Prichard confirms Tito Santana was possiblity for WWF Champ

[héad.casé]

"Well considering that the only people discussing it were Vince, Pat and myself at that time, yeah Tito's name was brought up as someone possible because when you look at the roster, we were looking for someone that was dependable and someone that the audience knew and respected that you can look at and say, 'OK, here's your new champion'. Tito's name was discussed, and Bret got the nod coming off a European tour and the incredible response that he had received over there, but to say that Tito's name was discussed, absolutely it was."

"It was because of his status in the company. He had been there that long. He was respected by the talent, and he was respected by the audience."

"We were looking at a few different guys. We were looking at the talent roster. 'Who could do it? Who could fill that role?' There were a lot of different names that were discussed, Tito's being one of them."

Source: Something to Wrestle With

[BorneAgain]

Heenan: Well that makes sense, Monsoon. With him as champ the WWF could do mainstream cross promotion with his sister Arriba McEntire.
Monsoon: I'll have you thrown out of here!

[Allie Kitsune]

The thing is, while I'm sure PLENTY of names had been _considered_ or brought up, does it really matter in the end if they never get the nod?

[Hulk With A Mustache]

Not surprised considering how thin the roster was in 1992 (I'm assuming 1992 since he mentioned Bret getting the belt).

[Feargus McReddit]

May 31, 2020 7:27:52 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

The thing is, while I'm sure PLENTY of names had been _considered_ or brought up, does it really matter in the end if they never get the nod?

Yeah, like, this sounds like it was just a conversation where they listed a bunch of names and then said "Yay" or "Nay" or placed them in certain spots.

Prichard saying it comes off like they went "We considered it, guys!" when it was possibly them just going "Tito" and the group going "Great midcarder" and moving on.

[XIII]

Bruce has excellent hearing for a guy whose head is always right up Vince’s ass.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Well that confirms Tito’s stories about it being between him and Bret.

[héad.casé]

If it was just Vince, Bruce and Pat deciding on the next champion, I wonder which of the three it was that went to Tito and said “It’s you or Bret” or if none of the three told him, how Tito found that out.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2020 7:27:52 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

The thing is, while I'm sure PLENTY of names had been _considered_ or brought up, does it really matter in the end if they never get the nod?

Especially since Tito ended up being a guy who lost a lot more than he won when the company took off. Nowhere near as bad as Koko B. Ware, but it was hard to take Santana legit as a threat to heels since you knew he was going to lose. He only beat his former Strike Force partner, Rick Martel, once in a King of the Ring tournament final; every other encounter was a Martel victory.

Speaking of which... since this is around 1992 we're talking about and Tito was saddled with "El Matador" as his gimmick, I don't think the crowds would have bought into him as champ given how many years of losing hurt his value. This man also had the Reverse Streak at WrestleMania; 7 straight losses. So, I just don't buy Bruce here.

[BorneAgain]

May 31, 2020 9:48:29 GMT -5 @jdogindy said:

May 31, 2020 7:27:52 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

The thing is, while I'm sure PLENTY of names had been _considered_ or brought up, does it really matter in the end if they never get the nod?

Especially since Tito ended up being a guy who lost a lot more than he won when the company took off. Nowhere near as bad as Koko B. Ware, but it was hard to take Santana legit as a threat to heels since you knew he was going to lose. He only beat his former Strike Force partner, Rick Martel, once in a King of the Ring tournament final; every other encounter was a Martel victory.

Speaking of which... since this is around 1992 we're talking about and Tito was saddled with "El Matador" as his gimmick, I don't think the crowds would have bought into him as champ given how many years of losing hurt his value. This man also had the Reverse Streak at WrestleMania; 7 straight losses. So, I just don't buy Bruce here.

I almost sort of wish the WWF had gone harder on trying to pretend El Matador and Tito Santana were different people in order to build up the former's credibility.

Vince: And there he is, El Matador making his way down to the ring.
Piper: Hold the phone, that ain't no El Matador, that's Tito Santana!

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

So his name was brought up? Okay, cool then. Doesn't mean he was seriously considered though, just a name in the hat tho i'm sure with Tito hearing that it brightened up his whole day and thought he was a finalist instead of a candidate on the list

[jason1980s]

May 31, 2020 11:14:35 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Vince: And there he is, El Matador making his way down to the ring.
Piper: Hold the phone, that ain't no El Matador, that's Tito Santana!

Piper was a horrible commentator. All about getting himself over especially at someone's expense who he may not have liked. I'm sure he disliked Tito in the 80s. You know, "kayfabe" and all that where Piper thinks he's really this mega heel and it's all still real to him damn it.

[petef3]

The only people I know of who are trying to claim it was "between Tito and Bret" are the ones trying to shoot the story down. No one, including Tito himself, has claimed that it was a last-minute, eleventh-hour decision between the two of them. Tito was one of a few names on the list, nothing more...but nothing less, either.

[lildude8218]

Tito was supposed to win the title but he no showed the event. Then Vince was talking to Hogan and Bret happened to walk by. Hogan said "what about him?" and Vince went with it.

[Hit Girl]

His name came up because Vince confused him with someone else.

[Hulk With A Mustache]

Here's the thing: I'm sure his name was considered, but I'm also sure that they realized that Tito wouldn't make a credible champion. He was a bit of a jobber to the stars at that point, and they had a more credible guy in Bret Hart. So, he may have been considered; but they weren't seriously gonna give it to him.

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

Bret Hart had not long before main evented Summerslam, granted it wasn't headlining if it wasn't in England, but the same event had Santana job to Papa Shango (that didn't even make it onto the US PPV I think).

I think that tells you where Hart and Santana's careers where at that point

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

May 31, 2020 13:59:45 GMT -5 I'm Team Bayley and Indi said:

Bret Hart had not long before main evented Summerslam, granted it wasn't headlining if it wasn't in England, but the same event had Santana job to Papa Shango (that didn't even make it onto the US PPV I think).

I think that tells you where Hart and Santana's careers where at that point

It may not have mainevented if it was a US PPV, but make no mistake the majority of those 82,000 tickets were sold on the back of Bret/Davey.

[WoodStoner1]

Still find it hard to believe, as Tito was on job duty since the Strike Force breakup. And around this time he had been El Matador for awhile too, yes?

In other words, all due respect to Santana, who was extremely talented, but it would be like a Jinder reign.

[metylerca]

May 31, 2020 12:55:58 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

His name came up because Vince confused him with someone else.

His name came up because they were reading a list of the roster.

Nailz came up too. As did both members of the Orient Express.