Santino Marella

Anthony 'Tony' Carelli (born March 14, 1974), better known by the ring name, Santino Marella, is a Canadian professional wrestler and judoka.

He is currently signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling 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.

Anthony Carelli started his career on the Ontario independent circuit as Johnny Geo Basco, debuting with a disqualification win over Xhibit (now Rico Montana) in the opening match of a Ring Wars show in Orangeville, Ontario, on August 17, 2002.

In the second half of 2004, Carelli wrestled four matches for Battlarts in Japan, as Johnny Geo Basco.

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 and the WWE Tag Team Championship.

He was also involved in a storyline where he worked as Santina Marella, Santino's twin sister.

In 2005, Anthony Carelli (as Johnny Geo Basco) began training at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

In July, during a storyline where he was supposed to act afraid of The Boogeyman, but instead laughed, Anthony Carelli was shouted at and slapped by Jim Cornette, OVW's head booker and co-owner.

This incident led to Cornette being fired as OVW booker by WWE.

Under OVW's new booker, Paul Heyman, Anthony Carelli adopted the gimmick of Boris Alexiev, a Russian shootfighter/mixed martial artist.

On October 29, he lost his debut OVW match, teaming with Aaron Stevens against Chet the Jet and Chris Cage.

By this time he also competed in mixed martial arts, in which he claimed in 2006 to have a 6–1 record, although only one fight is confirmed.

Alexiev made his TV debut on April 12, 2006, managed by his "comrade", Mr. Strongko and defeating Mo Sexton.

He was booked to dominate opponents with stiff strikes and submission style wrestling.

He had a 10-second win over a wrestler named Dewey.

He signed a developmental contract with WWE on August 11, 2006, and continued training in OVW.

His character won Carelli Wrestling Observer Newsletter's award for Best Gimmick in 2007 and 2008.

Anthony Carelli was born in Mississauga, Ontario, to a family of Italian and Métis descent.

He attended St Basil's Catholic Elementary School, and later Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School and Concordia University.

Carelli trained in judo at the age of nine and also competed in high school wrestling, winning the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) Tournament, back-to-back as a junior and a senior.

On January 24, 2007, Alexiev won the OVW Television Championship from Mike Kruel, who was defending in place of champion Eddie Kraven.

He lost it back to Kruel on February 7, and regained it from him on March 14.

Three days later, he dropped it to Shawn Spears.

He was called up to the WWE roster a month later.

Anthony Carelli debuted as Santino Marella (a homage to WWE Hall of Famer Robert "Gorilla Monsoon" Marella) on the April 16, 2007 episode of Raw from Milan, Italy.

He was presented as a fan that Vince McMahon selected as an opponent for Umaga.

The unknown Marella scored a surprising upset, and won the WWE Intercontinental Championship with an assist from Bobby Lashley.

The next day, WWE.com posted a profile on Marella, 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.

The profile claimed that he moved to the U.S. to pursue a wrestling career with WWE.

Shortly after winning the Intercontinental title, Marella feuded with Chris Masters, narrowly retaining the title in his first defenses.

Carelli retired in 2014 and left WWE the following year.

After his release, he opened Battle Arts Academy and worked for Total Nonstop Action 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 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Anthony 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."