Santino Marella, known for his time in TNA Wrestling, shared his thoughts on the backstage response to his WWE ring return in NXT earlier this year. Marella faced Ethan Page for the North American Championship on the July 29 episode of NXT, with Page successfully defending the title. This marked Marella’s first WWE ring appearance since his 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble match as Santina Marella, and his first singles match since going up against Rusev in a main event on June 17, 2014.
In an interview with Rewind Recap Relive, Marella recalled Shawn Michaels’ reaction when he entered the arena: "It was great when I walked through the curtain and Sean and Matt were shaking their heads like, ‘Oh my God, great job!’ I’m 51 years old and kept up a pretty fast pace in NXT, pushing myself. Everyone was impressed that I could still perform as well as I did." He added, "Even though we didn’t win, we proved we can still compete, and that’s a victory in itself."
Recently, Marella announced he would be stepping in for Matt Cardona in the upcoming steel cage match featuring Team TNA vs. Team NXT on December 18th at iMPACT. This switch led to a storyline where NXT’s Ariana Grace’s father confronts her fiancé, adding an emotional layer to the event.
Fan Take: Santino Marella’s return to WWE rings reminds fans that legends can still deliver incredible performances, bridging past and present in wrestling. His participation in high-profile matches not only excites loyal fans but also elevates the competitive spirit and storytelling in wrestling today.
