Arianna Grace

Early life and education

Bianca Carelli was born on June 29, 1995, in Mississauga, Ontario, to Petrina and Anthony Carelli, the latter known globally as the WWE comedic wrestler Santino Marella. From a young age, she was immersed in performing arts, participating in live theatre, improvisation competitions, and competitive dance. Her early foray into beauty pageants culminated in winning the Miss Teen Ontario-World title in 2013 when she was 17 years old. She balanced these pursuits with athletics, participating in field hockey and swimming during her school years. Carelli pursued higher education at Western University in London, Ontario, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Alongside her academic and pageant work, she undertook extensive training in mixed martial arts, developing skills in judo, jujutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and boxing, which later formed a foundation for her professional wrestling career.

Professional wrestling career

Bianca Carelli began her formal wrestling training in 2018 under the guidance of Canadian independent wrestler Tyson Dux. She made her professional in-ring debut on June 9, 2018, on the independent circuit. She competed on the independent circuit for several years, notably appearing at the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) EmPowerrr event in 2021, where she participated in the NWA Women's Invitational Cup Gauntlet, which was ultimately won by Chelsea Green. She gained further experience wrestling at various independent shows in Florida, building her profile before catching the attention of WWE scouts. Her performances led to a contract offer, and she officially signed with WWE in March 2022, reporting immediately to its NXT developmental brand in Orlando, Florida.

WWE career: 2022 to 2025

Carelli was assigned to WWE's NXT brand, its developmental territory, and debuted on television on the April 29, 2022, episode of NXT Level Up under the ring name Arianna Grace, defeating Amari Miller. Shortly after, she entered the inaugural NXT Women's Breakout Tournament but was eliminated in the first round by Nikkita Lyons on the May 10 episode of NXT. She earned her first televised win on the main NXT program on August 10, 2022, by defeating Thea Hail. Her early momentum was halted in October 2022 when she suffered a torn ACL during a tag team match on NXT Level Up, sidelining her for approximately one year. Grace made her in-ring return on the September 29, 2023, episode of NXT Level Up, losing to Fallon Henley. Upon her return, she adopted a new 'Miss NXT' beauty pageant persona, which became her central character. She re-entered the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament in October 2023, defeating Brinley Reece in the first round but losing to Kelani Jordan in the semi-finals, marking the most tournament appearances by any woman in NXT at that time.

In 2024, Grace continued to be featured in mid-card storylines and matches on NXT television. She participated in an NXT Women's Championship number one contender's battle royal on January 16, which was won by Roxanne Perez. A notable angle involved a match against Gigi Dolin on March 12 with a unique stipulation where Grace would give Dolin a makeover to be a 'proper lady' if she won. Grace defeated Dolin by disqualification after the referee caught Dolin delivering a low blow, one of the first recorded instances of a women's match in WWE ending via that specific disqualification. The storyline was abruptly dropped after Dolin reportedly suffered a serious knee injury in June 2024. On the June 25 episode of NXT, Grace fought Sol Ruca for an opportunity at the new NXT Women's North American Championship at the NXT Heatwave event but was defeated. The following week, NXT General Manager Ava assigned Grace as an unwilling partner to Karmen Petrovic for a tag team match at NXT Heatwave. At the NXT Heatwave pre-show, Grace and Petrovic defeated Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx, but a post-match disagreement led to Ava booking a singles match between them that same week, which Grace lost. Grace reportedly suffered an undisclosed injury in August 2024 that kept her off television for several months.

Grace made her on-screen return at NXT Vengeance Day on February 15, 2025 with her father, Santino Marella. On the June 3 episode of NXT, Grace made her in-ring return against LFG winner Tyra Mae Steele. She had been portraying a beauty pageant gimmick and calling herself "Miss NXT". In this role, she had previously given a makeover stipulation to Gigi Dolin to be a "proper lady" and had a disagreement with tag team partner Karmen Petrovic over who contributed to a match victory.

BirthRight faction and recent NXT activity

In early 2026, Lexis King formed a new stable called BirthRight, composed exclusively of second-generation WWE wrestlers. Arianna Grace, as the daughter of Santino Marella, was recruited as a founding member. The faction also included Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo (her fiancé at the time and son of former wrestler Tony Garea), Uriah Conners (son of Fit Finlay), and Charlie Dempsey (son of William Regal). The group made its in-ring debut as a team at the NXT Stand & Deliver countdown show on April 4, 2026, losing a 10-person mixed tag team match to the team of Hank and Tank, Shiloh Hill, EK Prosper, and Wren Sinclair. Grace found individual success within the faction shortly after, winning a tournament to become the number one contender for the WWE Women's Speed Championship. The tournament ran from June 16 to June 23, 2026, and Grace defeated Izzi Dame in the tournament finals on the June 23 episode of NXT to earn the contender's spot, a significant achievement in her NXT tenure.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)

Arianna Grace began appearing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), a partner promotion of WWE, in September 2024. She made her debut on the September 5 episode of Impact!, announcing her role as a liaison between NXT and TNA. Her familial connection was highlighted at Victory Road on September 13, 2024, when she appeared on-screen with her father, Santino Marella, who serves as TNA's Director of Authority, marking the first time they were presented together in a wrestling context. She teamed with him for the first time in a mixed tag team match on the May 29, 2025, episode of Impact!, though they lost to the team of Robert Stone and Victoria Crawford. Grace accompanied Marella to his victory in a match for the TNA Director of Authority position against Robert Stone at the Against All Odds event on June 6, 2025, supporting his managerial career.

Grace's TNA career reached its peak on February 13, 2026, at the No Surrender event, where she defeated Léi Yǐng Lee to win the TNA Knockouts World Championship, the first title of her professional career. She then began a successful title reign with multiple defences. She successfully defended the title against Jody Threat on the March 5, 2026, episode of Impact! in her first defence. At the Sacrifice event on March 27, 2026, she retained the championship in a triple threat match against Léi Yǐng Lee and Dani Luna, pinning the latter to win. She defeated Xia Brookside in another title defence on the April 2, 2026, episode of Impact!. Nine days later, at the Rebellion event on April 11, 2026, she defeated Léi Yǐng Lee again to secure her fourth successful title defence. Her championship reign ended during tapings for Impact! on April 15, 2026, when she lost the title in a rematch against Léi Yǐng Lee. The match was broadcast on television at a later date, concluding her first major championship run.

Personal life

Bianca Carelli holds a diverse ethnic background, with Italian, Pakistani, Métis, and Finnish ancestry. She continued her pageant involvement as an adult, competing in the Miss Universe Canada competition in 2023 where she finished in the top 20. On January 25, 2025, she announced via social media that she had obtained American citizenship, making her a dual Canadian-American citizen. Her personal life has been subject to public attention due to her relationships within the wrestling industry. She was engaged to fellow NXT wrestler Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo, a relationship that was incorporated into the BirthRight faction storyline, but it is speculated the relationship ended sometime in June 2026. In 2026, it was revealed through legal filings that she had obtained an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend, former NXT talent Keanu Carver, citing personal safety concerns.

Championships and accomplishments

On February 13, 2026 at No Surrender, Grace defeated Léi Yǐng Lee to win the TNA Knockouts World Championship, making it the first title in her career. She successfully defended the title against Jody Threat, Léi Yǐng Lee, Dani Luna, and Xia Brookside. She also won the WWE Women's Speed Championship number one contenders tournament, defeating Izzi Dame in the finals on the June 23 episode of NXT in 2026. She lost the TNA Knockouts World Championship in a rematch against Léi Yǐng Lee at the April 15 tapings of Impact! in 2026.

WWE

In-ring style and persona

Arianna Grace's in-ring style incorporates the martial arts foundation she built in her youth, utilizing judo and jujutsu techniques alongside standard professional wrestling manoeuvres. Her training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing also informs her striking and grappling exchanges during matches, giving her a well-rounded technical arsenal. Following her return from injury in 2023, she adopted the 'Miss NXT' persona, a character centred on beauty pageant aesthetics and portraying a superior, pageant queen attitude. This gimmick involved promos and mannerisms that mocked opponents for not being 'proper ladies' and often included challenges based on makeovers or etiquette, which generated both heat and comedy. Her alignment with the BirthRight faction in 2026 shifted her presentation to emphasize her legacy as a second-generation star, often teaming with other wrestlers from famous wrestling families in a more serious competitive context. Her work in TNA further developed her character as a confident champion capable of successful title defences against a variety of challengers, revealing a more serious and determined competitive edge compared to her earlier NXT pageant character.

Career timeline and key matches

Grace made her WWE debut on the April 29, 2022 episode of NXT Level Up, where she defeated Amari Miller. She made her TNA debut on the September 5, 2024 episode of Impact! and announced she would be the new liaison between NXT and TNA. She won the TNA Knockouts World Championship on February 13, 2026 at No Surrender. She won the WWE Women's Speed Championship number one contenders tournament on the June 23, 2026 episode of NXT.

Questions about Arianna Grace

Who is Arianna Grace's father?

Arianna Grace is the daughter of Anthony Carelli, who is internationally known as the professional wrestler Santino Marella. Her father is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion and United States Champion, known for his comedic character. He currently serves as the Director of Authority for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Their familial connection has been featured on television in both WWE and TNA programming, including mixed tag team matches and on-screen appearances.

What championship did Arianna Grace win in TNA?

Arianna Grace won the TNA Knockouts World Championship on February 13, 2026, at the No Surrender event by defeating Léi Yǐng Lee. This was the first major championship of her professional wrestling career. She successfully defended the title four times against opponents including Jody Threat, Dani Luna, Xia Brookside, and Léi Yǐng Lee in a rematch. She lost the title in a subsequent rematch against Lee that was taped on April 15, 2026, and aired later.

What is the BirthRight faction in WWE NXT?

BirthRight is a faction on WWE's NXT brand formed in early 2026 by Lexis King. The group exclusively consists of second-generation WWE wrestlers, highlighting their wrestling family legacies. Arianna Grace is a founding member, joined by Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo (son of Tony Garea), Uriah Conners (son of Fit Finlay), and Charlie Dempsey (son of William Regal). The faction made its in-ring debut as a team in a 10-person mixed tag team match on April 4, 2026, and serves as a central unit in NXT storylines.

What injury did Arianna Grace suffer in 2022?

In October 2022, Arianna Grace suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a tag team match on WWE's NXT Level Up program. This serious knee injury required surgery and forced her out of in-ring action for approximately one year. She made her return to wrestling on the September 29, 2023, episode of NXT Level Up, losing to Fallon Henley. The recovery period led to the development of her new 'Miss NXT' character upon her return.

Did Arianna Grace compete in beauty pageants?

Yes, Arianna Grace has a significant background in beauty pageants. She won the Miss Teen Ontario-World pageant in 2013 at the age of 17. As an adult, she competed in the Miss Universe Canada pageant in 2023, where she placed in the top 20 finalists. Her pageant experience heavily influenced her 'Miss NXT' wrestling persona, which incorporates pageant-style promos, costumes, and a character obsessed with poise, beauty, and being a 'proper lady'.

When did Arianna Grace debut in WWE?

Arianna Grace made her WWE debut on the April 29, 2022, episode of NXT Level Up, defeating Amari Miller. This debut followed her official signing with the company in March 2022, at which time she was assigned to the NXT brand. Prior to joining WWE, she had trained under independent wrestler Tyson Dux beginning in 2018 and competed on various independent shows, including in Florida. Her signing was publicly announced by WWE on March 17, 2022. Her debut match marked the start of her televised career within the NXT developmental system.

Sources and further reading

• Arianna Grace (Wikipedia)
• WATCH: NXT Superstar Arianna Grace talks Canadian roots ... (torontosun.com)
• Who Is Arianna Grace? NXT Talent Named in Keanu ... (sports.yahoo.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.