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

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.”

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