Former WWE Star Thought Vince McMahon Was Going To Call An Audible In World Title Match

Santino Marella has admitted that in 2011, he thought Vince McMahon was going to call an audible and put the World Heavyweight Championship on him.

There were several moments in Marella’s career when it appeared as if he was close to earning himself a main event bout at WrestleMania.

The Milan Miracle was the last competitor eliminated in the 2011 Royal Rumble match, and the final wrestler eliminated in the 2012 Elimination Chamber bout for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Marella recalled the reactions he was receiving, noting that he thought there was a chance that WWE would call a major audible:

“I didn’t really realize the magnitude of the crowd reaction, but when I watch it back, even when I came back, (John) Cena’s like, ‘I know what I’m capable of and I could not get that crowd that hot tonight. That was insane.’

“I’ve had a handful of standing ovations in my career, and that was one of them when I came to the back.

“I honestly thought there was going to be an audible called and I was gonna win the title.

“Mike Chioda, he was watching Vince, and he also thought Vince was about to call an audible.”

Marella is currently signed to IMPACT Wrestling, where he serves as the onscreen Director of Authority.

Transcription via Wrestling Inc.

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