When Santino Marella debuted in 2007, he was a "fan" in Italy who, on a fluke, won the Intercontinental Title. Fans didn't really take to him as some underdog, so WWE turned him heel. What really worked was him embracing his image as a nutty Italian, slaughtering the English language, and being a total goofball. For a long while, Santino could always be counted on to provide some major laughs for WWE TV.
He had his successes with reigns as IC, US, and WWE Tag Team Champion, but Santino was always better as the comic guy. Whether doing weird impressions of other wrestlers or hitting on Divas, Santino shone nicely. Injuries cut his career short, but the guy was amazing taking stupid stuff and spinning it into comedy gold. There are so many examples to count, but these 10 moments prove why Santino Marella was one of the best comedy guys in wrestling and can still produce some laughs today.
10 The Honk-A-Meter
Santino really started catching on with fans when he won the IC Title for the second time and his alliance with Beth Phoenix. Santino began bragging he would top The Honky Tonk Man as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion and, to prove it, he brought out the "Honk-A-Meter."
Before each match, he would note "The Honky Tonky Man" holding the IC gold for 64 weeks, and he would soon break it with bizarre insults on his opponents. Sadly, Santino ended up about 52 weeks short of matching HTM, but the promos boasting of his greatness were much better than Honky's.
9 The Cobra "Disguises"
The Cobra was always intended to be a joke. It looked like a silly "stabbing" move, and the gag never worked at first. Once it did, it got more popular with Santino using the snake-themed glove. He would then make it better by giving the Cobra funny "disguises" in matches.
For a bout with Los Matadores, it had horns. For a match in Memphis where Santino was dressed like Elvis, it had an Elvis-like wig. When Santino was put into a blindfold match, he actually had a smaller hood for the Cobra. The dedication to the gimmick helped it get over more.
8 Eliminating Himself
This wasn't televised, but thankfully, one lucky fan caught it to put it online. During a tour of Australia, Santino was part of a battle royal where Triple H and John Cena faced off. As they yelled at each other, Santino came over with both men looking confused at what he wanted.
They then grabbed him to toss him out, with Santino pulling himself back in and charging them with a double-clothesline...and bouncing right off them. Seeing the two glaring, Santino just gave a nod, grabbed himself by the tights, and hopped over the top rope. It was beautiful physical comedy that would make Buster Keaton proud.
7 Rapping
Santino actually doesn't have that bad a singing voice. But it was always better making himself sound like a horrible singer. When Stephanie McMahon had the WWE roster asking her open questions, Santino pointed out how rapper Akon (who he called "Akorn") was in the crowd and "honored" him by rapping his question.
Beth Phoenix pinching her nose with a tired sigh was hilarious before handing Santino a cap for a goofy rap challenging a baffled William Regal. The "you got served" was a topper as Santino could give Cena a run for nutty raps.
6 Copying Melina
While her backstage reputation was rough, Melina was well-liked by fans for her athleticism and beauty. Bigger was her famous split-legged, sliding under the bottom rope entrance. After a match, Santino and Beth Phoenix came out to insult her, with Santino stating he could easily outdo Melina in anything.
He propped one leg up on the apron, took a deep breath to pull himself up, and howled in agony, clutching between his legs as Beth Phoenix watched in horror. Even Melina could barely keep from laughing at the great performance.
5 Tea Party
You know someone is a comic genius when they can make Vladimir Kozlov entertaining. For a show in England, Santino and Kozlov came out dressed in suits, bowler hats, and umbrellas. Santino announced that they were now "experts" at British culture after watching Mr. Bean and Austin Powers.
He brought out Sheamus to make peace with some nice banter and unintended insults ("Ginger Tea….oops."). Even Kozlov was over pointing out Santino beat Sheamus once. It ended in a match between the two, but before that was pure laughs for the UK audience.
4 The Rumble Record
Santino has had a lot of great accomplishments in wrestling, holding the IC, US, and tag team titles. But he also has the dubious honor of the shortest time ever spent in the Royal Rumble. At the 2009 event, Santino drew #28, charging to the ring at full steam.
He had literally just gotten in when Kane clotheslined him right over the top rope. Santino yelled out, "I wasn't ready," but there were no do-overs. While some have come close, only Santino can "boast" being in the Rumble for just one second.
3 Cobra vs Socko
The 2012 Rumble went better for Santino as he actually lasted a while. He and Mick Foley found themselves alone in the ring and could only do one thing. Out came Socko and the Cobra, the two facing off like old-time duelists.
Enter Epico to try and fight them both, but that ended quite badly to be attacked by both "creatures" and eliminated. Thus, the Cobra and Socko locked up to the delight of fans. Ricardo and Cody Rhodes broke it up, but it was a fun sight for fans to see these two go at it.
2 Mocking Stone Cold
It takes either a very brave or very foolish person to go around mocking Stone Cold Steve Austin. Decide which one Santino was as he spent much of 2007 poking fun at Austin's turn in The Condemned. From his Stone Cold impression to a song, Santino got into it.
The best was saying Austin was not coming and that J.R. was not going to reach a certain point of ecstasy. Sure enough, out came Stone Cold to get his payback. It ended with Santino doing one of the all-time greatest sells of the Stunner and a beer bath for a fun comeuppance.
1 The Cobra Charmed
This was so offbeat nutty you couldn't help but love it. Santino was facing Heath Slater and pulled out the Cobra. Jinder Mahal suddenly played a flute and the Cobra moved around as if it was being snake-charmed to attack Santino.
Then it got better as The Great Khali pulled out his own flute to play a ditty of his own, so the Cobra kept going back and forth and dragging a baffled Santino around. Hornswoggle was able to break Mahal's flute so Khali could help the Cobra hit Slater and cap off one wild bout.