Strike Force
Tito Santana and Rick Martel on Their Rise and Their Demise
#PWHS #StorytimeOnSunday #SOS #Article #WGD #StrikeForce #TitoSantana #RickMartel
Tito Santana
"When we first got together, Vince told us we were going to be 'Border Patrol' as our gimmick...
I said, 'Are we going to be babyfaces or heels?' Because this is 1987, '88, somewhere 'round there...they had found a bunch of Mexicans dead in the boxcars at the border patrols...they were coming across from Mexico and a lot of them were dying...
So that's why they went with 'Strike Force', which turned out to be a great run. At the time, tag team wrestling was really popular, it was as big as any of the single bouts..."
Rick Martel
“In a tag team you have to feel supported, that the guy you're tagging with can get the job done. I remember the first day I teamed up with Tito, right away he was an instant hit. Inside the ring, outside the ring. We got along just like two peas in a pod. I could feel comfortable having him beside me. I had somebody that could get the job done. He was a great guy, a really nice guy..."
Tito Santana
"We got along pretty good...I get along with everybody, you know?
We were told immediately that we were going to get the belts. I guess Vince had confidence that we would get over..."
Rick Martel
"Tito's attitude compared to this other asshole [former partner Tom Zenk in Can-Am Connection] was like, man, what a dream. There was no ego involved. We were there for the match...Tito and I were just like that, man [clasps fingers together]"
Tito Santana
"To team up with somebody as good as Rick Martel and the chemistry we had together, it was enjoyable night every time we went out there. The fans got behind us right away, we had a great following and it’s always a good feeling when the fans are behind you, you never get tired of people screaming your name...
Rick Martel is a hard-working man. [He] can't be trusted at all times, but he's a hard-working man. The reason he has been successful is because of his hard work..."
"When we first got together, Vince told us we were going to be 'Border Patrol' as our gimmick...
I said, 'Are we going to be babyfaces or heels?' Because this is 1987, '88, somewhere 'round there...they had found a bunch of Mexicans dead in the boxcars at the border patrols...they were coming across from Mexico and a lot of them were dying...
So that's why they went with 'Strike Force', which turned out to be a great run. At the time, tag team wrestling was really popular, it was as big as any of the single bouts..."
Rick Martel
“In a tag team you have to feel supported, that the guy you're tagging with can get the job done. I remember the first day I teamed up with Tito, right away he was an instant hit. Inside the ring, outside the ring. We got along just like two peas in a pod. I could feel comfortable having him beside me. I had somebody that could get the job done. He was a great guy, a really nice guy..."
Tito Santana
"We got along pretty good...I get along with everybody, you know?
We were told immediately that we were going to get the belts. I guess Vince had confidence that we would get over..."
Rick Martel
"Tito's attitude compared to this other asshole [former partner Tom Zenk in Can-Am Connection] was like, man, what a dream. There was no ego involved. We were there for the match...Tito and I were just like that, man [clasps fingers together]"
Tito Santana
"To team up with somebody as good as Rick Martel and the chemistry we had together, it was enjoyable night every time we went out there. The fans got behind us right away, we had a great following and it’s always a good feeling when the fans are behind you, you never get tired of people screaming your name...
Rick Martel is a hard-working man. [He] can't be trusted at all times, but he's a hard-working man. The reason he has been successful is because of his hard work..."
Rick Martel
"What happened with Strike Force was, after a while, I decided that I wanted to be on my own. I had been in wrestling for several years, and accomplished a lot of things, and Strike Force had done well.
But now I felt that I wanted to go back as a single competitor. I was tired of tag team matches.
So I remember one day I had a meeting with Vince McMahon about it. I said, 'I want to change my style a little bit.'
He said, 'No, no, you guys have a great thing. People like you the way you are...'
So he didn't want me to change. He wanted me to stay with Strike Force.
I was disappointed. I gave them my notice – ‘If you don't want it this way, somebody else will...’
So I gave him my notice, but he didn't take me seriously at first.
He thought I was just bluffing or something. So I guess when he found out I gave my notice and was serious, he called me up and said, 'Rick, listen,' this is exactly what he told me, he said, 'WWF don't need Rick Martel and Rick Martel doesn't need the WWF...'
I walked out on Tito at WrestleMania [as storyline]and two weeks after, [Vince] called me up. Come back and let's talk.' Because I guess the fans' reaction was much bigger, and they didn't anticipate it.
The fans reacted by my walking out on Tito...we created an interest there where they wanted me against Tito..."
Tito Santana
"When Strike Force split up, I asked if I could be the heel, but the plan was already all set for him to be 'The Model'...
Rick Martel
"I remember the first day I came back... people started booing me. It was the first time ever. Whoa, what a different feeling. And funny enough, it felt pretty good.
I walked in there and they started booing me. Of course the return matches against Tito were pretty exciting. My career took off from there as a different kind of style...”
"What happened with Strike Force was, after a while, I decided that I wanted to be on my own. I had been in wrestling for several years, and accomplished a lot of things, and Strike Force had done well.
But now I felt that I wanted to go back as a single competitor. I was tired of tag team matches.
So I remember one day I had a meeting with Vince McMahon about it. I said, 'I want to change my style a little bit.'
He said, 'No, no, you guys have a great thing. People like you the way you are...'
So he didn't want me to change. He wanted me to stay with Strike Force.
I was disappointed. I gave them my notice – ‘If you don't want it this way, somebody else will...’
So I gave him my notice, but he didn't take me seriously at first.
He thought I was just bluffing or something. So I guess when he found out I gave my notice and was serious, he called me up and said, 'Rick, listen,' this is exactly what he told me, he said, 'WWF don't need Rick Martel and Rick Martel doesn't need the WWF...'
I walked out on Tito at WrestleMania [as storyline]and two weeks after, [Vince] called me up. Come back and let's talk.' Because I guess the fans' reaction was much bigger, and they didn't anticipate it.
The fans reacted by my walking out on Tito...we created an interest there where they wanted me against Tito..."
Tito Santana
"When Strike Force split up, I asked if I could be the heel, but the plan was already all set for him to be 'The Model'...
Rick Martel
"I remember the first day I came back... people started booing me. It was the first time ever. Whoa, what a different feeling. And funny enough, it felt pretty good.
I walked in there and they started booing me. Of course the return matches against Tito were pretty exciting. My career took off from there as a different kind of style...”
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
#StorytimeOnSunday - Strike Force.
Author: Matt Pender (of Wrestling's Glory Days).
Published: June 3, 2018.
Article: #198.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
#StorytimeOnSunday - Strike Force.
Author: Matt Pender (of Wrestling's Glory Days).
Published: June 3, 2018.
Article: #198.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Other articles by Matt Pender can be Read Here.