10 Clean Wins Over Top WWE Stars That Were Totally Wasted

7. Alberto Del Rio D. John Cena (Hell In A Cell 2015)

John Cena Alberto Del Rio
WWE.com

Alberto Del Rio and John Cena haven't always been the most popular figures among the WWE fanbase, but they created a huge moment at Hell In A Cell 2015.

The United States Champion strolled out for one of his customary open challenges, and ADR answered, much to everyone's surprise. He hadn't been seen since his contracted was terminated for "unprofessional conduct" in August 2014, and he got a huge reaction from the crowd, before putting Cena away in surprisingly clean and efficient fashion.

It was a big surprise, and beating the company's biggest name on his first night back was the perfect start to Alberto's second run, but it didn't take long for the wheels to come off. The 'MexAmerica' angle with Zeb Colter was a nonsensical disaster, and Del Rio found himself thrust into the historically bad League of Nations stable just five weeks after returning. His career was doomed to the midcard thereafter, and he eventually lost the US Title to Kalisto.

The rest of Del Rio's run was insipid, and his TV usage rate shrunk. Alberto was fatefully defeated by Cena in what turned out to be his final WWE match last August, and exercised an opt-out clause in his contract 14 days later, citing unhappiness with his creative direction.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.