10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Jan 20) 

8. Santino Marella Planned His Royal Rumble 2009 Elimination Heavily

Santino Marella Royal Rumble Record
WWE.com

In 1989, The Warlord entered the annual Royal Rumble match as #21 and was eliminated by Hulk Hogan within two seconds. Just behind him, Bushwhacker Luke was hurled from the ring after four seconds in 1991. Both of those men pale in comparison to Santino Marella, he holds the current Rumble record for quickest elimination.

Marching with a determined look on his face to the ring, Marella was hit with a Clothesline by Kane during the 2009 match. Lasting a grand total of one second, Santino then told referees he wasn't ready. As it turns out, Marella put an awful lot of thought into his elimination.

Talking to Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard, the retired star opened up to reveal that he planned extensively for the spot. Knowing he couldn't afford any wasted movement if he wanted to break Warlord's long-standing record, Santino said he worked with Kane to get the moment just right.

Incredibly, Marella also claimed he has worked out a way to shorten the time, meaning he could break his own record if he hadn't already stepped away from WWE.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.