# Santino Marella

> Canadian professional wrestler

**Wikidata**: [Q44669](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44669)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santino_Marella)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/santino-marella

## Summary
Santino Marella is a Canadian professional wrestler, born Anthony John Carelli, best known for his comedic persona in WWE. A former WWE Intercontinental Champion, he transitioned to coaching and founded Battle Arts Academy after retiring from active competition in 2016.

## Biography
- **Born**: March 14, 1974  
- **Nationality**: Canadian  
- **Education**: Trained in judo and mixed martial arts; studied at Humber College and Battle Arts Academy.  
- **Known for**: WWE career as Santino Marella, blending humor with wrestling.  
- **Employer(s)**: WWE (2004–2016), Battle Arts Academy (founder).  
- **Field(s)**: Professional wrestling, martial arts.  

## Contributions
- **WWE Career (2004–2016)**: Competed as Santino Marella and Boris Alexiev; held the Intercontinental Championship (2008) and WWE Tag Team Championship (2011).  
- **Comedic Persona**: Introduced the "Milan Miracle" finisher and portrayed Santina Marella, a cross-dressing character, to win the Miss WrestleMania contest (2009).  
- **Post-WWE Work**: Founded Battle Arts Academy (2013), a martial arts and wrestling training facility in Mississauga, Ontario.  

## FAQs
### What is Santino Marella’s real name?  
Anthony John Carelli. He performed under the ring names Santino Marella, Boris Alexiev, and Santina Marella.  

### Where did Santino Marella work?  
He was signed to WWE from 2004 to 2016 and later founded Battle Arts Academy.  

### What titles did Santino Marella win in WWE?  
He held the Intercontinental Championship (2008) and WWE Tag Team Championship (2011, with Kofi Kingston).  

### Why did Santino Marella retire?  
He transitioned to a backstage role in 2016 due to accumulated injuries, focusing on coaching at Battle Arts Academy.  

## Why They Matter  
Santino Marella redefined comedic wrestling in the 2000s, using humor to connect with audiences during a period dominated by serious storylines. His Santina Marella character challenged gender norms in wrestling, and his post-retirement work at Battle Arts Academy has trained future wrestlers, ensuring his legacy extends beyond his in-ring career.  

## Notable For  
- WWE Intercontinental Champion (2008).  
- Introduced the "Milan Miracle" finisher.  
- Portrayed Santina Marella, a gender-bending character.  
- Founder of Battle Arts Academy (2013).  
- Competed in judo and mixed martial arts before wrestling.  

## Body  
### Early Life and Education  
Anthony Carelli was born on March 14, 1974, in Canada. He studied at Humber College and trained in judo and mixed martial arts, later honing his wrestling skills at Battle Arts Academy.  

### Professional Wrestling Career  
- **WWE Debut (2004)**: Initially performed as Boris Alexiev, a Russian martial artist, before adopting the Santino Marella persona.  
- **Breakthrough (2007)**: Won the Intercontinental Championship in his debut match at *No Mercy*, defeating Umaga.  
- **Comedic Roles**: Feuded with The Great Khali (2008) and formed the comedic tag team "The Milan Miracle" with Vladimir Kozlov (2010).  
- **Santina Marella (2009)**: Cross-dressed to win the Miss WrestleMania battle royal at *WrestleMania XXV*, a storyline that garnered significant media attention.  

### Founding Battle Arts Academy  
In 2013, Carelli opened Battle Arts Academy in Mississauga, Ontario, offering training in wrestling, MMA, and judo. The facility has hosted WWE tryouts and trained wrestlers like Rachael Ellering.  

### Legacy and Impact  
Marella’s blend of humor and athleticism influenced WWE’s comedic storytelling in the late 2000s. His post-retirement coaching role has shaped emerging talent, solidifying his dual legacy as both a performer and mentor in professional wrestling.

## References

1. [Source](http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/02/03/4815772.html)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Library of Congress Control Number
4. The Movie Database