Tito Santana has opened up about the mistreatment of stars under the old WWE regime.

The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with VOC Nation’s Wrestling with History podcast. He discussed things such as signing a new legends deal with the company, appearing at Saturday Night’s Main Event and more.

Discussing how the old management treated its stars, Santana claimed that they were not very nice. He noted how a lot of talents from their time went broke because of poor financial management:

“They weren’t very nice (to us). I’m doing ok, thank God. I had another career, and I didn’t blow my money away. But so many of my friends, you know, were just left in the dust… I gave Vince my notice – not too many people give Vince their notice – I gave Vince my notice in ’93.”

• Tito Santana Reveals Which Match Stood Out The Most In His WWE Career

We Should Have Gotten Paid More: Tito Santana

Tito Santana had three different runs with WWF through his active years. The longest of the three runs lasted from 1983 to 1993. During this time, he became the first Mexican American wrestler to win the Intercontinental Championship.

The wrestling veteran also wrestled in the opening match at the very first WrestleMania from MSG in 1985 where he defeated The Executioner.

Speaking about his time in the company, the 71 year old claimed that the officials should have paid them a lot more than what they got:

“Should Vince have done a lot more with Tito Santana? I feel like, yeah. But I could have also done a lot worse without Vince McMahon. I appreciate everything he did. I was there longer than anyone else… 

I got there before Hulk in 1983, and I was there when he left…Him and I were the only ones that were there for Wrestlemania one through nine…I think we should have gotten paid more than what we did, especially for our merchandise. 

This new company is paying us more than what the WWF was paying us. They could have taken (better) care of the boys, but I don’t really hold any grudges.”

Santana also revealed that the new WWE management had tried to bring him in for appearances on multiple occasions in the past but he had declined the offer.

WWE Hall Of Famer Tito Santana was recently interviewed by ESPN to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Santana discussed which match stood out the most to him in his WWE career, his life now after professional wrestling, and the transition he’s made from a wrestler to a schoolteacher. You can check out the highlights here:

Which match stood out in his WWE career:

“It was probably when I wrestled Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine in Baltimore. I had been chasing him for the Intercontinental Championship, and finally I beat him in a cage match and there were maybe only 18,000 people at capacity, but it was sold out. The ‘pop’ that we got when I won the match was just unbelievable.”

His life after professional wrestling:

“I’m a schoolteacher. I’ve been teaching school, this is my 21st year. I’m a Spanish teacher in the middle school here in the town that I live, in Roxbury, New Jersey. Then, a couple of weekends a month, I go and I make appearances and once in a while, believe it or not, I still get in the ring. I don’t do much in the ring, but I still like to lace up the boots and get out there.

“It doesn’t get old to hear the response from the wrestling fans because they appreciate the work that you did. That’s what you know, with the applause and the cheers for you. It never gets old to hear the applause. In the small shows, you get to meet the wrestling fans and they always bring up moments that they remember.”

Transitioning from a professional wrestler to a teacher:

“I retired from the WWF in 1993 and I tried – me and Sgt. Slaughter tried – to run a league out of Chicago for a year and then it folded. Then I was doing independent shows. In the independent market you could wrestle Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and still make a pretty good living on those three days, so I liked that routine. I started subbing because I didn’t have anything else to do in the middle of the week.

“So, I started subbing for two years and in my town, they offered me a gym position. One thing led to another and I kind of didn’t — I used to come home exhausted being a gym teacher and I had my Spanish degree, so I talked to the guy hiring in town and he said, ‘Well, we have four openings.’ So I came into the classroom and I really enjoy what I’m doing now. I’ve been doing it for 16 years, Spanish.”

You can read Santana’s full interview with ESPN by clicking this link here.

– WWE Diva and Total Divas star Natalya will be taking part in a Twitter Q&A tonight at 8:30pm EST. on the official WWE Twitter page. You can submit questions for her at @WWE.

– The latest edition of Sports Illustrated’s “Where Are They Now?” features a profile of WWE legend Tito Santana. You can check that out at SI.com.

– In the latest Tough Enough Digital Extra, which you can watch below, the contestants are challenged on their WWE history knowledge.

https://youtu.be/YYU6O-HskQM

• KEN SHAMROCK Talks About BEATING UP Big Show & JBL BACKSTAGE In WWE!

The official WWE website has a new poll up for a future episode of the WWE Network original series, “WWE Countdown.” The poll asks for fans to vote on who they feel the “most royal Superstar in history” is.

The options for the poll are as follows:

– “The King of Harts” Owen Hart
– King Booker (Booker T)
– “Macho King” Randy Savage
– Don Muraco (WWE King of the Ring 1985 Tournament winner)
– Jerry “The King” Lawler
– “The King” Harley Race
– Sheamus (WWE King of the Ring 2010 Tournament winner)
– “The King of Kings” Triple H
– Tito Santana (WWE King of the Ring 1989 tournament winner)
– William Regal
– “The Billion Dollar Princess” Stephanie McMahon
– Bret Hart (King of the Ring 1991 and 1993 Tournament winner)
– “King of Wrestling” Jim Duggan
– Bad News Barrett
– King Mabel

You can cast your vote for the poll at WWE.com.

– Hulk Hogan teased during a recent WWE App interview that he may be appearing on Legends House soon. Whether or not he was referring to the current season, which was filmed back in 2012, or a potential future taping of the series, is anyone’s guess.

– The official WWE website recently ran another ranking article, this time looking at the 25 greatest WWE Intercontinental Champions in history. The top ten of the list reads as follows:

10. Tito Santana
9. Randy Orton
8. Pedro Morales
7. Bret Hart
6. Razor Ramon
5. The Honky Tonk Man
4. Mr. Perfect
3. The Ultimate Warrior
2. Chris Jericho
1. Randy Savage

You can check out the complete list at WWE.com.

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross has once again updated the Q&A section of his website. The following are some new highlights:

On calling the legendary Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat matches: “It was a honor to call them back when play by play was in fashion. Working w/ Bob Caudle was a privilege. Flair & Steamboat were….legendary. I was at right place at right time.”

On if he feels Tito Santana is underrated: “Tito was a great in ring talent. I don’t know who has underrated him. He was a star.”

On whether or not Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania was the match of the year: “Thanks for your take. I have no dog in this hunt. There weren’t an overabundance of great matches in WWE in 2013 IMO ”

On Jeff Jarrett leaving TNA: “I’m not connected to TNA or Jarrett or to what their relationship together was or has been lately. I don’t know what his departure means to TNA. TNA has many fixable issues. I wish Jeff and his family well.”

On the overrun during WWE RAW on Monday’s: “Enhances the TV ratings minute by minute numbers.”

On a dream match at WrestleMania between Shawn Michaels and Sting: “At the right place at the right time it would have been terrific. A main event. The ship’s sailed on that one or so I think.”

On the possibility of the War Games concept being used by WWE: “Highly unlikely. I don’t see it happening. It wasn’t a WWE creation and the blood is a no-no.”

On Drew McIntyre’s future in WWE: “It’s all about the creative and the production and execution of such. Any one can be made to be relevant in the fictional world of pro wrestling.”

On the importance of Steve Austin during the Attitude Era: “In the Attitude Era, it was Stone Cold who was the straw that stirred the drink. But he was surrounded by some great talents as well.”

On the possibility of Brock Lesnar vs. Batista in 2014: “If both are around with enough TV availabilities I’d say it’s possible. It would be a nice attraction.”

On if the Hardy Boys would ever return to WWE: “I’d say never say never but I’d also guess it would likely be a long shot. Sometimes long shots come through.”

Check out more JR Q&A online at JRsBarBQ.com.

– In a landslide, Maxine won WWE.com’s poll asking fans which former Diva they would most like to see return to the sports-entertainment organization. She tabulated 68% of the over 282,000 votes cast, beating such starlets as Stacy Keibler, Trish Stratus and Kelly Kelly. The former WWE Diva, who is now representing herself under her real name, Karlee Leilani Perez, was informed of the poll on Twitter this week and subsequently re-tweeted a number of fan messages complementing her performances for the company as well as messages calling for her return. One such message vouching for her return reads, “the #wweuniverse had spoken they want u back over other #wwedivas u got 68% in the poll. Hope see #wweMaxine ‘s return soon!”

In response to a message insisting that she return, Perez wrote, “I would love to show people what I can really do!”

Perez parted ways with WWE in June 2012 due to her belief that she was not progressing in the company, she subsequently stated in a media interview. Since that time, the 27-year-old has been appearing as a promotional model and actress. She has not appeared for any independent wrestling organizations.

– Tito Santana recently spoke to Brandon Lewis of 1495 Sports at an Impact Championship Wrestling (ICW) ‘The Future is Now’ show where the WWE Hall of Famer reacted to competing at the event, seeing Lanny Poffo and meeting fans. He concludes the interview with his trademark catchphrase, “Arriba!”

– WWE Hall of Famers “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Harley Race, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Hillbilly Jim and Tito Santana, participants in the inaugural Royal Rumble Match in 1988, look back at the event in interviews with WWE.com.

Duggan, winner of the inaugural match, says of his other favorite Rumble, “It was the 2009 Rumble, and I was one of the later guys coming out. I got a good pop, as a lot of the guys from my generation do. Fans remember us, which we are grateful for. I came through the curtain and stormed to the ring and, of course, one of the first guys I roll into and am nose-to-nose with is The Undertaker. When he first came into WWE, I actually contested a lot of his first matches, against him and Paul Bearer. So here I am, face to face, with the big Deadman. I give him a shot, and a shot, and a real big shot and he went down like a big tank hit him. Then, of course, Big Show came down and tossed my a** out, but I shined there for a good couple of minutes.”

– Crush is the latest addition to the Alumni section on WWE.com. All of his personas are acknowledged; third member of Demolition, fan favorite Hawaiian powerhouse turned villain, jailbird, biker thug and his time in World Championship Wrestling. His passing in August 2007, however, is not acknowledged.

– This week’s issue of The National Enquirer features a story on a wedding that took place at a recent Resistance Pro event in Chicago, Illinois.

– Veteran WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia makes her first appearance on SmackDown tonight after being stuck by an automobile in late October.

“I actually had butterflies in my stomach driving up to the [North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina],” Garcia told WWE.com. “After 11 years [in WWE], you’d think this would be old hat to me, but it all feels new again.”

On October 27, 2012 in Los Angeles, California, Garcia was struck by an SUV while she was working out, resulting in head, neck and back trauma. Following a six-week recovery process, she is still undergoing physical therapy three times a week.

“It’s been overwhelming in a good way, and our fans definitely helped pull me through it” said Garcia of the support. “They were the reason I worked so hard with physical therapists and chiropractors to be able to come back.”

– WWE’s former Minotaur-like character, Mantaur, makes his return to the ring tonight for Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s “Fight Mare Before Christmas” event in Metuchen, New Jersey, at SMG Sportsplex. The former WWE star, who is generally retired from the squared circle, will face WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana (billed as El Matador) in a Special Attraction Legends Match.

– WWE will hold a Raw live event in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at Show Me Center on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale next Friday at 10:00 a.m. via ShowMeCenter.biz.

– Speaking to WWE Magazine, CM Punk explains why he tapes up his wrists for every match.

“With taping up my wrists, there’s both an aesthetic and a utilitarian purpose,” he says. “Obviously, I’m big on imagery with Straight Edge. As for X’ing up the current CM Punk, mostly uses red pen—it’s my favorite color. But on the other end of the spectrum, taping up my hands and wrists helps me grip whomever I’m wrestling as well as the ropes. If I have a strained wrist, you’d never know thanks to the tape job. So it’s both functional, and it looks cool. Plus, it takes less than a minute to tape up both wrists, so it’s certainly not a time consuming process.”

– Legends of the Ring has announced they will be participate in the WrestleCon festivities that are taking place WrestleMania weekend 2013 April 5-7 with an event at Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. Names scheduled to appear include The Honky Tonk Man, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Demolition Ax, Demolition Smash, Kamala “The Ugandan Giant,” Mr. Fuji, Ken Patera and Tito Santana. (Event Information)

– Rey Mysterio is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.

– WWE.com has an article up looking at “15 Patriotic Moments We Salute” Hulk Hogan is featured in 5 of the 15 moments, which also include John Cena announcing the death of Osama Bin Laden and WWE’s Tribute for the Troops.

– WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana will be touring Saskatchewan, Canada with High Impact Wrestling later this month on the following dates:

* July 16th – Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium in Yorkton
* July 17th – Victoria Club in Regina
* July 18th – German Concordia Club in Saskatoon

– Here is a preview of tomorrow’s live SmackDown, featuring the Great American Bash battle royal:

— Ultimate Warrior has addressed One Warrior Nation, a rotund wrestler who parades around the independent circuit with the former WWE Champion’s gimmick.

He tweeted this photo of the impostor Wednesday and ridiculed his less than Warrior-like physique, writing, “One tiny favor, warriors. If you ever see me in this condition, kill me. Just fucking kill me. W.”

— Former WWE Superstar Snitsky has resurfaced on Twitter at BiggeneWDF. He closed his previous account last summer following a homophobic outburst toward fans of The Miz—which he claimed wasn’t him.

— Maria Kanellis, Davey Richards, Teddy Hart and Brittney Savage have been announced to appear for Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s five year anniversary shows on Friday, June 1 and June 2 in Rahway, New Jersey. (Event Information)

— WWE Hall of Famer Verne Gagne turns 89 years old Thursday while WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana turns 59.