On a recent edition of the “Developmentally Speaking” podcast, TNA wrestler Santino Marella discussed his early days in the wrestling industry, his daughter Arianna Grace’s progress in WWE NXT, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his daughter Arianna Grace: “She’s already featured on NXT every week and she’ll just continue to do more and more. I’m hoping [in] 2025 maybe we see her somewhere on RAW or SmackDown. She just has to get more reps and more matches and more matches. She wouldn’t be ready to go have a match with Charlotte [Flair] at WrestleMania, but if she’s on the screen with Charlotte in a pre-tape [segment], they look like they’re in the same league. That’s really important — the perception of someone being a superstar. The wrestling will come.”
On why he decided to get into wrestling: “I thought that this would be a pretty cool job, beats a lot of other types of jobs, and I thought that I’d be good at it, you know? Just based on my interest, my athletic ability, I was on the national Judo team, and I wrestled in High School and University.”
On traveling to Japan very early in his career: “I was gonna try and break in there, have some success, and be recruited back to North America, that was my plan. But at the end of the year, I overstayed my tourist Visas, and I was banned for a year and that’s when I went to OVW. It was just so different, so bizarre down there [in Louisville, Kentucky]. I had no exposure to America like that. I just saw what you see on TV.”
Santino Marella, a former TNA wrestler, recently appeared on the “Developmentally Speaking” podcast to discuss various aspects of his career in the wrestling industry. During the podcast, Marella talked about his daughter Arianna Grace’s progress in WWE NXT, his decision to pursue wrestling, and his early experiences in Japan.
One of the highlights of the podcast was Marella’s discussion about his daughter Arianna Grace. He mentioned that she is already being featured on NXT every week and expressed his hope that she would continue to grow and eventually make her way to RAW or SmackDown by 2025. Marella emphasized the importance of gaining more experience and matches to improve her skills. He also mentioned that even though she may not be ready to have a match with top wrestlers like Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, appearing alongside them in pre-taped segments helps create the perception that she belongs in the same league as a superstar.
When asked about his decision to pursue a career in wrestling, Marella explained that he believed it would be a cool job and that he had the necessary athletic ability. He mentioned his background in judo, where he was part of the national team, as well as his experience in high school and university wrestling. Marella’s interest in wrestling, combined with his athletic prowess, led him to believe that he would excel in the industry.
Marella also shared an interesting anecdote about his early days in the wrestling industry. He revealed that he initially planned to break into the Japanese wrestling scene, hoping to gain success and eventually be recruited back to North America. However, due to overstaying his tourist visa, he was banned from Japan for a year. This setback led him to join Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky. Marella described his experience in OVW as bizarre and different from what he had seen on TV, as it provided him with his first exposure to American wrestling culture.
The podcast episode also included a video clip of Santino Marella’s appearance on WWE, which fans can watch for additional insights and entertainment.
Overall, Santino Marella’s appearance on the “Developmentally Speaking” podcast provided fans with valuable insights into his early days in the wrestling industry, his daughter’s progress in WWE NXT, and his experiences in Japan and OVW. It showcased Marella’s passion for wrestling and his belief in his daughter’s potential to become a superstar in the future. Wrestling enthusiasts and fans of Santino Marella will undoubtedly find this podcast episode intriguing and informative.