Santino Marella...why?

[Lee]

Anthony Carelli, or as he's more commonly known as 'Santino Marella' has been in WWE for over a year now. Making his debut in Milan as a 'fan' beating Umaga for the Intercontinental championship, he held this for three months before losing it to Umaga once again. So here's where everyone pays attention;

Santino Marella turns into a 'comedy heel.' Was this a wise move? Some may think so, it's obvious by the 'Santino-fan-a-club' that he is well liked, but what is this based on? Lets have a look at Mr Marella;

1) His comedy heel.

This started with a Ron Simmons feud, leading to an Austin feud and a Jerry Lawler feud. For the Simmons and Lawler feud the focus was not on Santino, but Maria and the Austin/Condemned segments were actually quite funny.

2) Break up with Maria

After Maria posing for Playboy (oh yeah ) and Marella interfering in the Playboy lumberjack match, Maria and marella had a match on Raw.

Maria won...that's right, Santino Marella jobbed to maria.

3) His tag team with Carlito/Roddy Piper feud

This looked like it had promise, but as ever with Santino he failed...miserably. After what looked like to be an exciting start, failed to lead into the feud with Roddy Piper. Again what was the point in this? It did nothing for his character.

4)Glamerella

Marella issues an open challenge, gets Beth Phoenix. Jobs AGAIN to a female. the eventually become a couple dubbed 'Glamerella' leading to a nice feud with Kofi Kingston, and a tag match at summer slam where Marella once again wins the IC belt.

Notice though, that he did not actually make the pin, he won the belt without pinning anyone.

5) His second IC reign

How is he the IC champion, yeah he seems to enjoy it but he's terrible. the Honky Donk meter proves just how unfunny Marella has been for the past year...and his ring skills are terrible. He's only 'over' because of his mic skills, which I admit he does have some charisma but he's not been at his best for quite sometime.

In conclusion, I have no idea why he's doing so well, it's obvious his ring skills are lacking, and Raw this past week showed just how little a 'pop' he's getting. I feel that the Marella stage is growing old and fast. I'm sure many people will disagree, but meh!.

 

[justinsayne]

Well said, I have been at war with all the delusional Santino fans for awhile now, I have never found him to be the slightest bit entertaining, the only segments he has ever had that made me laugh even a little bit were carried by the presence of Stone Cold and Jericho, two guys who could carry a turd on a stick to an entertaining segment, his career has gone nowhere since turning heel, he comes out each week and does the same stupid boring unfunny routine, the guy is just a waste and the sooner WWE takes him off TV the better

 

[BooCocky]

I love how people criticize him but week in and week out he gets television time. Apparently the writers see something or he wouldnt be getting any time at all. The writers are playing too his strength and that is talking on the Mic.

Here is this tremendous video from his work in OVW. The man can work, they just havent shown it yet

[youtube]wZMrOV22rRc[/youtube]

his character is just a character, his job is too be funny, and imo he is doing that real well. Whether its carrying Austin to something funny, or Piper to something.

So i dont know how you can call someone horrible when they are getting valuable television time.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Well said, I have been at war with all the delusional Santino fans for awhile now, I have never found him to be the slightest bit entertaining, the only segments he has ever had that made me laugh even a little bit were carried by the presence of Stone Cold and Jericho, two guys who could carry a turd on a stick to an entertaining segment, his career has gone nowhere since turning heel, he comes out each week and does the same stupid boring unfunny routine, the guy is just a waste and the sooner WWE takes him off TV the better

Being at "war" with us seems to suggest that you've returned some kind of appreciable offense. You haven't. You've been the conflict equivalent of Kronic to The Undertaker and Kane. Ease up, your knuckles are turning white from gripping FlameLee's coat tails too tightly.

Santino Marella is an appreciable heel champion. Somehow, he's managed to be an extremely funny character, show more than adequate mic skills, and STILL draw heel heat from the crowd. Rather than skulking around and worrying about "his spot," Paterson's own Milan Miracle goes out every night and does what he does best - tries to entertain the crowd. If that means levity in the form of asking Kane if he's checked the Pepsi Machine for CM Punk, then that's fine. If it comes in the form of jobbing to the likes of Maria or Beth Phoenix, that's fine too. Because the crowd is entertained by it.

And isn't that the point?

It's professional wrestling. Santino isn't going to wow the crowd like Evan Bourne with a shooting star press. He isn't going to pick up a 400-lb man and slam him. It's not his character. He's an entertainer, and he works.

And don't give me this crap about his "wrestling ability" because you're ALL sounding like smarky 12-year-old Internet fans when you do. In OVW, Anthony Carelli demonstrated impressive wrestling ability in a number of his matches, because those moves fit his character at the time. Now, in his current role, they'd make no sense.

Santino is playing the sneaky, whiney, obnoxious heel role to a T right now, and he's over as a result. He works his ass off, he does what is asked of him, and he genuinely seems to have fun doing it. And there's a reason the Santino Fan-a-Club is the largest, and BY FAR most active fan club on WrestleZone - he's earned it.

 

[justinsayne]

Santino Marella is an appreciable heel champion. Somehow, he's managed to be an extremely funny character, show more than adequate mic skills, and STILL draw heel heat from the crowd.

He's not funny though, he's never been funny, his "mic skills" consist of him butchering the English language, and fucking up peoples catch phrases, the fans BOO him cause he sucks, I know plenty of fans that can't stand him and change the channel or skip over he comes on, cause he's absolute shit

Rather than skulking around and worrying about "his spot," Paterson's own Milan Miracle goes out every night and does what he does best - tries to entertain the crowd.

A.)I could give a shit less where he's from

B.)He tries to entertain the crowd and fails miserably with every attempt

If that means levity in the form of asking Kane if he's checked the Pepsi Machine for CM Punk, then that's fine. If it comes in the form of jobbing to the likes of Maria or Beth Phoenix, that's fine too. Because the crowd is entertained by it.

Not really, as I said before I know pleanty of people that don't even watch his crappy segments anymore casue they can't stand him, and I'm not talking about IWC fans either

And isn't that the point?

Yes, that is the point, but not as many people are entertain by it as you think

It's professional wrestling. Santino isn't going to wow the crowd like Evan Bourne with a shooting star press. He isn't going to pick up a 400-lb man and slam him. It's not his character. He's an entertainer, and he works.

Once again, no he doesn't, he doesn't entertain at all, with the way all you Santino faithful go on about him you'd think he's the second coming of the Rock

And don't give me this crap about his "wrestling ability" because you're ALL sounding like smarky 12-year-old Internet fans when you do. In OVW, Anthony Carelli demonstrated impressive wrestling ability in a number of his matches, because those moves fit his character at the time. Now, in his current role, they'd make no sense.

I don't recall saying to much about his wrestling ability, but that's probably cause he hasn't ever really showed any since coming to WWE,

Now maybe you can tell me why it should matter to me what a guy does in OVW, yet when a guy comes for ROH and people say he can wrestle go watch his ROH stuff, people always respond with "it doesn't matter what he did in ROH", should that apply with OVW as well?

Santino is playing the sneaky, whiney, obnoxious heel role to a T right now, and he's over as a result. He works his ass off, he does what is asked of him, and he genuinely seems to have fun doing it. And there's a reason the Santino Fan-a-Club is the largest, and BY FAR most active fan club on WrestleZone - he's earned it.

Well he's obnoxious I'll give you that, but he hasn't earned shit

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Atta boy, Justin! Now there's a post I can sink my teeth into!!!

I may be mistaken about Santino being funny. I assumed that the fact that a) I laugh when he does his segments, b) I know all of my wrestling fan friends laugh when he does his segments, c) I hear the crowd laugh when he does his segments, and d) when I go out to bars to watch the PPV's, I see the entire bar laughing when he does his segments - I honestly assumed that laughter was a result of hearing and seeing something funny. But, as you've effectively proven today, there is no correlation between something funny and laughter. Just none. Thank you for that.

As for your statement that you know people who change the channel when he comes on, I ask you - so what? That's the great thing about professional wrestling - there's something for EVERYONE. I change the channel when Jillian Hall comes out and when Rey Mysterio "wrestles." But I sit down and turn up the volume when Santino or Chris Jericho come out, and I damn sure grab a seat to see Kofi Kingston or DiBiase and Rhodes wrestle. Santino isn't going to connect with every single fan, and that's ok.

Once again, no he doesn't, he doesn't entertain at all, with the way all you Santino faithful go on about him you'd think he's the second coming of the Rock

Once again, yes he does. (see what I did there?) He's very entertaining, which is why he continues to get TV time EVERY SINGLE WEEK on Raw. I will go back to what I learned at the WZ Fan Slam from Al Snow. Every 30 seconds of TV the WWE produces on USA costs roughly $360,000. WWE feels strongly enough about Santino's entertainment ability that they are willing to give him an average of 2-3 minutes just for a promo - or $720,000 - $1.8 million in TV time.

I don't recall saying to much about his wrestling ability, but that's probably cause he hasn't ever really showed any since coming to WWE

You didn't. The comment I made was in response more to FlameLeeUK than to you, Justin, but I didn't make that clear, so I apologize. A few of the naysayers have been errantly and foolishly making the "he can't wrestle good" argument, which is what I was responding to. No, he hasn't shown the full spectrum of his pure wrestling ability yet, because it hasn't fit him yet.

Now maybe you can tell me why it should matter to me what a guy does in OVW, yet when a guy comes for ROH and people say he can wrestle go watch his ROH stuff, people always respond with "it doesn't matter what he did in ROH", should that apply with OVW as well?

Well, I am not one of those people, and I cannot and will not speak on their behalf. I think what an individual did prior to being in WWE is very relevant. But I will offer you this one insight - OVW and WWE are still the same company. OVW stars are trained to be ready for WWE. ROH and TNA are different companies with different styles, and in the case of TNA a different ring. Again, I reference the wisdom of Al Snow and Bill DeMott from the Fan Slam - an indy guy may know how to put on the proverbial "5-Star Match" according to the Internet Fans, but if they don't know how to draw money and put an opponent over in a storyline, they won't amount to much in WWE. That could be where the difference comes from. But honestly, Justin, I think a wrestler's track record in ROH is relevant to their work in WWE.

 

[Mr. TM]

I got my friend to watch WWE the other day. He never respected wrestling, despite us being friends for a long time. But I got him to watch it. yesterday i met up with him again after class. Funny thing is, he kept talking about Santino Marella. Yes, that guy the writers have been putting into the show consistantly for months, giving him more time than Lance Cade, Carlito, MVP, Mister Kennedy, Paul Birchall or any other of those midcarders ever get. Why you ask? My friend is why. He laughed his ass off. A man who hates wrestling, loves this wrestler. Monday will be here in a few days. What will he do? He will fucking be watching wrestling. What does that mean? WWE Writers have brought in a fan. My friend is just one case going around this world. Another case study would be me. Do you know the last time I missed a Santino segment? I'll give you a hint. Every Raw since April 9th, 2007, guess what show I watched on Monday? You got it, it was Raw. Guess who does not go out on mondays, who does not do readings or homework on Mondays? Who planned his courses and even dropped a class so it wouldn't interfer with Monday? It was me. Why? So I can watch Santino Marella. He usually occupies the middle of the show. Why is that a great place to have him? Because WWE hates lossing viewers in the middle of the show. You kjnow what Santino does? Keeps those fans interested. Santino is one of the most important characters on WWE TV. How can you deny that?

 

[RabidChihuahua]

I'm not all that fired up either way about Santino, but after watching that youtube clip of him in OVW, it really piqued my interest. Too bad that they didn't bring him in with that Boris Alexiev character, rather than as a "fan" against Umaga. Maybe I'd have a different reaction to him. Then again, I've always liked those russian athlete characters. One of my favorites growing up was Nikita Koloff.

That clip does give a sense of how well Santino has gotten into his current character, but I think it really robs him of a chance to be taken seriously (as seriously as pro wrestling can be taken) as a "competitive wrestler".

I'll give him his due, he's done well with what WWE creative has given him, but again, after watching that youtube clip, I think they are seriously shortchanging him and his abilities. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[George Michael]

Santino is getting over, and getting rewarded with the IC title, for reasons such as this thread.
He's got people talking. A lot of people. He's made small crossover's into celebrity, being featured on Jimmy Kimmel, and had a Wrestlemania segment with Snoop Dogg. These are things that not every wrestler is capable of doing.. so successfully anyways.

The Roddy Piper 'feud' was good filler for that storyline with Sal. Cousin Sal can't wrestle; who better to train him than legendary bad guy Roddy Piper. Having Sal come out and wrestle without any formal pro wrestling experience would be pointless in every sense. Piper, I'm sure was included for his inclination toward comedy, keeping the whole exchange semi-serious and ensuring some kind of laugh. Choking a guy out and then leaving is not, 'not funny'.

Santino also gets a bit of a rub out of this. He can add to his resume that he's feuded (in a sense) with Roddy Piper (Austin, and Lawler are on there as well). Feuds like these can be used as talking points in promos for the rest of his career. Hell, he can even say he's beat them and recieve legit heat from an antentative crowd (who know he hasn't), or possibly be taken seriously by the audience that questions 'How did that feud turn out again..?'.

Part of what propelled Randy Orton was his exchanges with so many wrestling legends. I'm sure there are many fans who know he feuded with all of those legends, but may not exactly be able to recall his win loss record. Yes you beat up Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, Jake Roberts, Piper and Flair. Sounds impressive on paper, until you mention that they were all well into their fifties, making it, kind of comical. Things look much different on paper, and on paper, Santino Marella is a bonafide star.

Santino entertains, and annoys, and he's lucky enough right now to be booked as a heel. Cena and Mysterio are two of the biggest babyface properties the WWE has right now, but trying to predict what kind of reaction they will recieve at any given city, is impossible. The thing about comedy is that everyone has a different opinion of funny and entertaining. Santino is uniting a large group of people who like his funny, and at the same time pissing off a large group that don't like his funny. Heels are better with comedy because the half who don't like his funny will usually get very vocal. As a babyface, if people don't like your funny, it can be much more damaging. Think John Cena, and his early time as a main eventer. He was desperately pandering his humour with little to no success, coming off as corny. When you're being booked asd the top babyface in the company, getting boo's can and will complicate things. Santino's getting all the right reaction's from all crowd's. The 'People's Unibrow' sign on Monday is a great example.

Bottomlines: If Santino is pissing you off because he's IC champ, or because he's unfunny, or because he loses to girls; he's doing his job. And he's doing it well.

 

[ThePhenom13]

i kinda dont like wat santino can do in the ring,but i'll admit he is funny.like when he told kane to go check the pepsi machine for CM Punk(lol still has me laughing),or this last week on raw.I think Santino is only in wwe,to make people laugh,if not,he would be the next Colin Delany.