10 Amazing (But Forgotten) WWE Pre-Show Matches You Need To See
9. Santino Marella Vs Cesaro (SummerSlam 2012)
It's perhaps a bigger indictment of WWE that Cesaro has yet permanently advance past a potential pre-show spot five years after this match, but it did at least mark his first major singles title victory, and bizarrely foreshadow his most memorable moment from this year's August classic.
Reliant on comedy but always able to infuse his matches with his surprisingly technical background when working as a beloved babyface, Santino went hold-for-hold with the 'Swiss Superman' for much of the battle, but still garnered the most reactions for his desperate attempts to grab his mythically devastating 'Cobra' sock puppet.
Building the early part of the match around his ludicrous quest, the match took a turn when the unthinkable happened to Marella's revered reptile.
Mirroring his obliteration of a Brooklyn Beach Ball, Cesaro earned huge heat from the audience for ripping the Cobra in half right in front of its owner, leading to a Hogan-esque babyface comeback from the 'Milan Miracle'.
It was ultimately for nought. After Santino discovered a second cobra in his a*sehole that was far too distracted with Cesaro's valet Aksana, leaving him open to take a Neutralizer that gave the multi-linguist the United States Championship.