Ryan Clancy on Facing Mike Santana: ‘One of the Hardest Hitting People I’ve Ever Been in the Ring With’

Ryan Clancy has opened up about his February match with Mike Santana at Beyond Wrestling’s Ballroom Blitz, and he came away with nothing but respect — and some battle scars to prove it.

In a recent interview, Clancy reflected on sharing the ring with Santana, describing the ROH World Champion as one of the stiffest workers he’s encountered in his career. In his own words, Clancy called Santana “one of the hardest hitting people I’ve ever been in the ring with,” but made clear he didn’t back down from the physical challenge. “I made sure that I gave it back to him tenfold,” Clancy said.

The comments came in the context of Clancy being asked about what it means to earn praise from established world champions — a list that apparently includes both Santana and MJF, the latter being another top name who has spoken well of the rising independent talent.

For Clancy, a hard-nosed match against someone of Santana’s caliber at an event like Ballroom Blitz is exactly the kind of high-profile independent opportunity that can shift perception in a competitive landscape. Getting a physical stamp of approval from a hard-hitting veteran like Santana — and holding your own — is a résumé moment that doesn’t go unnoticed by those paying attention to the independent scene.

If Clancy continues to draw this kind of attention from top names across the industry, it likely won’t be long before bigger stages come calling.