Santino Marella | |
---|---|
![]() Marella in 2016 | |
Birth name | Anthony Carelli |
Born | [1] Mississauga, Ontario, Canada[2] | March 14, 1974
Alma mater | Concordia University |
Spouse(s) |
Anna Babij (m. 2015) |
Children | 3, including Arianna Grace |
Website | www.battleartsacademy.ca |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Anthony Carelli Boris Alexiev[3] Johnny Geo Basco[4] Santina Marella[3] Santino Marella[3] Judge Sam Teamo[5] |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[6] |
Billed weight | 233 lb (106 kg)[7] |
Billed from | San Fili, Calabria, Italy |
Trained by | Ohio Valley Wrestling[3] |
Debut | August 17, 2002 |
Anthony Carelli (born March 14, 1974), better known by the ring name Santino Marella, is a Canadian professional wrestler and judoka. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he works as the on-screen director of authority. He is best known for his 11-year tenure with WWE. He is the founder of and instructor at Battle Arts Academy, a martial arts and professional wrestling training facility in Mississauga, Ontario, and the official ambassador of Judo Canada.[8]
Carelli was signed by World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005, being assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's farm territory. He made his debut on Raw during a live episode from Milan, Italy. Under the character of Santino Marella, a fan selected from the audience, he defeated the Intercontinental Champion Umaga, winning the title in his debut match. During the following years, he would win the Intercontinental title one more time, the United States Championship once and the WWE Tag Team Championship once. He was also involved in a storyline where he worked as Santina Marella, Santino's twin sister. Carelli retired from in-ring competition in 2014 and left WWE the following year. After his release, he opened Battle Arts Academy and worked for Impact Wrestling. In 2017, he made sporadic matches on the independent circuit, as well as occasional appearances in WWE. In 2023, Carelli made his return to Impact, now under the TNA banner.
Carelli is known for his humorous gimmick as Santino Marella, an Italian stereotype, often being involved in comedic segments, having several on-screen relationships with fellow wrestlers, as well as being crowned "Miss WrestleMania" at WrestleMania XXV disguised as "Santina Marella." His character won Carelli Wrestling Observer Newsletter's award for Best Gimmick in 2007 and 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
Cornette
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).WWEP
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).