WWE Royal Rumble 2026: Predicting All 30 Entrants

15. Santino Marella (#16)

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Roman Reigns Chris Jericho Santino Marella
WWE

Son-a-ma-gun, it's Santino!

It was ludicrous at the time and seems even more so now, but Marella almost pipping Alberto Del Rio to the 2011 Royal Rumble is still considered one of the most electric moments in the bout's rich history. The audience in Boston willed Santino and his weird "cobra" sock puppet thing on to victory, and it seemed for a fleeting moment that he'd actually bloody well do it.

Fast forward 15 years to 2026 and Marella is working well as part of the re-jigged TNA machine. They enjoy a fine working relationship with WWE, so it isn't out of the question that Santino could show up in the 30-man Rumble as a cameo legend. If so, then he best bring that cobra gimmick with him to give everyone a mid-point chuckle.

Contributor

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.