Barrie Advance sports editor Jim Barber had a chance to interview international WWE superstar Santino Marella by telephone prior to his appearance at a special Wrestlemania Revenge card at the Barrie Molson Centre.

The former Intercontinental champion, is currently vying for the tag-team titles with his partner Carlito.

Advance: So what is Carlito like as a tag-team partner?

Santino: Carlito is a great person. I know he has-a my back. Just like I have-a his back. Some people think before that he was trying to-a steal Maria, but I know, deep down inside, he was just keeping an eye on her for me.

Advance: Do you think you will be able to beat Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes for the tag-team titles?

Santino: (Laughs) Of course. Of course we’re-a going to beat Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes. I mean, they are not international superstars, and we are. And the title is called World Tag Team Champions, not American Tag Team Champions.

Advance: What is your relationship like now with ex-girlfriend and WWE Diva, Maria?

Santino: Well, you know, she wants-a to get back together, but I am moving on to bigger and better things. She has to learn her lesson for what-a she did. She did something very selfish by posing for the Playboy, without my … you know, I did not support it. But she went ahead and did it anyway.

Advance: So she still wants to see you?

Santino: I see her backstage and she always looks at me and wants-a to talk to me, and come up to me, but I make it very clear that she is-a not welcome.

Advance: Why were you so upset that she posed in Playboy?

Santino: Because of-a the things that she showed to the entire world. She showed them my things. Those are only secrets that I’m-a supposed to know, not everyone. It’s like-a for me to come to your house, and take your diary and show the entire planet. Those were my personal body parts, not for the world to see.

Advance: Is there a new woman in Santino Marella’s life?

Santino: I have many-a girls approaching me all the time. It’s actually quite tedious, keeping them at bay. But there might be a new woman in the near future that I will-a display on the television. But I cannot give you too much information right now.

Advance: You don’t want to kiss and tell?

Santino: I am Santino Marella, if I was-a to kiss and tell, I would be talking all day.

Advance: What do you think of WWE commentator Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler? (The two came to blows over Lawler’s stepping in to back up Maria on her decision to pose in Playboy)?

Santino: That sonofagun. He stick-a his nose where it doesn’t belong. It’s like… are you married, do you have a wife? Am I going to come to your house and start making trouble? I don’t think you’d appreciate it very much. Jerry stupid Lawler, that pervert. He should just sit there and make comments and not get involved. One day, I am going to fix-a him for good. I am gonna punch him in the nose so hard.

Advance: Was it kind of fun to have a whole bunch of WWE Divas gang up on you at a recent Raw taping?

Santino: I received some phone calls from some very wealthy businessmen and they were asking me how they can get that to happen to them. But I did not enjoy that, that was not fun. When I watched it back on the television, okay, maybe it was exciting for some people, but not for Santino Marella. It was very, very embarrassing.

Advance: Do you have the heavyweight championship in your sights?

Santino: To be honest, I have not decided that. I want my Intercontinental title back first. When I get it back, I want to keep it. Because I have a little but of a chip on my shoulder to prove to everyone that it-a was not a fluke … as for the heavyweight title, everyone knows I have the ability to (win it) – but one step at a time.

Advance: Do you know who you will be facing in Barrie?

Santino: I don’t know yet, but I hope we have a tag team title opportunity because, who knows, maybe it’s going to be Barrie that we become tag team champions. It’s-a possible.

Advance: Have you ever been to Barrie before?

Santino: I know Barrie quite well. I even ate at Corson’s mother’s restaurant, Shayne Corson’s … Mom’s. And I used to date-a these twins that went to Georgian College in Barrie.

Advance: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me.

Santino: And I expect-a this to be on the front page of the paper.