Anthony Carelli, professionally known as Santino Marella, is a Canadian professional wrestler, judoka, and trainer celebrated for his comedic and entertaining persona in the world of sports entertainment. He is most famous for his 11-year tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he debuted as a fan from the crowd and surprisingly won the Intercontinental Championship in his first match, an event dubbed the “Milan Miracle”. Known for his humorous Italian stereotype gimmick, his finishing move “The Cobra,” and his female persona “Santina Marella,” he became a multi-time champion and a fan favorite. Post-WWE, he founded the Battle Arts Academy, a martial arts and wrestling training facility, and has worked with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling as an on-screen authority figure.
Santino Marella Overview
| Real Name | Anthony Carelli |
| Ring Name | Santino Marella, Boris Alexiev, Santina Marella |
| Date of Birth | March 14, 1974 |
| Age | 51 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Billed From | San Fili, Calabria, Italy |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Profession | Professional Wrestler, Trainer, Judoka |
| Spouse | Anna Babij (m. 2015) |
| Children | 3, including Arianna Grace (Bianca Carelli) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $300,000 |
Early Life and Education of Santino Marella
Anthony Carelli was born on March 14, 1974, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, to a family of Italian and Métis descent. His family has roots in San Fili, Calabria, Italy. He attended St Basil’s Catholic Elementary School and later Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School. From the age of nine, Carelli began training in judo. He also excelled in high school wrestling, winning the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) Tournament in two consecutive years. He continued his education at Concordia University in Montreal. His upbringing, with a father who was an Italian immigrant, instilled in him a strong work ethic and dedication.
Santino Marella’s Career
Ohio Valley Wrestling and Early Career (2003-2007)
Anthony Carelli began his professional wrestling journey in 2003, working on the independent circuit in Ontario under the name Johnny Geo Basco. After gaining some experience, he moved to the United States to train with Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), which was a developmental territory for WWE. He signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2006 and wrestled in OVW as Boris Alexiev, a Russian shoot-style character. During his time there, he won the OVW Television Championship twice.
WWE Debut: The “Milan Miracle” (2007)
Carelli made one of the most memorable debuts in WWE history on the April 16, 2007, episode of Raw, which was broadcast from Milan, Italy. He was planted in the audience as a fan named Santino Marella (a tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon, whose real name was Robert Marella). When Mr. McMahon issued an open challenge for anyone to face the formidable Intercontinental Champion Umaga, Marella was chosen from the crowd. In a shocking upset, with assistance from Bobby Lashley, Marella defeated Umaga to win the Intercontinental Championship in his very first match on the main roster. This unlikely victory was immediately dubbed “The Milan Miracle”.
Championships and Comedic Rise (2008-2014)
Initially a babyface, Marella later turned heel, becoming increasingly jealous of his on-screen girlfriend, Maria Kanellis. In 2008, he formed a “power couple” storyline with Beth Phoenix, calling themselves “Glamarella”. At SummerSlam 2008, they won a mixed-tag match where both Marella’s Intercontinental Championship and Phoenix’s Women’s Championship were on the line, giving Marella his second Intercontinental title reign. During this time, he began his “Honk-A-Meter” segments, aiming to break The Honky Tonk Man’s record reign.
Marella’s career became defined by his comedic genius. He developed the “Cobra Strike,” a finisher involving a sock puppet snake, which became wildly popular with fans. One of his most infamous storylines was portraying his own twin sister, “Santina Marella”. In this persona, he won the “Miss WrestleMania” Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXV in 2009. As a fan-favorite, he also captured the WWE Tag Team Championship with Vladimir Kozlov in December 2010 and the United States Championship in March 2012.
Despite being a comedy character, Marella had moments where he nearly reached the main event. He was the runner-up in the 2011 Royal Rumble match and came incredibly close to winning the World Heavyweight Championship inside the Elimination Chamber in 2012. However, his in-ring career was cut short due to a series of neck injuries. After undergoing a double cervical fusion surgery that didn’t heal as hoped, he announced his retirement at a live event in Toronto on July 6, 2014, and was officially released from his WWE contract in May 2016.
Post-WWE, IMPACT Wrestling, and Return to WWE (2017-Present)
After his WWE departure, Carelli focused on his training facility, Battle Arts Academy. He returned to the ring for sporadic matches on the independent circuit starting in 2017. In January 2023, he made a surprise debut in IMPACT Wrestling under his Santino Marella persona, taking on the role of the on-screen Director of Authority. His tenure saw him involved in storylines with wrestlers like Dirty Dango and Bully Ray. Through a partnership between WWE and TNA, Marella began making appearances on WWE’s NXT brand in early 2025. This led to his first official WWE match in over a decade on July 29, 2025, where he challenged Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship.
Santino Marella Personal Life & Family
Anthony Carelli is a family man. He has a daughter from a previous marriage, Bianca Carelli, who is also a professional wrestler signed to WWE’s NXT brand under the ring name Arianna Grace. In November 2015, Carelli married Anna Babij, a bikini fitness competitor. Together, they have a son named Marko, born in October 2018, and another child. Carelli is also a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. He maintains an active lifestyle with his family, enjoying activities like kayaking and bike riding. He has spoken proudly of his daughter’s hard work and dedication in pursuing her own wrestling career.
Awards and Achievements of Santino Marella
- DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- OVW Television Championship (2 times)
- World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times)
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vladimir Kozlov
- Miss WrestleMania (1 time) – as Santina Marella
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Gimmick (2007, 2008)
- The Baltimore Sun
- Newcomer of the Year (2007)
Santino Marella Net Worth and Income
As of 2024, Santino Marella’s net worth is estimated to be around $300,000. His income has primarily been sourced from his career as a professional wrestler with WWE and other promotions. Additionally, he is the founder and owner of the Battle Arts Academy in Mississauga, a 15,000-square-foot training facility for martial arts and professional wrestling, which serves as another source of income.
Legacy and Influence
Santino Marella is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedic wrestlers in WWE history. He had a unique ability to take potentially silly gimmicks and turn them into memorable and entertaining television. His influence is seen in how WWE has since utilized other comedic characters. Beyond his on-screen work, Carelli has dedicated himself to training the next generation of athletes. In 2013, he founded the Battle Arts Academy in his hometown of Mississauga, Ontario. The world-class facility offers training in various disciplines, including professional wrestling, judo, MMA, and boxing. He also serves as an official ambassador for Judo Canada, giving back to the sport that formed his athletic foundation.
Interesting Facts about Santino Marella
- His ring name, Marella, is a tribute to the late WWE Hall of Famer Robert “Gorilla Monsoon” Marella.
- Despite his convincing Italian accent and character, he is Canadian and was born in Mississauga, Ontario.
- He holds the record for the fastest elimination in Royal Rumble history, being tossed out in just 1.9 seconds in 2009.
- The famous “Cobra” finisher originated from a friend who was trying to be funny by transforming his arm into a snake puppet. Marella used it at a live event, it got a huge reaction, and it became his signature move.
- Before his WWE career, he had mixed martial arts bouts in Japan.
- He portrayed his own twin sister, “Santina Marella,” and as Santina, won the Miss WrestleMania title.
Controversies
While in WWE’s developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Anthony Carelli was involved in an incident with head booker Jim Cornette. During a segment where he was supposed to act scared of The Boogeyman, Carelli laughed instead. This led to a real-life backstage confrontation where Cornette reportedly slapped him, an event that contributed to Cornette’s dismissal from WWE.
Social Media Presence
Santino Marella maintains an active presence on social media, where he promotes his work with TNA Wrestling, his Battle Arts Academy, and shares glimpses of his personal life. He can be found on various platforms, connecting with the fans who have followed his unique career.
Final Words about Santino Marella
Anthony Carelli has crafted a remarkable and enduring career in professional wrestling. As Santino Marella, he proved that a character doesn’t need to be a main event world champion to become a beloved and unforgettable figure. His comedic timing and dedication to his craft brought laughter to millions. Today, he continues to contribute to the industry as the Director of Authority in TNA Wrestling and through his recent crossover appearances in WWE’s NXT. His primary focus, however, remains on his family and his passion for mentoring aspiring athletes at the Battle Arts Academy, cementing his legacy both in and out of the squared circle.