Arianna Grace Hated Wrestling Growing Up for “Stealing Her Dad”

Arianna Grace has emerged as a standout star in WWE NXT, but her journey to this point was marked by complicated feelings toward wrestling. Despite her name and current success, Grace is the daughter of former WWE Superstar Santino Marella, whose demanding schedule on the road took a toll on their relationship. In an conversation with Nikkita Lyons on The Lyon’s Den, Grace opened up about her early resentment for the wrestling world.

“I always thought of it as his thing,” Grace shared. “And I also harbored a little bit of resentment toward the industry when I was little. Because I felt very much like, ‘Oh, wrestling stole my dad. I don’t see my dad because he’s wrestling. I hate wrestling.’”

Despite her initial bitterness, Grace’s perspective shifted when her father suggested she try stepping into the ring herself. “When he mentioned to me, ‘Why don’t you try it?’ I was like, wow. I could take something that I felt caused me a lot of pain and turn it into something that gives me my life back. And that’s what we did,” she revealed.

Santino Marella’s days as a WWE superstar are now behind him, but the father-daughter duo has reunited in TNA, where Marella plays an on-screen authority figure. Grace, on the other hand, has become a vital part of the collaboration between NXT and TNA, acting as the liaison and strengthening the working relationship between the two wrestling giants.

Arianna Grace’s journey from childhood resentment to wrestling success is a testament to her resilience and growth.

What do you think about Arianna Grace’s journey from resenting wrestling to embracing it as a career? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!