Analyzing Potential for Alberto Del Rio to Win Royal Rumble

Back in 2011, Alberto Del Rio's WWE career took off for the first time when he upset the odds to claim one of the most surprising Royal Rumble victories in history.

Fast forward to the middle of 2013, and the Mexican had claimed two WWE Championships—as well as a pairing of World Heavyweight Championship reigns and a Money in the Bank victory.

However, at the back end of the year, things had gone completely stale for Del Rio and his career at the top of the card in the WWE. Writing an article like this seemed inconceivable when he lost to Sin Cara in successive weeks on Raw—however, things have changed somewhat of late.

It all started when he finally beat his fellow Mexican two weeks ago on Raw. From nowhere, he cut a promo on the returning Batista—and it almost felt like the tide was beginning to turn for Del Rio.

Are WWE simply using Alberto Del Rio as a sideline in the return of Batista, or is creative working their magic to return the Mexican into a seriously meaningful rivalry once again?

Even more so, could he seriously be considered as a potential winner of the Royal Rumble—just three years after his maiden victory at the event?

Although there will be calls for the likes of CM Punk, Batista and Daniel Bryan to have more of a claim towards winning the 2014 Royal Rumble, Del Rio may just have a chance.

For starters, the other storylines that are starting to gather pace in the company could seriously play into the Mexican's hands when it comes to his Rumble chances. Take Daniel Bryan—who may well maintain his rivalry with Bray Wyatt well beyond the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

There is a serious possibility that Wyatt may eliminate Bryan in the Rumble match, which would of course rule Bryan out of the main event at WrestleMania 30. That is seriously good news for Alberto Del Rio—if it turned out to be the case.

And what of CM Punk? It does look like we may well be heading down the road of CM Punk vs. Triple H at the showpiece event, meaning yet another of Del Rio's main rivals for the event would be out of the picture.

His main rival could turn out to be the guy who has been so active with on the mic and on Twitter—the returning Batista. Whilst Del Rio may not actually win the Royal Rumble this year, he could well relaunch his career with a strong performance in the show.

Del Rio certainly has the credentials to win the Royal Rumble. The only thing working against him is a potential road towards the main event of WrestleMania 30. Both Randy Orton and John Cena look like they are down a completely different path to what Del Rio is on right about now.

Alberto Del Rio has had a torrid few months in terms of his career with the WWE. He could well go onto win the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, but even if he doesn't, he will surely light the touchpaper on his ailing career once again at the show.