Thursday, March 28, 2024
NewsSantino Marella: 'My Wrestling Career Is Winding Down!'

Santino Marella: ‘My Wrestling Career Is Winding Down!’

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Santino Marella spoke with
Newsday.com
in a new interview promoting the
company’s anti-bullying efforts. Check out the highlights:

On WWE’s anti-bullying campaign: “Being a bully is really a reflection on yourself.
It’s not just what to do if you’re the victim, it’s to identify bullying in
yourself. Are you being nice to everybody? . . . Sometimes prevention comes
within you.”

On people who say WWE is being
hypocritical in their anti-bulling efforts while promoting violence:
“It’s crazy to criticize it, because the people who
are putting out this product are the ones who are going out to the kids and
saying, ‘Hey, what we do is a show. It’s entertainment.’ You cannot settle your
disputes the way we do on TV, because we are entertainment. That’s one of the
big messages that we teach in every school, and the kids understand it.”

On his career heading toward a
close:
“I realize I’m one of the older
guys in the locker room, and I’m 5-foot-10. These young bucks are 27 years old
and 250 pounds. That way I’d be able to stay on the program and entertain people
and be an even bigger part of the show . . . I’m definitely winding down.”

On his fans: “I always had a special relationship with the fans
because I came from the audience, and we’ve shared a lot of laughter together.
So it’s not like they put me on a pedestal. They believe I’m one of them. So
instead of fans and a role model, it’s more like we’re friends. So to have one
of your friends come that close to becoming world heavyweight champion, it was
exciting.”

On the recent releases: “The guys who were released maybe were not as
flexible. They couldn’t fit into everywhere. I’m versatile. I can do anything. I
can sing, dance. I can do it all. I can stay here for another 20 years.”

On comedy in wrestling: “We have to take you on an emotional roller coaster
through the entire match — have you screaming, cheering, emotional. And you
have to laugh too. It’s an essential part of the program. And that’s why I don’t
get nervous that I’m going to get fired — because that’s my role.”