Santino Marella Says WWE Return At Clash In Italy Would Be A ‘Full Circle Moment’

Published: May 18, 2026 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: May 18, 2026 by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

Santino Marella Says WWE Return At Clash In Italy Would Be A ‘Full Circle Moment’

With WWE Clash in Italy approaching, Santino Marella has said an appearance there would be a “full circle moment”.

Taking place at Inalpi Arena in Turin on May 31, WWE Clash in Italy marks the first PLE to take place in the country.

Currently signed to TNA Wrestling and acting as the on-screen Director of Authority, Santino Marella has seen involvement with WWE via their partnership that has seen a number of NXT stars appear on Impact and vice versa.

Released from his WWE contract back in 2016, Marella recently commented on the possibility of an appearance at the upcoming PLE in a tweet that reads:

“It would be a full circle moment for sure.”

With the Canadian star being of Italian descent, Marella notably made his televised WWE debut in Italy on the April 16 episode of WWE Raw in 2007, with that broadcast emanating from DutchForum in Milan.

Not only did Marella make his debut at that show, but he would also defeat Umaga to become WWE Intercontinental Champion, a title he would hold until July 2007, losing the title to Umaga.

Marella would depart WWE having been a two-time Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion and one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, with Vladimir Koslov.

The Enduring Appeal Of Santino Marella

There’s something charming about the character that the real-life Anthony Carelli has portrayed for much of his career.

A caricature of a persona, Santino Marella may have played it for laughs at various points in his career, but heritage was rarely played as the butt of the joke.

While some of his storylines may look at bit questionable to current sensibilities, with his Santina Marella persona entering the women’s Royal Rumble match back in 2020, arguably the former WWE star’s strengths lie in his ability to embrace exactly what was needed to succeed in a competitive television environment.

An on-screen authority figure in TNA Wrestling, Marella continues to show those very strengths outside of competing in the ring. His director role has an edge that seems at odds with the more humorous portrayal some may be more familiar with seeing on screen.

Interactions with his real-life daughter, NXT star Arianna Grace, have seen family drama played out on screen, with the NXT star going on to be a now-former TNA Knockouts Champion, and her own fiancé, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, proving to be a thorn in the patriarch’s side.

His full-time in-ring career may be behind him, but the relationship with WWE endures, as does the appeal of Santino Marella.