WWE: Why Alberto Del Rio is Right to Be Unhappy

Alberto Del Rio is reportedly unhappy with the way WWE has booked him, and he has every right to be.

What happened to Mexico’s greatest import, Alberto Del Rio? The Mexican superstar returned to WWE last year to great fanfare, even winning the United States Championship from John Cena in his first match back. But now just months later he’s a mid-carder struggling for air time.

Recent reports have surfaced through Wrestling Observer that suggest Del Rio is unhappy with the way he’s being booked and may seek an exit when his contract expires in October. Apparently, Del Rio is displeased with his placement in the recent WWE Draft, where he was picked in the 6th round and 29th overall by the Smackdown brand. The selection also split him off from his off-screen girlfriend, Paige, who was drafted to Raw. No other off-screen couples had to face that kind of separation.

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Del Rio has plenty of reason to be upset. WWE is once again missing the boat on one of their most talented superstars, one that fills a niche they’ve been aching to have filled since he was fired from the company two years ago.

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There aren’t many superstars of Latin heritage who have Del Rio’s base of support and can make it big in the WWE. The last one to come around was Rey Mysterio, and he and Del Rio had some epic feuds together. After leaving WWE the first time, Del Rio transitioned to ROH, Lucha Underground, AAA, and WWC; never missing a beat wherever he went. His fans continued to follow him everywhere, and he excelled during his brief stints, even winning the AAA Mega Championship. He certainly doesn’t need WWE to be successful, but WWE needs him to hit an audience that, well, they simply aren’t going to get with the Lucha Dragons or the Shining Stars. We’re talking about a guy who managed to headline WrestleMania with a feud against Jack Swagger. Think guys who can pull that off come around often?

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In better physical condition than ever before and at the prime age of only 39, Del Rio is arguably the most technically sound superstar on the Smackdown roster. Even more than that, he’s proven one of the best talkers around and someone who can generate heat better than almost any heel on the roster. But WWE has seemingly cut him off at the knees. Upon returning he was saddled with an awful Mex-America gimmick that went nowhere, only to then transition into the atrocious League of Nations stable. Del Rio is best as a solo act, one that allows him to trump up his “destiny” to be World Champion, while arrogantly rubbing his vast riches in all of our faces. Not saying he needs to start coming out in vintage cars again, but what happened to that air of superiority he used to carry out to the ring? That type of haughty, yet physically dominant superstar is sorely missing from the Smackdown lineup.

It’s a new era for Smackdown Live and perhaps there is some hesitation to put the WWE Championship on someone who has been around a while like Del Rio, but that’s a short-sighted way of looking at things. Just looking up and down the roster, Del Rio would be the perfect foil for current champ Dean Ambrose, especially in light of their very different background. And image the technical displays Del Rio could have against someone like AJ Styles? And when the time comes, the multi-time champion would make the perfect heel for a rising star like Apollo Crews to have his first major, big money feud against.

The value of a superstar like Alberto Del Rio can’t be overstated, and nor should it be wasted. Hopefully, WWE realizes this soon before time runs out and another company uses the Mexican aristocrat to his full potential.

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