Santino Earns Wrestlemania Match

WWE's creative team plugged Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov into the Eight Man Tag Team Match with The Corre at Wrestlemania XXVII after it was decided that Christian would be in Edge's corner when "The Rated-R Superstar" defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio. Christian and Kofi Kingston were originally pegged for the match.

It also said that Marella had "earned a spot on the card" based on his tenure with WWE. Management reportedly feels he "hits a home run" with whatever he is told to do on television and since he hadn't yet worked a WrestleMania match (WrestleMania XXV notwithstanding), he was to be rewarded.

I think that's brilliant recognition. Santino is one of my faves and he deserves it.

Go Santino!

Well deserved.

Agree. Hes actually a really good Wrestler to watch in terms of technical ability too when hes not playing the comedy face role.

I really hope they start to push him more, whilst retaining a similar personality.

i agree with the above comments.

The crowd reaction when it looked like he was going to win the rumble was brilliant.

The guy should be in the ken kennedy role - a tweener comedy character that can carry a belt

Yeah i guess the guy is good at what he does and very entertaining.
So frustrating they haven't put Christian in the WHC match though, and i'm very suprised Kofi ain't even going to be on the card.
He has really gone done hill recently, has he upset someone backstage?

Dx Dan. wrote:Yeah i guess the guy is good at what he does and very entertaining.
So frustrating they haven't put Christian in the WHC match though, and i'm very suprised Kofi ain't even going to be on the card.
He has really gone done hill recently, has he upset someone backstage?

Kofi is rumoured to be facing Drew.

King Beer wrote:Kofi is rumoured to be facing Drew.

I'd love to see how they're going to big that up.

Michael Cole: Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next it's the battle of the afterthoughts: Kofi Kingston versus Drew McIntyre!

Maybe it will be the dark match that they do each year.

I would love for Cole to say:

"Up next we have Drew vs Kofi. Its only just been added as we realised that the Snooki match is going to be terrible and this will be quite good!"

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:

King Beer wrote:Kofi is rumoured to be facing Drew.

I'd love to see how they're going to big that up.

Michael Cole: Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next it's the battle of the afterthoughts: Kofi Kingston versus Drew McIntyre!

Dunno, maybe they could just be backstage talking and a fight ensues, they end up in the arena and Rock books and impromptu match?

Agree that Santino has earnt it, maybe a future World Champion?

I know that you are just trying to come up with a reason but that would be truly awful.

However, 99% likely!

Yeah it would suck, but this is the WWE!!

How would it be done in TNA then?

Kofi would turn heel and drew face. Cody would slip in flairs blood (after a blad job of course) and bump into Kofi who by this point is facce again. This stumble causes Drew to turn Heel.

Meanwhile, TNA's new signings, The Bushewackers and Jim The Anvil Valentine are in the ring beating down the TNA champion (who is Vince Russo at this point).

The match then goes to a double DQ backstage, as Flair "wooos" on.

Knowing WWE they wouldn't even go that far.

Maybe it'll be the dark match instead of the usual pre-show battle royal?

Your missing the part where Jeff Hardy invades the Impact zone on a lawnmower whilst lighting up a bong and running JB down.

Hernandez comes in and custs another promo about 'Mexican America', which is actually a distraction to smuggle in a bunch of Mexican's into the country before Matt Morgan comes down to see if his chest is as red as Flair's blood.

King Beer wrote:Your missing the part where Jeff Hardy invades the Impact zone on a lawnmower whilst lighting up a bong and running JB down.

Hernandez comes in and custs another promo about 'Mexican America', which is actually a distraction to smuggle in a bunch of Mexican's into the country before Matt Morgan comes down to see if his chest is as red as Flair's blood.

and you say you dont like TNA!

You're also missing the part where Christopher Daniels gets released, returns as Suicide, gets released, returns as Christopher Daniels, gets released, returns as Curryman, gets released, returns as Christopher Daniels 'for a proper run this time' and gets released.

All the while Matt Hardy is trying to convince people that he isn't an insignificant turd, RVD is walking around the back confused looking for Sabu; "Dude he was here like, a second ago dude", Abyss has dressed Brian Kendrick up as himself to hump a mannequin as he continues copying Kane's career path, Mick Foley has ANOTHER retirement then returns 3 weeks later, Jeff Jarrett dumps Karen and gets with Amazing Red's wife, then ditches her for Mike Tenay's missus, and TNA start an angle that involves Randy Orton, John Cena, CM Punk and Vince McMahon, despite none of them being signed with the company. And in the midst of all this, Dixie Carter is sitting in the front row with a plastic smile on her face.

But without her iPhone since she has been banned from Twitter

Hobo wrote:

King Beer wrote:Your missing the part where Jeff Hardy invades the Impact zone on a lawnmower whilst lighting up a bong and running JB down.

Hernandez comes in and custs another promo about 'Mexican America', which is actually a distraction to smuggle in a bunch of Mexican's into the country before Matt Morgan comes down to see if his chest is as red as Flair's blood.

and you say you dont like TNA!

I watched it last night, myself and 4 others were watching in utter disbelief at the segments and slating it profusely on chat.

I don't think there is anyone in wrestling who could play Santino's role and still be so popular. I think his comic timing is up there with the best. Pretty much any other wrestler would be booed out of the building doing the stuff he does.

He'll never be a main eventer but his talents are perfect for his role on the card. I think he definitely deserves a Wrestlemania spot.

Sorry for going off topic...

He probably isn't 'main event' level, but i could imagine the crowd reaction if he ever did get there.

Still though what is the point of just whacking a match on for no reason with not a second of build up what so ever?
Just a waste of two half decent up and coming superstars.
It's people like Drew and Kofi that really miss out with there not being a MITB at this years Mania

Maybe Kofi will be involved in the tag match, say Corre beat down the faces and he comes out after Barrett, then Drew comes out after Kofi?

I like Santino he plays the comedy role well unfortunately the WWE have made such a mockery of him he will never regain genuine credibility

Do you think there's ever a way for him to turn it around.
Guys like Jericho were reduced to Steph's dog walker at times, or is it just that the length of time as the court jester has resulted in a point of no return.

With his crowd following he could easily get a push and succeed.

King Beer wrote:With his crowd following he could easily get a push and succeed.

to be fair k.b he could be the popular world champion in history

In my opinion Santino deserves a massive push over the next few years, his in ring work is very good and is one of the best talkers in the business.

Ladies and Gentlemen your new WWE Champion SANTINO MARELLA!

Hero wrote:Do you think there's ever a way for him to turn it around.
Guys like Jericho were reduced to Steph's dog walker at times, or is it just that the length of time as the court jester has resulted in a point of no return.

no mate i don't, Jericho was booked great for years before all that rudey poo, Marella has always been the joke, if he had been booked strong for years beforehand then maybe, Santino hasn't

Agree with gaffer, Santino's gone too long as a comedy character to ever be taken seriously as a World title contender, let alone a World Champion.

I think if WWE actually tried to push him to main-event level a good percentage of the fans would turn on him.

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:Agree with gaffer, Santino's gone too long as a comedy character to ever be taken seriously as a World title contender, let alone a World Champion.

I think if WWE actually tried to push him to main-event level a good percentage of the fans would turn on him.

Hostile.

I'm not talking World Title, but US or IC he could do.

He's been IC Champ twice already hasn't he?

Hero wrote:He's been IC Champ twice already hasn't he?

One heel run and his debut match, although i personally loved the Honky - o -Meter.

I reckon Santino would be fantastic with one of the titles again (I know he has been tag champ).

The only thing is, would people take him seriously as a champ? I know it's
sort of Coles character atm but he just takes the mick out of Santino all the time for example laughing at the same time as the Cobra is about to strike!

I think the US/IC title needs building and i definitely don't think Santino would be a guy that could do that, if he got another shngles title it would need to be something like the Hardcore Title

King Beer wrote:

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:Agree with gaffer, Santino's gone too long as a comedy character to ever be taken seriously as a World title contender, let alone a World Champion.

I think if WWE actually tried to push him to main-event level a good percentage of the fans would turn on him.

Hostile.

I'm not talking World Title, but US or IC he could do.

Ah fair enough mate, in that case yeah I reckon he could do a job as the US or IC champion. I'd like to see him as a guy that his opponents under estimate in the build-up, but once they're in the ring with him he's deadly serious (the commentators could say that winning the belt brought this side out of him) and he ends up beating his opponents cleanly.

How do you think fans would react if there was no comedy in his matches though? Do you think just using humour in feud building promos would be enough?

The comedy aspect is what got him over, with being able to laugh at him in his matches i don't think he'd be as over

the-gaffer wrote:The comedy aspect is what got him over, with being able to laugh at him in his matches i don't think he'd be as over

I disagree, the fans love him, he easily is in top 5 each week for biggest pops, and he'd be a great tool for getting someone over as a heel.

I dont see why people had a problem with him being the tag champ with Koslov.

Together, they make a believable team - a big powerhouse with a chopsy mouthpiece.

I think they are ideally suited to the tag championships - gives them airtime, gives them some opponents to elevate (such as Corre) and is a way of rebuilding the tag division.

The fans love him for hir idiot act mate, the loveable loser, take that awax and what have you got?

the-gaffer wrote:The fans love him for hir idiot act mate, the loveable loser, take that awax and what have you got?

Matt Hardy?

My God Santino has to be better than that

the-gaffer wrote:The fans love him for hir idiot act mate, the loveable loser, take that awax and what have you got?

He's entertaining, loveable loser's rarely hold the tag belts for more than a week. Providing you don't take the entertainment level away he could still do a job. He's actually quite a good wrestler.

the-gaffer wrote:My God Santino has to be better than that

Yeah good point gaffer, I only took away the 'loveable' bit so my obvious conclusion was you're left with Matt Hardy.

KB I know he is a good wrestler mate i posted a lot of his OVW matches onto another board but after four years of being the loveable loser it would be hard tn have him suddenly show this, also it might just be me but I'd not class holding the Tag Titles as a big deal pkus wasnt that done to promote the Santino Kozlov sitcom

the-gaffer wrote:KB I know he is a good wrestler mate i posted a lot of his OVW matches onto another board but after four years of being the loveable loser it would be hard tn have him suddenly show this, also it might just be me but I'd not class holding the Tag Titles as a big deal pkus wasnt that done to promote the Santino Kozlov sitcom

Don't recall, but you and I both know there are ways of building him up, and it could easily be done.

I dont think it could be realistically easy done

the-gaffer wrote:I dont think it could be realistically easy done

Scenario:

The Corre continue to feud with Santino and Kozlov, they take Kozlov out and put him on the shelf, each week they continue to beat down on Santino cause his partner isn't around, eventually, Santino starts fighting back, doesn't always get the better of them, but at least starts to get some shots in, maybe lessens the numbers. Santino begins to get more and more frustrated, then, a few weeks after this, The Corre are beating down on someone (say Kofi), Santino comes out looking all pee'd off in normal clothes and charges the ring, he cleans house, each week he faces off against a member of The Corre and despite interference he wins, he finally gets a shot at Barrett for the IC belt, he thinks he's got the better of Barrett until a new Corre member appears (no idea who), costs him the match, the feud continues, with one of The Corre (Jackson) having his nose pushed out, tension is teased, Santino gets his rematch, Jackson refuses to help, inadvertently costs Barrett the match and Santino wins. The crowd love it cause Santino finally did it and Barrett doesn't lose too much momentum and will be even more over as a Heel plus a chance for Jackson to go face!

King Beer wrote:

the-gaffer wrote:I dont think it could be realistically easy done

Scenario:

The Corre continue to feud with Santino and Kozlov, they take Kozlov out and put him on the shelf, each week they continue to beat down on Santino cause his partner isn't around, eventually, Santino starts fighting back, doesn't always get the better of them, but at least starts to get some shots in, maybe lessens the numbers. Santino begins to get more and more frustrated, then, a few weeks after this, The Corre are beating down on someone (say Kofi), Santino comes out looking all pee'd off in normal clothes and charges the ring, he cleans house, each week he faces off against a member of The Corre and despite interference he wins, he finally gets a shot at Barrett for the IC belt, he thinks he's got the better of Barrett until a new Corre member appears (no idea who), costs him the match, the feud continues, with one of The Corre (Jackson) having his nose pushed out, tension is teased, Santino gets his rematch, Jackson refuses to help, inadvertently costs Barrett the match and Santino wins. The crowd love it cause Santino finally did it and Barrett doesn't lose too much momentum and will be even more over as a Heel plus a chance for Jackson to go face!

Bish bash bosh, job's a good 'un.

I will state that Santino would need a proper finisher.