the first nine WrestleManias." Tito was honored to be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2004, with some of his fellow long-time colleagues: Jesse "The Body" Ventura, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, Don Muraco, The Junkyard Dog, Big John Studd, Harley Race, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine -- who many classify as Tito's greatest opponent of all-time. Tito is surprised that certain individuals have not been enshrined along with him to this point in time: including "The Macho Man" Randy Savage and Terry Funk. Tito feels that a lot of the superstars he worked with will still get "the call" and join him in the WWE Hall Of Fame, but there will be some individuals who will not get in, simply because of their bad relationship with Vince McMahon. The Ultimate Warrior's recent comeback has been a hot topic of conversation amongst wrestling fans, and Tito had several opportunities to work with The Warrior -- including the 1990 WWE Survivor Series, as he teamed up with Hulk Hogan and The Warrior in "The Ultimate Match Of Survival," against "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and The Visionaries. Tito was very impressed with the way the fans took to The Ultimate Warrior, and in the process was selling plenty of merchandise...almost on the same level and maybe even more than Hogan. The Warrior captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and that catapulted him to stardom as the WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI. Tito believes that with how popular The Warrior was he actually did not even need the IC Title. He gives props to The Warrior, as well as Hulk Hogan for selling out buildings around the globe, despite not necessarily being the best in-ring workers in the company. Unfortunately, he does not respect The Ultimate Warrior for the comments he has made about some of their fellow WWE colleagues and the business as a whole over the past few years. Tito said that The Warrior went from being very humble and respectful starting off, to not being able to handle the success he got/received. Many fans of the late Curt Hennig will be able to re-live some of his greatest career moments and memories next week, as World Wrestling Entertainment will release "The Life and Times Of Mr. Perfect." Mosh mentioned to Tito one of early childhood memories was watching the finals of the WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament, which featured Tito vs. Mr Perfect, and as they say...the rest was history. Tito wanted to add in for the record that he wrestled Curt in his first-ever match, when they were both part of the AWA. Reflecting on Curt's career: "He was a natural...right off the bat...I knew that he really had it." Tito strongly believes that Curt was one of the best superstars ever to work both babyface and heel. He was surprised however at Curt's untimely passing, as he never felt Curt was one of the guys to use drugs or steroids on a regular basis. To close the interview, Mosh and Blade ask Tito if there has ever been any "die-hard" fans of his that have ventured out to "The Garden State" of New Jersey, asking Tito to cut their hair at his salon. Tito again had to break the hearts of some of his fans by saying "I don't cut hair...but there are always wrestling fans that come by." All this and much more in this 40+ minute interview with Tito, including his uncensored thoughts and takes on the passing of dozens of superstars/Tito's colleagues over the years, due to performance enhancing drugs/alchol (and why Vince McMahon is "not a babysitter" for those who were/are in the industry), whether or not a championship belt was truly needed to get certain talents "over" in his WWE run (and whether that is true or not today), to the importance of "taking care of your friends" in the business, whether or not the career longevity of Shawn Michaels surprises him, if he ever sees Bruno Sammartino heading into the WWE Hall Of Fame (and why the WWE will continue to grow, no matter who is inducted into their Hall Of Fame), when he knew it was time for him to walk away, how the professional wrestling has evolved from the '70s and '80s to the "sports-entertainment" of today, and whether or not he would watch Jesse "The Body" Ventura's rumored reality-TV show...Would "Chico" dare watch Jesse "The Judge?" Only on The Mayhem will you find out these answers and much more! 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