WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Predicting 10 Biggest Spots
6. James Ellsworth Becomes The New Santino
It looked like The Warlord’s record for the shortest time spent in a Royal Rumble would last forever. Warlord lasted just 2 seconds in 1989, and while others came close (Mo and Owen Hart lasted 3 seconds in 1995, and Bushwhacker Luke 3.9 in 1992), Warlord’s dubious honour looked impossible to beat… until Santino Marella came along.
The hapless Italian lasted just 1.9 seconds after running into Kane in 2009, and inherited The Warlord’s blushes and his record in the process. Warlord held the mantle for 20 years, but WWE are obsessed with breaking records and “making history” these days, and there’s a strong chance they’ll try to outdo Santino this year.
Getting in and out of the ring in less than 1.9 seconds might not even be physically possible, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s James Ellsworth. Carmella’s bae has played a restricted role on SmackDown lately, but entering the Royal Rumble would play to his deluded character perfectly, and seeing him get squashed could be absolutely hilarious.
Who should have the honour? Dean Ambrose, of course. The Lunatic Fringe’s revenge for Ellsworth costing him the WWE Championship at TLC consisted of just a single Dirty Deeds two nights later, and it’s time for him to serve Jimmy another dose of comeuppance.