WWE Royal Rumble 2013: Why Alberto Del Rio Should Retain World Title

Alberto Del Rio’s World Heavyweight Championship victory on a pre-recorded SmackDown stunned the wrestling world, but the off-the map decision to turn the Mexican star face and put him over as champion is working great for the WWE.

Del Rio should retain the title at the 2013 Royal Rumble.

As well as Big Show has performed as a heel since stopping his affiliation with John Laurinaitis, it’s clear that he is not the long-term answer for the company.

Add in the fact that Sheamus and Randy Orton are still vying for the title and Dolph Ziggler is still waiting to cash in, and it is clear Big Show was just a transitional champion.

Why not give the world title to Del Rio and hard-sell the WWE Universe on the star’s face turn, especially as the company continues its tour of markets with a heavy Latino demographic?

Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara don’t appear to have a very bright future with the WWE, so the company trying to test the waters with Del Rio to determine how the crowd will react is a smart long-term business move.

Del Rio is one of the most technically sound wrestlers on the roster, and now that he is a face, he will be able to use his full arsenal of moves. While Mysterio or Sin Cara may have a more high-flying moveset, Del Rio has a few top-rope tricks up his own sleeve.

Heels are not supposed to use high spots as much as faces, and as seen by Del Rio’s moonsault on Raw Monday night, the fans should expect to see an entirely different in-ring approach for the wrestling veteran.

With Del Rio achieving so much already in his short time as a good guy, the WWE shouldn’t stifle it by taking the title away right now.

Next month is the Elimination Chamber PPV, so if the WWE wants to take the title in a different direction for WrestleMania, they could easily have the strap change hands in the six-man Elimination Chamber match.

If Big Show won the title Sunday at the Royal Rumble, Del Rio would likely be due a one-on-one rematch, and that’s something the WWE Universe won't want to see again after the Royal Rumble.

With no reason to give the belt back to Big Show right now, the WWE Universe should expect a brutal Last Man Standing match with plenty of action, but no title change.

Let’s hope Ziggler cashes in soon and ends all this madness.

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