Santino Marella Pitches Historic SmackDown Debut for Daughter Arianna Grace in Italy

One Big Thing

Former WWE star Santino Marella wants his daughter Arianna Grace to make her SmackDown debut in Bologna, Italy on March 21, potentially recreating his own historic Italian debut from 2007.

Why It Matters

• Marella’s own WWE career launched in Milan, Italy, where he won the Intercontinental Championship in his first match
• A similar debut for Grace would create a meaningful family connection in WWE history
• The timing aligns with WWE’s return to Italy for a rare international SmackDown episode

By The Numbers

• 16 years since Santino Marella’s surprise Italian debut (2007)
• 2 years of experience for Arianna Grace in NXT
• 1 Intercontinental Championship reign for Marella, beginning with his debut

Direct Quote

“I messaged her yesterday and said, ‘Hey, see if you can debut in Bologna on SmackDown. It’ll be historical,'” Marella told Maurizio Merluzzo.

Behind The Scenes

• Grace currently performs on WWE’s NXT brand
• Marella believes his daughter will be called up to the main roster this year
• The former WWE star has expressed interest in teaming with Grace for a WrestleMania mixed tag match

The Bottom Line

While WWE hasn’t confirmed any plans for Grace’s main roster debut, the potential for a meaningful family moment in Italian wrestling history adds extra significance to this week’s SmackDown in Bologna.

What do you think about the possibility of Arianna Grace making her SmackDown debut in Italy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.