WWE announces Alberto Del Rio has been released
It was announced on WWE.com on Friday that WWE has released for WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio. This is what their release said.
STAMFORD, Conn. — WWE and Jose Rodriguez (Alberto Del Rio) have mutually agreed upon the terms of his release as of today, September 9, 2016.
It’s a little surprising that they left out the “we wish him the best in his future endeavors” line because usually they put that every time they release somebody.
The news isn’t a surprise if you’ve been following the story. We covered it a few weeks ago when news came out about how he wasn’t happy with WWE, he felt the company didn’t deliver on some promises they made to him (they told him he’d be a main eventer) and then in mid-August he was suspended for a Wellness Policy Violation as well.
Del Rio, who is 39 years old, returned to WWE as a surprise last October when he beat John Cena for the US Title at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. The deal they signed last year was in September and it had a one year out clause, so Del Rio’s opting to leave and the company is apparently not going to be that upset about it.
There’s a developing story about his girlfriend, WWE women’s wrestler Paige, who was also suspended in mid-August when Del Rio was. There are rumors that she’s trying to get out of her contract even though her deal doesn’t expire until 2019. The story that came out this week claims that she’s hired lawyers to try to come to terms on a WWE release. It’s just a rumor at this point, but as they say where there’s smoke there is fire.
My business relationship with @WWE has come to an end in good terms…thanks for the opportunities they gave me.
Termine mi relación con WWE— Alberto El Patron (@PrideOfMexico) September 9, 2016
As for Del Rio’s future, he’ll probably work for top independent wrestling promotions in the US, Mexico and Europe. Whether he goes back to Lucha Underground isn’t known. Maybe TNA Wrestling is an option for him. There are a lot of possibilities out there.
Even though WWE didn’t say it in their statement, I’ll say it here: Good luck in your future endeavors, Alberto. I think you’re a great talent and could have been used better. It’s a shame it didn’t work out.