Santino Marella

Infobox Wrestler
name=Santino Marella
names=Boris Alexievciteweb|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/santino-marella.html|accessdate=2008-08-07|title=Saninto Marella bio|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]
Johnny Geo Basco
Santino Marella


image_size=200px
height=height|ft=5|in=10cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/02/03/4815772.html |title=La Vita è Bella for Santino |author=Kenai Aendrews |accessdate=2008-02-05 |publisher=SLAM! Sports]
weight=convert|227|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=oncite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/santinomarella/bio/|title=Superstars > Raw > Santino Marella > Bio|accessdate=2007-04-18|publisher=WWE]
birth_date=birth date and age|1979|03|14
death_date=
birth_place=Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
resides=Paterson, New Jersey
billed=Russia (OVW)
Calabria, Italy (WWE)
Paterson, New Jersey (WWE)
trainer=OVW staff
debut=2004
retired=
website=|

Anthony Carellicite web |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article553544.ece |title="The Man Behind Santino Marella" |accessdate=2007-12-07 |author=The LilsBoys |date=2007-12-06 |publisher=The Sun] (born March 14 1979) is a Canadian professional wrestler of Italian descent better known by his ring name Santino Marella. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on the RAW brand where he is in his second reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Before wrestling

Carelli was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He was a MMA fighter in Japan for several years before moving to the United States in May 2005 to learn to become a professional wrestler.

Wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment

Ohio Valley Wrestling

In the United States, Carelli took classes at and worked for the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) a developmental territory for the national World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). While there he was involved in an infamous incident with Jim Cornette, the company's head booker and part-owner. After an angle where he was supposed to act afraid of the Boogeyman but instead laughed, Cornette yelled at and slapped Carelli, leading to Cornette being removed from his position as booker of OVW by WWE.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/07/08/1123028.html|author =Waldman, J.|title=Jim Cornette released from WWE|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessmonthday=April 16|accessyear=2007|date=July 8 2005] cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/boogeyman.html|author=Milner, J.|title=The Boogeyman| publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessmonthday=April 16|accessyear=2007|date=]

Paul Heyman was appointed OVW booker to replace Cornette and changed Carelli's ring name from Johnny Geo Basco to Boris Alexiev, giving him a Russian shoot fighter gimmick.cite web|url=http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=2098|author=Pollock, J.|title=Friday Update|publisher=The Fight Network|accessmonthday=April 16|accessyear=2007|date=August 11 2006] As Alexiev he made his debut on April 12 2006 along with his manager and "comrade", Mr. Strongko.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ovw/2006.html |title=OVW results - 2006 |accessdate=2007-04-18 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] With his new gimmick he was booked to dominate opponents with stiff strikes and submission style wrestling,cite web|url=http://www.ovwrestling.com/Superstars/boris_alexiev.htm |title=Boris Alexiev profile |publisher=OVWrestling.com|accessmonthday=April 16|accessyear=2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070205095157/http://ovwrestling.com/Superstars/boris_alexiev.htm |archivedate=2007-02-05] including a 10-second win over a wrestler named Dewey. He signed a developmental deal with WWE on August 11 2006, and continued working in OVW.

On January 24 2007, Alexiev was booked to hold the OVW Television Championship, defeating Bad Kompany (Mike Kruel and Shawn Osbourne) who were holding the title simultaneously. He dropped the title back to Kruel on February 7, but got it back on March 14, holding it for three days when he dropped it to Shawn Spears.cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ovtvnwa.html|author=|title=OVW Television Championship|publisher=Solie.org|accessmonthday=April 17|accessyear=2007] He was called up to the active roster a month later.

Raw

He made his main-roster debut on the April 16 2007 edition of "WWE Raw" in Milan, Italy, as a planted fan named Santino Marella (named after Robert "Gorilla Monsoon" Marella). Marella's debut, in which he took the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Umaga in a No Holds Barred match after interference from Bobby Lashley, resulted in both that night and Santino himself being dubbed the "Milan Miracle". [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/4515822 |title=Santino Marella's first reign |accessdate=2008-01-04|publisher=WWE |work=Title histories > Intercontinental ] [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/santinomarella/ |title=Santino Marella |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=WWE] The surname Marella was chosen for the character in honor of WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon—real name Robert Marella—and was given to Carelli shortly before the trip to Italy. The next day WWE.com posted a profile on Marella with a kayfabe background saying he was an Italian national who moved to Canada as a child and returned to his native country a few times each year to visit family. It further stated that he moved to the U.S. to begin training with the goal of breaking into professional wrestling, and ultimately WWE.

Shortly after getting the Intercontinental Championship, Marella started a feud with Chris Masters, narrowly retaining the title over him in his first defenses. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070507.html |title=RAW results - May 7, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070514.html |title=RAW results - May 14, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] He held the Intercontinental Championship for three months before dropping it back to Umaga on July 2, [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070702.html |title=RAW results - July 2, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] after having just defeated him at the June 24 pay-per-view by disqualification when Umaga stopped listening to referee's instructions and continued punching Marella.

After losing the title Marella began a heel turn, being depicted as a possessive and jealous (if self-proclaimed) boyfriend of WWE Diva Maria. Over several weeks they appeared together in a series of segments on "Raw", including two mini "game shows" hosted by General Manager William Regal which resulted in retired wrestler Ron Simmons winning a date with Maria, much to Santino's dismay. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070806.html|title=RAW results - August 6, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070813.html|title=RAW results - August 13, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-04|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] At the same time Marella, began a campaign of bashing the WWE Films production "The Condemned" as its DVD release neared. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070924.html|title=RAW results - September 24, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-20|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071008.html|title=RAW results - October 8, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-20 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] He was eventually confronted by the film's star, Stone Cold Steve Austin, who argued the film's merits before delivering a Stone Cold Stunner to Marella and soaking both him and Maria down with a hose from a Budweiser truck. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071105.html |title=RAW results - November 5, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] During the Austin program, Marella repeatedly mocked Austin and mangled the English language and his catchphrases in promos, giving his character a new humorous bent.

After a short program with Jerry Lawler, [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071112.html |title=RAW results - November 12, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071119.html |title=RAW results - November 19, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] he was placed into a tag team with Carlito. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071217.html |title=RAW results - December 17, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071231.html |title=RAW results - December 31, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] At the same time, Maria was chosen to be pose for "Playboy" magazine, which was used as part of their storyline. When he was unable to get her to turn the offer down, [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/080121.html |title=RAW results - January 21, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-22 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] he attempted to sabotage the cover unveiling, finally pushing Maria to break up with him. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/080303.html |title=RAW results - March 3, 2008|accessdate=2008-04-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] At WrestleMania XXIV, Maria was involved in a "Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match", during which Santino interfered only to get clotheslined by celebrity Master of Ceremonies Snoop Dogg after the match. [cite web |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article986226.ece |title=Celebs star at WrestleMania|accessdate=2008-04-22 |publisher=The Sun |first=Simon |last=Rothstein |date=2008-01-04] Marella's feud with Maria came to an end after she defeated him on the episode of Raw the day after WrestleMania. Marella and Carlito began a feud with Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes over the World Tag Team Championship. During the title match Roddy Piper distracted Marella who was then defeated. Marella started a feud with Piper, including a confrontation on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

On the July 14, 2008 episode of "Raw", Marella was defeated by WWE Diva Beth Phoenix in an intergender match, after Marella issued an open challenge to the entire "Raw" roster. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/|accessdate=2008-07-17|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|title=Anarchy in NC|publisher=WWE] The angle continued the following week after Marella lost to the returning D'Lo Brown. Marella and Phoenix shared a kiss, both expressing considerable confusion afterwards. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2008-07-21|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|title=Civil unrest|publisher=WWE] In later weeks, they became an on-screen power couple, later dubbed the portmanteau Glamarella (for Glamazon and Marella). At SummerSlam 2008, Marella won the Intercontinental title for a second time, where he teamed with Phoenix against champion Kofi Kingston and WWE Women's Champion Mickie James. Phoenix pinned James after hitting her Glam Slam, thus winning both titles for her team per the pre-match stipulation. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/matches/7793948/results/|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2008-08-17|last=Medalis|first=Kara A.|title='Glamarella' wins the gold|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
*As Santino Marella
**Snap swinging neckbreaker
**Battering ram
**Diving headbutt, preceeded by a salute
** Jawbreaker
** Leg–feed enzuigiri
** Low kick
** Pointed front elbow drop, with theatrics
** STO
*As Boris Alexiev
**Standing inverted Fujiwara armbar
**Triangle choke
** Flying thrust kick
** Full nelson facebuster
** Hanging figure four necklock
** Jawbreaker
** Leg–feed enzuigiri
** Low kick
** Rolling over the shoulder arm drag
** STO

* Managers
** Mr. Strongko
** Maria
* Nicknames
** "The Italian Stallion"
** "The Milan Miracle"

* Entrance themes
** Marella's first WWE entrance theme was from the VideoHelper production library and titled "Rocky Start". He was later given a new track, "La Vittoria é Mia (Victory Is Mine)"—written and composed by WWE music producer Jim Johnston [cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=9252050&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|title=BMI: Johnston James Alan|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=BMI] —which features heavy guitars and opera style singing in Italian.

* Santino's Casa
** Marella hosts a weekly segment on WWE.com called "Santino's Casa", where he discusses the latest pop culture events in his own style. The likes of Chris Jericho, Carlito, Beth Phoenix and Joey Styles have made cameos on the segment.

Championships and accomplishments

*Ohio Valley Wrestling
**OVW Television Championship (2 times)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked him #179 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2007 [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50007.htm|accessdate=2008-07-19|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2007|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times, current) [cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html |title=WWF/WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=Wrestling-Titles]

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Best Gimmick (2007)

Personal life

Carelli has a daughter.

On May 1 2008, Carelli was arrested on a DUI charge by Tampa police, but was later released on a $500 bond.cite web|url= http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/pub/default.asp?/Online/qdisp/bn=08027376#|title=Individual's Charge Report - Anthony Carelli|accessdate=2008-05-01|publisher=Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office]

References

* [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2007/08/30/2007-08-30_top_wwe_names_emerge_in_doping_scandal.html Top WWE names emerge in doping scandal]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/santinomarella/ Santino Marella at WWE.com]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/santino-marella.html Santino Marella at Online World Of Wrestling]

Persondata
NAME= Carelli, Anthony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Marella, Santino
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=1979-03-14
PLACE OF BIRTH=Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=