10 Next Big Things In Wrestling That Totally Flopped

8. Alberto Del Rio

Jack Swagger Jake Hager WWE Flop
WWE

Speaking of self-sabotage.

Alberto Del Rio's personal life has been a whirlwind frenzy of bad decision making and regrettable moments. Few who weren't there actually know the ins and outs of his first WWE departure in 2014, but Del Rio can't be tut-tutted for standing up in the face of racist comments. Everything else? Impossible to defend his behaviour.

This isn't an exclusive deep dive on all of Alberto's crappy life choices though. He had issues in front of WWE's cameras too. At one point, the company seemed keen to try him on as a new era Eddie Guerrero. That was most true when he was written as an inspiring babyface champion who had serious heart.

People weren't buying it, and that was a problem once it became clear that Del Rio's upward mobility was limited as a heel too. WWE persevered by shoving Alberto down everyone's throats across multiple stints, but it never really worked the way they wanted it to.

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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.