Alberto Del Rio

During WWE's *WrestleMania Revenge* tour of Europe in April 2010, he made numerous appearances in untelevised matches for the *Raw* brand. One night he wrestled as **Dos Caras**. He was presented as a villain in a losing effort against Christian. The following month, Caras put on a mask for WWE's tour of Mexico and worked as a hometown hero, prior to returning unmasked during untelevised matches for subsequent *Raw* and *SmackDown* shows.

On the June 25, 2010, episode of *SmackDown*, Caras appeared on a taped promotional video as the unmasked **Alberto Del Rio.** Thereafter, a vignette aired every week on *SmackDown* promoting his character as an arrogant rich Mexican aristocrat, espousing his own virtues of honesty, integrity and mental faculties. After two months, Del Rio wrestled his first match at a house show in Brisbane, Australia and a week later, he made his television debut on the August 20 episode of *SmackDown* by defeating Rey Mysterio in the main event by submission with the cross armbreaker. As part of his act, Del Rio made his entrances in an expensive car, while he was introduced by his personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez. The following week, Del Rio continued the storyline with Mysterio by attacking him after his match with Kane, giving him a storyline injury by refusing to relinquish his armbar. Two weeks later, he defeated Matt Hardy via submission in Hardy's last appearance with the company at the time, causing Hardy's friend Christian to challenge Del Rio to a match at Night of Champions. Despite declining the match, on the September 24 episode of *SmackDown* Del Rio attacked Christian and injured him the same way he did Mysterio the previous month. This was done to write Christian off television, as he had suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Mysterio returned on the October 8 episode of *SmackDown*, and handed Del Rio his first defeat in the main event match. In October, Del Rio defeated Chris Masters to represent the *SmackDown* brand at Bragging Rights, but during the pay-per-view event, he attacked teammate Rey Mysterio, before being eliminated from the match by Team *Raw*'s CM Punk. At Survivor Series, in the traditional five-on-five elimination match, Del Rio captained a team against Rey Mysterio's team. Despite Del Rio's team losing, he was removed from the match after Big Show knocked him out with a WMD. On the November 26 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Big Show via countout to qualify for the 2010 King of the Ring tournament. In the tournament the next week on *Raw*, he made United States Champion Daniel Bryan submit in the first round, but was defeated by John Morrison in the semifinal after being distracted by Mysterio who was inside his car. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Del Rio competed in a fatal four-way Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Edge and also included Kane and Rey Mysterio. On the January 7, 2011 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Mysterio in a two-out-of-three-falls match, with help from Ricardo Rodriguez by holding Mysterio out of the ring to end his long feud with Mysterio.

On the fourth season of *NXT*, starting in December 2010, Del Rio mentored rookie Conor O'Brian, who became the second contestant to be eliminated from the competition on January 18. The following week the rookies competed in a fatal-four-way match, of which the winner could change their pro. Brodus Clay won the match and chose Del Rio as his new pro. After the conclusion of *NXT*, Del Rio hired Clay as his bodyguard.

On January 30, 2011, Del Rio defeated 39 other participants, last eliminating Santino Marella, to win the 2011 Royal Rumble and earn the right to compete for either the World Heavyweight Championship or the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVII. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio chose to compete for Edge's World Heavyweight Championship. At Elimination Chamber, Del Rio attacked Edge, after he had successfully defended his title and solidified his spot as Del Rio's opponent at WrestleMania. However, Edge managed to come out the exchange victorious, after Christian returned from his injury and attacked Del Rio. On the March 18 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio and Christian finally had their first one–on–one match in a steel cage, in which Christian won. At WrestleMania XXVII, Del Rio was unsuccessful in his World Heavyweight Title match against Edge. On the April 8 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Christian to earn a rematch against Edge at Extreme Rules. However, when Edge unexpectedly retired from professional wrestling on the April 11 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio was instead booked to face Christian in a ladder match for the vacant World Heavyweight Title.

On the April 25 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio was drafted from *SmackDown* to *Raw*. Ricardo Rodriguez moved to *Raw* with him, while Brodus Clay remained on *SmackDown*. On May 1 at Extreme Rules, Del Rio lost to Christian in a ladder match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. On the May 23 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio slapped Big Show after he had gotten into a confrontation with Ricardo Rodriguez. After competing in a match, Show was run over by Del Rio's car, driven by Rodriguez, leaving him sidelined with a storyline knee injury. Show made his return three weeks later, chasing Del Rio out of the ring and beating Rodriguez down. On June 19 at Capitol Punishment, Del Rio defeated Show via referee stoppage, when he was unable to continue the match due to a pre-match assault by Mark Henry. On the June 27 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio defeated Show in a steel cage match, again after interference from Henry.

On July 17 at Money in the Bank, Del Rio defeated Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, R-Truth and Rey Mysterio in a Money in the Bank WWE Championship Contract Ladder Match for a future WWE Championship match whenever and wherever over the next year, while also becoming the first wrestler in history to win a Royal Rumble and a Money in the Bank match in the same year. Following the orders of Vince McMahon, Del Rio attempted to cash in his contract later that same night on CM Punk, who had just defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship, but was attacked and laid out by Punk before he could do so. Del Rio eventually cashed in his contract on August 14 at SummerSlam, challenging CM Punk after the main event, where he had defeated John Cena to become the undisputed WWE Champion. Between the two matches, Punk was attacked by Kevin Nash, which led to Del Rio scoring a quick pinfall victory to win the WWE Championship for the first time. In winning the title, Del Rio became the first ever Mexican-born WWE Champion. Del Rio made his first televised title defense the next night on *Raw*, defeating Rey Mysterio to retain his title. On September 18 at Night of Champions, Del Rio lost the WWE Title to John Cena, but gained it back on October 2 at Hell in a Cell by defeating Cena and Punk in a Hell in a Cell match. On October 23 at Vengeance, Del Rio successfully defended the WWE Championship against John Cena in a Last Man Standing match, after The Miz and R-Truth interfered. On November 20 at Survivor Series, Del Rio lost the WWE Championship to Punk. Del Rio received a WWE Championship rematch on the November 28 episode of *Raw*, but lost after Punk dropped him onto an exposed turnbuckle, managing to avoid a disqualification, which would have cost him the title in the process. On December 18 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Del Rio failed again to regain the WWE Title from Punk in a triple threat Tables, Ladders and Chairs match, also involving The Miz. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio suffered a torn groin muscle, which required surgery and sidelined him for four to six weeks.

Del Rio returned at a WWE house show in San Francisco on February 11, 2012, arm wrestling Sheamus to a no contest. On February 19 at Elimination Chamber, Del Rio made an appearance to show support to *Raw* General Manager John Laurinaitis. Del Rio returned on the April 2 episode of *Raw*, confronting World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and vowing to become the next champion. On the April 6 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Sheamus in a non-title match by disqualification to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Title. On the April 20 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez were officially traded from *Raw* to *SmackDown*. On May 20 at Over the Limit, Del Rio failed to capture the World Heavyweight Title from Sheamus in a fatal four-way match, also involving Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. On the May 25 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Kane and Orton in a triple threat match to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. The next week on *SmackDown*, Del Rio suffered a legitimate concussion, which led to WWE pulling him from his scheduled World Heavyweight Championship match against Sheamus at No Way Out. Del Rio returned on the June 18 episode of *Raw*, defeating United States Champion Santino Marella in a non-title match. The next week on *Raw*, Del Rio wrestled Dolph Ziggler to a no contest in a Contract on a Pole match for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. In result, both Del Rio and Ziggler were entered into the championship match four days later on *SmackDown*, where Sheamus retained the title after pinning Ziggler. Del Rio received another shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on July 15 at Money in the Bank, where he again lost Sheamus. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio was looking to take out his frustrations on Zack Ryder, but his post-match assault was interrupted by his longtime rival Rey Mysterio making his return and attacking him. Four days later on *SmackDown*, Del Rio and Ziggler lost to Mysterio and Sheamus by disqualification after Rodriguez interfered, but Del Rio viciously attacked Sheamus. On the July 27 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Daniel Bryan, Kane, and Mysterio in a fatal four-way match to again become number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. The title match, originally set for SummerSlam, was moved to the August 10 episode of *SmackDown*, after Del Rio threatened to press charges against Sheamus for stealing his car on the August 6 episode of *Raw*, which would have prevented Sheamus from appearing at Summerslam. However, before the match began, Del Rio attacked Sheamus along with men posing as police officers, which led to *SmackDown* General Manager Booker T taking away his number one contender's status in result. However, the next week, Sheamus had the title match put back on for SummerSlam on August 19, where Del Rio again failed in attempt to dethrone Sheamus after the referee didn't notice Del Rio's foot on the bottom rope. On the August 24 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Randy Orton by submission to once again become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the September 7 *SmackDown*, Del Rio filed assault charges against Sheamus, after Sheamus had attacked him and Rodriguez on the September 3 episode *Raw*, which led to Booker T banning the *Brogue Kick* with the caveat that Sheamus would be stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship if he used the move again. However, on September 16 at Night of Champions, Booker T concluded his investigation into the dangers of the move and lifted the ban. In the match that followed, Sheamus used the *Brogue Kick* to defeat Del Rio and retain the World Heavyweight Title.

With his rivalry with Sheamus behind him, Del Rio moved on to feuding with Randy Orton, with the two attacking each other on the September 28 episode of *SmackDown*. The rivalry built to a singles match on October 28 at Hell in a Cell, where Orton emerged victorious. On the October 31 episode of *Main Event*, Del Rio teamed with The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O'Neil) to face Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Sin Cara in six-man tag team bout that ended with Orton pinning Del Rio for the win. On the November 6 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio was again defeated by Orton in a Falls Count Anywhere match, after taking an *RKO* onto the ringside steel steps. The two were then on opposing teams for the traditional five-on-five elimination tag match on November 18 at Survivor Series. Del Rio's team, led by Dolph Ziggler, defeated Orton's team, led by Mick Foley, despite Del Rio being eliminated by Orton prior to the finish. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio once again lost to Orton in a two-out-of-three-falls match, ending the feud.

On December 16 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Del Rio turned into a fan favorite for the first time in his WWE career, when he saved Ricardo Rodriguez and the Spanish announcers from 3MB (Drew McIntyre, Heath Slater, and Jinder Mahal). Later in the event, Del Rio teamed with The Miz and The Brooklyn Brawler to defeat 3MB in a six-man tag team match. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio and Miz teamed up with Tommy Dreamer to defeat 3MB in another six-man tag team match. On the December 28 episode of *SmackDown*, Ricardo Rodriguez was awarded a title match against World Heavyweight Champion Big Show, but Show knocked Rodriguez out backstage. Del Rio was then awarded the title match in Rodriguez's place, however, the match ended in a no contest after Sheamus attacked Big Show. On the December 31 episode of *Raw*, Show chose to defend his title against Ricardo Rodriguez. As Rodriguez was about to lose the match, Del Rio attacked Show from behind, causing a disqualification and re-igniting a feud between Del Rio and Show. On the January 11 episode *SmackDown*, as Del Rio's character transitioned into a hero of the Latino fanbase, he defeated Show in a Last Man Standing match to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio made his first successful title defense on January 27 at the Royal Rumble, defeating Show in another Last Man Standing match, after Rodriguez duct taped Show's legs to the ropes. After repeated attacks from Show to both himself and Rodriguez, Del Rio and Show faced off in a singles match on February 17 at Elimination Chamber, where Del Rio submitted him to the cross armbreaker to retain his title. Del Rio then began a feud with his new number one contender, Jack Swagger, over his opposing political views regarding immigration in America. The feud escalated on the March 18 episode of *Raw*, when Swagger broke Rodriguez's ankle with his *Patriot Lock* submission. Del Rio continued feuding with Swagger on the April 1 episode of *Raw*, defeating Swagger's manager Zeb Colter via disqualification after Colter hit Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez's crutch. On April 7 at WrestleMania 29, Del Rio defeated Swagger via submission to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio defeated Swagger and Zeb Colter in a two-on-one handicap match after forcing Swagger to submit to the cross armbreaker. After that, Del Rio lost the World Heavyweight Champion to Dolph Ziggler who cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, ending his reign at 90 days. After the loss of the World Heavyweight Title, Del Rio would continue feud with Swagger and Ziggler over the title. On the April 29 episode of *Raw*, Ricardo Rodriguez defeated Big E Langston and Zeb Colter in a three-way match to give Del Rio the right to choose the stipulation of his three-way match at Extreme Rules and chose a ladder match. However, Ziggler would suffer a legitimate concussion at a *SmackDown* taping, thus removing their match from Extreme Rules. In result of Ziggler's injury, Del Rio instead would be booked to face Swagger in a number one contender "I Quit" match at the pay-per-view on May 19, which Del Rio won. In the following weeks, Del Rio would face Ziggler's enforcer Big E Langston in a series of matches, which Del Rio won 3-2.

Del Rio finally received his title shot on June 16 at Payback, and during the match, a double-turn occurred; Del Rio turned heel once again by repeatedly and ruthlessly targeting Ziggler's head after his recent concussion to defeat Ziggler and regain the World Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio later explained that he targeted Ziggler's head the same way Ziggler targeted Del Rio's injured leg when Ziggler cashed in Money in the Bank to win the title from Del Rio. On July 14 at Money in the Bank, Del Rio defeated Ziggler by disqualification to retain the World Heavyweight Title, after Ziggler's girlfriend AJ Lee hit Del Rio in the face with her Divas Championship belt. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio defeated Ziggler in a non-title rematch after a distraction by AJ. On the July 29 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio re-entered a feud with Christian after losing to him in a non-title match. On the August 2 episode of *SmackDown*, after Christian won a triple-threat match to become the number on contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, Del Rio attacked him during a post-match interview. On the August 5 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio lost a non-title match to Rob Van Dam, after Ricardo Rodriguez's interference backfired, which led to Del Rio viciously attacking Rodriguez post-match. On the August 9 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio again lost to Christian in a non-title match. On August 18 at SummerSlam, Del Rio successfully defended the World Heavyweight Title against Christian. Upon Rodriguez's return, he aligned himself with Rob Van Dam, accompanying him to matches and helping him defeat Del Rio in a non-title match to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Title. On the September 13 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Rodriguez in a single match. On September 15 Night of Champions, Van Dam defeated Del Rio by disqualification after Del Rio refused to relinquish the cross armbreaker, retaining the World Heavyweight Championship in result. After the match, Van Dam attacked Del Rio and executed the *Van Terminator*. On October 6 at Battleground, Del Rio defeated Van Dam in a Hardcore match by submission to again retain his title. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio lost to Ricardo Rodriguez after Vickie Guerrero announced his Hell in a Cell opponent as John Cena. Afterwards, Del Rio brutally attacked Rodriguez. On October 27 at Hell in a Cell, Del Rio lost the World Heavyweight Title to Cena, ending his reign at 133 days. Del Rio received his rematch for the title on November 24 at Survivor Series, but again lost to Cena.

The following night on the November 25 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio teamed up with Randy Orton in a losing effort John Cena and Big Show in a tag team match. On the December 2 and 9 episodes of *Raw*, Del Rio suffered upset losses to the returning of Sin Cara. Del Rio finally defeated Sin Cara on the January 6, 2014, episode of *Raw*. After the match, Del Rio insulted the soon-to-be returning Batista and that he would eliminate Batista in the Royal Rumble to get everyone talking about him. On the January 13 episode of *Raw*, he defeated Rey Mysterio and after the match, once again confronted Batista. On the January 20 episode of *Raw*, after he defeated Rey Mysterio, Batista returned and attacked Del Rio with a *Batista Bomb*. Six days later at the Royal Rumble, Del Rio entered the Rumble match at number 27 and performed well, but was eliminated by Batista who went on to win the match. On the February 3 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio confronted and ultimately assaulted Batista, which led to Batista powerbombing Del Rio through the broadcast table the following week. Before that, Del Rio squashed Dolph Ziggler. This led to a match between Del Rio and Batista at Elimination Chamber, which Batista won. The following night on *Raw*, Del Rio defeated Batista in a rematch from the previous night. At WrestleMania XXX, Alberto Del Rio participated in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and made a number of eliminations before being eliminated by Sheamus.

On the June 2 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio defeated Dolph Ziggler to qualify for the 2014 Money in the Bank ladder match which later became for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship; Del Rio would lose the match to John Cena. On the July 4 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio unsuccessfully challenged Sheamus for the United States Championship. He defeated Ziggler on the July 7 episode of *Raw* to earn another United States Championship opportunity against Sheamus, but was again unsuccessful after a Last Man Standing match the following night on *Main Event*. At Battleground, he participated in a battle royal for the vacant Intercontinental Championship but was eliminated by Dolph Ziggler. Del Rio lost several matches over the following weeks until he was released from WWE on August 7.

Del Rio made a surprise return to the WWE at Hell in a Cell on October 25, 2015, with Zeb Colter as his manager, and defeated John Cena to win the United States Championship. The next night on *Raw*, Del Rio revealed that he and Zeb Colter had started their new country "MexAmerica" and unofficially renamed the United States Championship the "MexAmerican Championship". In November, Del Rio took part in the tournament for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Stardust in the first round and Kalisto in the quarterfinals, before being eliminated by Roman Reigns in the semi–finals at Survivor Series.

On the November 30 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio joined Sheamus' new stable, The League of Nations, and a week later ended his association with Zeb Colter. After retaining his championship against Jack Swagger, in a chairs match, at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view, Del Rio reignited his feud with John Cena, after the latter returned on December 28. On the January 11 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio lost the United States Championship to Kalisto, regained the championship on the January 14 episode of *SmackDown*, but lost it again to Kalisto at Royal Rumble. After scoring three tag team victories over Kalisto and his partner Sin Cara, Del Rio demanded a two-out-of-three falls match for the United States Championship at Fastlane, which Del Rio then lost 1–2.

At WrestleMania 32, Del Rio was part of a six-man tag match along with his fellow League of Nations members Sheamus and Rusev, against The New Day, where his team won when Sheamus pinned Xavier Woods. After WrestleMania, The League of Nations began to dissolve when King Barrett was ejected from the group on the April 4 episode of *Raw*, where Del Rio and the rest of the group attacked him. On the April 28 episode of *SmackDown*, the group officially disbanded after Del Rio and Rusev walked out on Sheamus during a six-man tag match against Kalisto, Cesaro and Sami Zayn.

On the May 2 episode of *Raw*, Del Rio was involved in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for Kalisto's United States Championship, but was eliminated by Zack Ryder. On the May 26 episode of *SmackDown*, Del Rio defeated Zack Ryder to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank ladder match. At the pay-per-view, Del Rio was unsuccessful as the match was won by Dean Ambrose. During the 2016 WWE draft, Del Rio was drafted to *SmackDown*. On the July 26 episode of *SmackDown Live*, Del Rio participated in a 16-man battle royal to determine who would advance in a number one contenders tournament for the WWE World Championship; he was ultimately unsuccessful in the match. His last appearance in WWE on the August 16 episode of *SmackDown Live*, Del Rio was defeated by John Cena.

On August 18, 2016, Del Rio was suspended for thirty days for his first violation of WWE's wellness policy. On September 9, WWE announced that they had come to terms with his release from the company.