Arianna Grace

Early Life and Education

Bianca Carelli was born in Mississauga, Ontario, to Petrina and professional wrestler Anthony Carelli, known globally as Santino Marella. From a young age, she was immersed in performance arts, participating in live theatre, improvisation competitions, and competitive dance. Her early public profile was significantly shaped by beauty pageants, culminating in her winning the Miss Teen Ontario-World title in 2013 at age seventeen. Academically, Carelli pursued higher education at Western University in London, Ontario, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Alongside her artistic and academic pursuits, she developed a strong athletic foundation through extensive training in mixed martial arts disciplines including judo, jujutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and boxing. She also participated in field hockey and swimming during her school years, demonstrating a well-rounded athletic background long before her professional wrestling career began.

Professional Wrestling Training and Early Career

Bianca Carelli began her formal wrestling training in 2018 under the guidance of respected Canadian independent wrestler Tyson Dux. She made her professional in-ring debut on June 9, 2018. Her early career saw her competing on the independent circuit, with a notable appearance at the National Wrestling Alliance's all-women's event, NWA EmPowerrr, in 2021. There, she competed in the NWA Women's Invitational Cup Gauntlet, a match ultimately won by Chelsea Green. Following this, she gained further experience by working several independent shows in Florida. This period of development on the independent scene culminated in March 2022 when she signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, marking the start of her tenure with the industry's largest promotion.

WWE Career: Initial Run and Injury (2022 to 2023)

Carelli's signing with WWE was announced on March 17, 2022, with the directive that she would report to the NXT developmental brand. She debuted on television under the ring name Arianna Grace on the April 29 episode of NXT Level Up, securing a victory over 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. Grace 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 Level Up, sidelining her for approximately one year. The injury required significant rehabilitation before she could return to competition.

Return and 'Miss NXT' Persona (2023 to 2024)

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 defining character. She re-entered the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament in October 2023, making the most appearances of any woman in that year's tournament. She defeated Brinley Reece in the first round but lost in the semi-finals to Kelani Jordan. On the January 16, 2024, episode of NXT, Grace participated in an NXT Women's Championship number one contender's battle royal, which was won by Roxanne Perez. A notable storyline began on the March 12, 2024, episode of NXT, where Grace faced Gigi Dolin with a stipulation that if Grace won, she would give Dolin a makeover. Grace won by disqualification after the referee caught Dolin delivering a low blow, one of the first instances of a women's WWE match ending by that specific disqualification. This angle was dropped after Dolin suffered a serious knee injury in June 2024.

Continued NXT Competition and Forming BirthRight (2024 to 2026)

On the June 25, 2024, episode of NXT, Grace fought Sol Ruca for an opportunity at the new NXT Women's North American Championship at NXT Heatwave but was defeated. The following week, NXT General Manager Ava assigned a reluctant Karmen Petrovic to team with Grace for a tag match at the Heatwave pre-show. Grace and Petrovic defeated Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx, but immediately argued over credit for the win, leading to a match between them which Grace lost. Grace was later sidelined by an undisclosed injury in August 2024. She made a high-profile return at NXT Vengeance Day on February 15, 2025, accompanied by her father, Santino Marella. Her in-ring return match occurred on the June 3, 2025, episode of NXT against Tyra Mae Steele. In early 2026, Lexis King formed the BirthRight faction, recruiting Grace, Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo, Uriah Conners, and Charlie Dempsey, all second-generation wrestlers. The stable debuted in a ten-person mixed tag team match at the NXT Stand & Deliver countdown show on April 4, 2026, but lost.

Tournament Success and TNA Partnership (2026)

Alongside her faction activities, Grace pursued individual accolades in 2026. She won a tournament to become the number one contender for the WWE Women's Speed Championship, defeating Izzi Dame in the finals on the June 23 episode of NXT. This victory positioned her for a future championship match. Her work in the WWE-TNA partnership continued concurrently, where she held the TNA Knockouts World Championship for a two-month reign beginning in February 2026. Her ability to compete prominently in both promotions simultaneously during this period demonstrated her valued status within the wrestling industry.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) Career

Arianna Grace expanded her reach beyond WWE programming in September 2024 by debuting for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, a promotion with a broadcast partnership with WWE. On the September 5 episode of Impact!, she debuted and announced her role as a liaison between NXT and TNA. Her familial connection to TNA 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. She teamed with her father for the first time in a mixed tag team match on May 29, 2025, though they lost to Robert Stone and Victoria Crawford. At Against All Odds on June 6, 2025, she accompanied her father to ringside for his successful match to retain the TNA Director of Authority position against Robert Stone.

The pinnacle of her TNA run came on February 13, 2026, at the No Surrender event, where she defeated Léi Yǐng Lee to win the TNA Knockouts World Championship, the first major title of her career. She successfully defended the title multiple times in a dominant reign. Her first defense was against Jody Threat on the March 5, 2026, episode of Impact!. At Sacrifice on March 27, 2026, she retained in a triple threat match against Léi Yǐng Lee and Dani Luna, pinning Luna. She defeated Xia Brookside on the April 2 episode of Impact!, and again defeated Lee at the Rebellion event on April 11. Her reign concluded when she lost the championship back to Lee in a rematch taped for the April 15 episode of Impact!, which aired on a tape delay.

Personal Life and Public Profile

Bianca Carelli has a diverse ethnic background, with Italian, Pakistani, Métis, and Finnish ancestry. She maintained her pageant involvement alongside wrestling, competing in the Miss Universe Canada competition in 2023 and finishing in the top twenty. On January 25, 2025, she announced that she had obtained American citizenship, making her a dual Canadian-American national. Her personal life has been subject to public speculation and legal matters. She was previously engaged to fellow NXT Superstar Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo, with whom she was also aligned in the BirthRight faction, though it was speculated the relationship ended around June 2026. In 2026, it was publicly reported that she had obtained an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend, former NXT talent Keanu Carver, following the filing of legal documents. This matter was covered by wrestling news outlets, identifying Grace as the woman who had filed for the protection order.

Athletic Style and Persona

Arianna Grace's in-ring style is informed by her extensive background in martial arts and athletic training. Her moveset incorporates technical elements from judo and jujutsu, alongside the striking fundamentals developed through boxing training. This foundation allows her to execute a hybrid style that blends technical grappling with power-based offence. Her character work is heavily defined by her 'Miss NXT' beauty pageant persona, which she has used to generate both comedic and antagonistic reactions from audiences. The gimmick involves her presenting herself as a refined and proper lady, often criticising opponents for a lack of decorum. This character has been a consistent part of her presentation since late 2023 and serves as a unique point of differentiation within the women's divisions of both NXT and TNA. Her social media presence often reinforces this character, promoting her title defences and television appearances with the hashtag #knockoutschamp during her TNA reign.

Championships and Accomplishments

Throughout her career, Arianna Grace has secured several notable achievements in major promotions. Her most significant accomplishment to date is winning the TNA Knockouts World Championship, a title she held for one reign beginning in February 2026. Within WWE, she won a tournament in June 2026 to become the number one contender for the WWE Women's Speed Championship. Her pageant career is also marked by the title of Miss Teen Ontario-World, which she won in 2013. These accomplishments across sports entertainment and pageantry underscore her versatility and competitive drive. Her TNA title reign included successful defences against Jody Threat, Dani Luna, Xia Brookside, and multiple victories over Léi Yǐng Lee, establishing her as a formidable champion during her tenure.

Questions about Arianna Grace

Is Arianna Grace related to Santino Marella?

Yes, Arianna Grace is the daughter of Anthony Carelli, who is globally known by his ring name Santino Marella. This makes her a second-generation professional wrestler. Her father's career in WWE and later as the Director of Authority in TNA has been a significant part of her own storyline development, including their on-screen appearances together in both promotions. They teamed together for the first time in a TNA mixed tag match in May 2025.

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 title of her career. She successfully defended the title against Jody Threat, Dani Luna, Xia Brookside, and Léi Yǐng Lee. She lost the title in a rematch against Léi Yǐng Lee at the April 15 tapings of Impact!.

What is the BirthRight faction in NXT?

BirthRight is a faction on WWE's NXT brand formed in early 2026 by Lexis King. The stable exclusively features second-generation WWE wrestlers. Arianna Grace is a member as the daughter of Santino Marella. Other members include Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo, Uriah Conners (son of Fit Finlay), and Charlie Dempsey (son of William Regal). The group made its in-ring debut in a ten-person mixed tag team match at the NXT Stand & Deliver countdown show on April 4, 2026.

Did Arianna Grace compete in beauty pageants?

Yes, Arianna Grace has an extensive background in beauty pageants. She won the Miss Teen Ontario-World pageant in 2013 at the age of seventeen. More recently, she competed in the Miss Universe Canada pageant in 2023, where she placed in the top twenty finalists. Her pageant persona heavily influences her 'Miss NXT' character in wrestling, which involves a gimmick centred on being a refined and proper lady.

What was Arianna Grace's major injury?

Arianna Grace suffered a significant torn ACL injury in October 2022 during a tag team match on WWE's NXT Level Up program. This injury required surgery and forced her to be sidelined from in-ring competition for approximately one year. She made her return to action on the September 29, 2023, episode of NXT Level Up. She also dealt with an undisclosed injury in August 2024 that caused another absence from television.

Is Arianna Grace a Canadian citizen?

Arianna Grace was born in Mississauga, Ontario, and is a Canadian citizen by birth. She also obtained American citizenship, announcing on January 25, 2025, that she had become an American citizen. This makes her a dual Canadian-American national. Her heritage includes Italian, Pakistani, Métis, and Finnish descent.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.