Santana Garrett had three career paths in front of her as a little girl: weather forecaster, elementary art teacher, or professional wrestler. She picked wrestling, and nearly two decades later she’s sitting atop Women of Wrestling (WOW) as one of only five performers in company history to win the WOW World Championship twice.
Garrett, a second-generation wrestler whose father competed on the independent circuit, has also worked for WWE, All Elite Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) during her career. She recently discussed her path with OutKick Dropkick, describing wrestling as a lifelong pull rather than a fallback plan.
“I’ve been in the industry my entire life. I’m a second generation wrestler. My father was a wrestler on the independent scene. I grew up as a fan watching it with him, going to shows,” Garrett said. “When I was a little girl, I knew that I wanted to be a weather girl or a professional wrestler or an elementary art teacher. So, I took the route of professional wrestling and it’s been an incredible journey.”
Garrett trained in her grandfather’s backyard in Ocala, Florida, after growing up watching stars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Trish Stratus and Lita. She said it was her first real workout, in St. Louis, that convinced her wrestling could be more than a childhood fantasy.
Her first WOW World Championship came in 2016, when she pinned The Beverley Hills Babe in a triple-threat match that also included Jungle Grrrl. That title was later vacated after more than 740 days, following a match in which both Garrett and Jungle Grrrl pinned Tessa Blanchard. Garrett went on to lose the belt before reclaiming it years later by defeating Penelope Pink.
Now, with the title back around her waist, Garrett says the win feels different than it did earlier in her career.
“I just recently won the WOW World Championship, which I’m so proud of. I won it once before, but it’s been a very long time and a lot has changed. You can imagine 18 years, you evolve and this time it just feels so different and I love it,” she said.
Garrett said WOW was one of the first major companies to take a chance on her, but admitted she wasn’t truly ready for the spotlight back then.
“I remember back then, it’s like, OK, you think you’re ready, you’ve done the training, you’ve got the gear but looking back, I’m like, oh my gosh, I was not ready whatsoever,” she said. “And I was doing it for a lot of other people too. This was my dream but also my dad’s dream and so now I’m doing it for me and I am ready. There’s no doubt I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. I know I deserve it.”
Looking ahead, WOW’s next season is expected to give Los Angeles Lakers minority owner and WOW co-owner Jeanie Buss an on-screen role. Garrett welcomed the move.
“I am so excited. Jeanie Buss is a legend,” Garrett said. “She is an incredible woman. She’s smart and just kind and so easy to talk to. I just I think the world of her. For her to have more of an on-screen presence, it’s well overdue. And I know all of the girls are very excited for this.”
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