Insight with Chris Van Vliet Santino Marella Got Everyone To Break Character! Mispronouncing Names, Stone Cold, The Cobra
Jun 3, 2025
Santino Marella, a former WWE Intercontinental Champion and comedic wrestling icon, shares laughs about his career, including his time in TNA. He discusses the hilarious moments of mispronouncing names and memorable interactions with wrestlers like Mick Foley. Santino reflects on how he developed his signature 'Cobra' move and his experiences balancing comedy with the seriousness of the wrestling world. He also touches upon the importance of family in wrestling and the joy of creating characters that resonate with fans.
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Daughter's Storyline Orchestration
- Santino's daughter orchestrated a storyline by pitching an idea to him, who then helped navigate it to writers.
- This taught her how to create opportunities and make them real, giving her control over her career trajectory.
Balance Comedy and Credibility
- Comedy wrestlers must balance humor with credibility to remain legitimate contenders.
- Put the joke on your opponents as a good guy, but don't let it diminish your perceived ability.
Famous Santino Mispronunciations
- Santino had many hilariously memorable mispronunciations like "Honky Donky Man" and "John Chana" for John Cena.
- These mispronunciations became beloved trademarks that regularly made wrestlers and fans break character with laughter.