Tito Santana
Merced Solis ( born May 10, 1953 in Mission, Texas ) better known as Tito Santana was / is American professional wrestler, with Mexican roots. Contrary to his Mexican origin Solis occurred only rarely in Lucha Libre promotions and preferred the American Wrestling style.
Prior to his wrestling career Solis played as a tight end American football for the University of North Texas State. The quarterback of this team was in the rest of Tully Blanchard, who was also a professional wrestler. After graduating from the university, he had a trial for the Kansas City Chiefs, but was rejected. He played one season in 13 games in 1976 for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League, after which he was wrestler.
Wrestling career
His career began in 1976 in the NWA, where he remained only a year, however, joined the AWA to 1979 and finally came to the WWF. There, he already won on October 22, 1979 WWF World Tag Team title along with Ivan Putski, before they had to give this back to the Wild Samoans on 12 April 1980. In the following years, Solis went mostly back as a single wrestler. On February 11, 1984, he was Don Muraco remove the WWF Intercontinental Champion and then began a feud with Greg Valentine. In September of the same year he defeated Valentine and injured Solis (according to storyline ) at the knee, so that he could take a break.
Solis returned at Wrestlemania 1 and played the opening match of the very first Wrestlemania in which he defeated the Executioner antretenden as Buddy Rose. After his feud with Greg Valentine was resumed and there was a series of different match types for the WWF Intercontinental Champion. On July 6, 1985, Solis won the title in a steel cage match back. After the match, the Intercontinental belt of Valentine was destroyed and a new version was made for Solis. He held the title until 8 February 1986, when Randy Savage was the new champion.
1987 Solis returned to the tag team wrestling when he got Rick Martel as a partner and the team Strike Force was established. On 27 October of the year they defeated the Hart Foundation and were already new WWF World Tag Team Champions. At Wrestlemania 4, however, they had to give the title back to Demolition. The team was disbanded to Wrestlemania 5, where they competed against the Brain Busters. During the match itself Martel turned against Solis, left the ring and thus their feud was rung.
After the Ultimate Warrior had won at Wrestlemania 6 WWF World Champion title from Hulk Hogan, who previously held by this WWF Intercontinental Champion title was vakantiert and reassigned in a tournament. Solis met in the finals on Mr.Perfect, but lost.
After a pause, Solis returned with a new gimmick back. He was now called El Matador and embodied a bullfighter before he left the WWF in 1993. On August 8, 1993, he participated in the ECW, which stood still for Eastern Championship Wrestling at the time, Don Muraco ECW Champion title from, lost that on September 9 but again to Shane Douglas. Thereafter, Solis went to some time for the American Wrestling Federation and served as co-commentator for the Spanish- speaking population in major events of the WWF.
On 10 January 2000, he made a guest appearance in WCW, as he defeated Jeff Jarrett in a match at Monday Nitro. In 2004 he was introduced by Shawn Michaels into the WWE Hall of Fame. Today Solis makes occasional appearances in the independent leagues.
After wrestling
Solis now works as a teacher at Eisenhower Middle School in Roxbury Township; New Jersey. In addition, he runs a hairdressing salon in Succasuna. He is married to Leah and has three sons.
Championships
- World Wrestling Federation
- 2x WWF Intercontinental Champion
- 2x WWF World Tag Team Champion ( with Ivan Putski and Rick Martel )
- 1989 King of the Ring (non PPV)
- WWE Hall of Fame member since 2004
- The only participant in the first 6 Royal Rumble events
- Eastern Championship Wrestling
- American Wrestling Federation
- 2x AWF World Heavyweight Champion
- Other titles