Santino Marella

Anthony Carelli
	Carelli in January 2016
Data
Ring name	Boris Alexiev ; Joe Basko ; Santina Marella ; Santino Marella
Additions to names	The Milan Miracle
height	178 cm
Fighting weight	100 kg
birth	March 14, 1979 ; Mississauga , Ontario , Canada
Announced from	Calabria , Italy
Trained by	Ohio Valley Wrestling
debut	August 17, 2003
retirement	July 6, 2014

Anthony Carelli (born March 14, 1979 in Mississauga , Ontario ), better known by his ring name Santino Marella , is a Canadian wrestler of Italian origin. His greatest success was receiving the Intercontinental Championship twice .

Sporty background

Carelli attended Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School in Canada . He worked as a mixed martial arts fighter in Japan for a few years before moving to the United States in May 2005 to become a wrestler.

Wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-2016)

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2005-2007)

In the United States, Carelli trained with Ohio Valley Wrestling , a former development league of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Then he got the ring name Boris Alexiev . On January 24, 2007 , Carelli won the OVW Television Championship from Bad Company (Mike Kruel and Shawn Osborne), which held the title simultaneously. On February 7, 2007 he lost the title to Mike Kruel and won the title again in a title match on March 14, 2007. His second reign lasted only 3 days, because on March 17, 2007 Carelli lost a title match against Shawn Spears. A month later he was relocated to the main WWE grinder.

Intercontinental Champion and various alliances (2007-2011)

Carelli debuted on April 16, 2007 in Milan , Italy on Raw . In his debut match, Carelli won the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Umaga after Bobby Lashley intervened . A little later he was involved in a feud program against Chris Masters . On July 2, 2007, Carelli lost the title again to Umaga. This was followed feud programs against Steve Austin and Jerry Lawler . Carelli then formed a tag team with Carlito . Carlito and Carelli feuded hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes for the World Tag Team title .

Intercontinental Champion Marella with Women's Champion Phoenix .

From July 2008 Carelli and Beth Phoenix formed the “Glamarella” tag team. A month later he won at SummerSlam by Kofi Kingston the Intercontinental Championship for the second time. In the November 10, 2008 issue of RAW, he lost the title to William Regal .

In the course of WrestleMania 25 in 2009, Carelli was allowed to appear as Santino's twin sister Santina Marella and win the Miss WrestleMania title at WrestleMania . At RAW on May 18, 2009 he gave the title to Vickie Guerrero , but got it back on June 7, 2009 at Extreme Rules . A short time later, "she" was fired by Donald Trump and written off the shows. He has since appeared in a comedy gimmick.

During 2010 Carelli formed a tag team with Vladimir Kozlov , which on December 6, 2010 won the WWE Tag Team title from Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel . On February 20, 2011, at the major Elimination Chamber event , they lost the title again to the same.

United States Champion and various feuds (2011-2014)

United States Champion Marella on Raw .

From January 3, 2012 through WrestleMania XXVIII, he served as Assistant of the General Manager at SmackDown .

On March 5, 2012 , he defeated Jack Swagger in an edition of RAW , winning the WWE United States Championship. He lost the title to Antonio Cesaro on August 19 at the pre-show for SummerSlam .

Resignation and occasional appearances (2014-2016)

After appearing less and less on television and in the ring, Carelli announced his health-related retirement from wrestling on July 6, 2014 at a WWE live show. However, on September 26, 2014, Carelli announced his comeback. Despite some appearances on the shows, he was unable to actively return to the ring due to the consequences of the injury.

On May 6, 2016, he was released from the WWE.