WWE News: Backstage Report on Alberto Del Rio and His WWE Championship Future

Alberto Del Rio had, at least on paper, one of the greatest years in WWE history in 2011, especially when you consider that he only debuted with the company in 2010. 

He won the biggest Royal Rumble in history, Raw’s Money in the Bank match and not one but two WWE Championships in one calendar year. 

Yet, looking back at Del Rio’s 2011, many fans considered it to be just an OK year because ADR lost at WrestleMania and flopped in each of his WWE title reigns. As a result, most are expecting to see him take a dramatic drop down the card in 2012. 

But you probably shouldn’t count on that happening. 

From the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via SEScoops.com): 

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When Vince McMahon told Alberto Del Rio to work stiffer and appear more aggressive in the ring, it was indicated that he was due for another WWE Championship reign in 2012. 

Del Rio is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a torn groin during the Six-Man Tag Team Match on the December 19, 2011 Raw SuperShow. 

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Ugh. I’m not exactly thrilled about this possibility. 

I started off as a big fan of Del Rio, but the more I saw of him, the less I liked him. He began his WWE career as a great heel when he was going after his “destiny,” but once he won the WWE Championship, everything that came afterward fell completely flat. 

His matches weren’t as good, his promos got more and more boring each week and he did virtually nothing to separate himself from the rest of the WWE’s heels. He was arguably the worst World champion in 2011. 

Del Rio suffered largely because he wasn’t able to adapt or alter his gimmick once becoming WWE Champion, and that’s something I think he really needs to work on in 2012. And the best place to do that is in the mid-card. 

If I’m on the creative team, I forget trying to push ADR as a main event heel for the time being. The fans just aren’t buying it at the moment. 

Instead, I keep Del Rio in that upper mid-card area for much of 2012, let him reestablish himself as a top heel and then give him another shot in 2013. 

Time away from the main event scene really helped Wade Barrett, so it could definitely do the same for Del Rio.