Why WWE Has FAILED To Replace This Legend

Destined For Disappointment

Alberto Del Rio came to WWE in 2010 with all the pedigree that the company could have wanted: the son of legendary luchador Dos Caras and nephew of Mil Mascaras, and himself a highly regarded Mexican wrestler.

What could possibly go wrong?

Despite being booked prominently from the jump – he won the 2011 Royal Rumble just six months after debuting, captured the Money in the Bank briefcase that summer and would go on to win four world titles in a two-year span – he never really caught on at the level of Rey Mysterio (who Del Rio beat in a rivalry early in his run).

A face turn along the way helped a bit, but Mexico’s Greatest Export (as JBL called him) would never achieve the success envisioned for him. His first World Heavyweight Championship reign would end with the babyface champion being discarded by fans as the heel Dolph Ziggler cashed in his MITB briefcase to raucous applause.

Del Rio would be fired from WWE in 2014 and return a year later with Zeb Colter as his manager, ending John Cena’s remarkable United States Championship reign. You’d think that prominent booking would spell big things for Alberto, but the magic was clearly gone, and after a stint with the lacklustre League of Nations, Del Rio was gone from WWE by late 2016, six years after debuting.

That’s OK though, WWE might have fumbled the ball with a wealthy, Mexican socialite heel, but surely they would succeed with someone cut from a similar cloth as Mysterio, right?

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