Wrestling as Religion: Alberto Del Rio on His Dad, CM Punk and an MMA Comeback

Alberto Del Rio, four-time WWE champion and son of beloved Mexican wrestler Dos Caras, is no stranger to the world of competitive sports. An amateur wrestling champion in Mexico who once battled the likes of Dan Henderson and Randy Couture in Greco-Roman bouts, Del Rio also dabbled with MMA when the sport was at its height in Japan.

That didn't always work out so well. Stubbornly wearing his Dos Caras Jr. mask into the ring in a 2003 fight, Del Rio was brutally knocked unconscious by Pride Fighting Championships legend Mirko Cro Cop. But there were more wins than losses and he left for WWE with a respectable record of 9-5.

Thursday, he makes his return to MMA in a different role—color commentator for the inaugural Combate Americas card on Spanish language network NBC Universo. In an exclusive interview, Del Rio talks about coming together with UFC 1 executive producer Campbell McLaren, his own career in the ring and why wrestling is like religion in Mexico.

Bleacher Report: How did you become involved with Campbell McLaren and Combate Americas? What drew you back to the world of mixed martial arts after all these years?

Alberto Del Rio: We met through a mutual friend and Campbell wanted me to come to his organization and fight. But we couldn't arrange a good deal with the money, you know? I decided not to fight. 

It was the same for every other MMA organization. Pretty much every MMA promotion has called to see if I was interested in jumping into the ring or the cage again. In Mexico, there are a lot of new fans and viewers. The MMA market is starting to grow and there's more people than ever interested in watching. I think that's where I come in as a known quantity in Latin America. But, unfortunately, nobody came with a really good offer to make me consider it. 

B/R: It's called prizefighting for a reason.

Del Rio: Exactly. So, Campbell was still interested in using me with Combate Americas and he offered me a job as an announcer.

B/R: MMA and pro wrestling have always walked hand in hand, both here in America and especially in Japan. As you bring the sport to a Hispanic audience, what lessons can Combate and other promoters take from the world of lucha libre? Does MMA have anything to learn from Mexican wrestling?

Del Rio: Yes, of course! Even though MMA and pro wrestling are very different, at the end of the day it's all about entertaining. They are amazing athletes who go out there and give 100 percent. Sometimes more than 100 percent. But they also need to know how to entertain the crowd and I think that's the part Combate is interested in me bringing to their company. If they want to entertain the crowd there are some tricks they can learn from pro wrestling.

B/R: It's been some time since you were involved with this world. As you prepare to call these fights, are you finding the sport has changed in significant ways in your absence? Or is it comfortable, like coming home after you've been away for a little bit?

Del Rio: The moves are the same. I've got the knowledge and experience to know what's going on in the cage or the ring. And I know how to entertain an audience and how to use the microphone. I know my market. I think I'm going to do a good job.

B/R: I look forward to it. I may not understand it, because I don't speak Spanish, but I'll be watching.

Del Rio: (Laughs) We may speak different languages, but the language of the ring is universal.

B/R: Do you have any regrets about your own time in MMA? I know it was a part-time gig and that wrestling was always your true profession. Is there anything you'd do differently?

Del Rio: Not really. Pro wrestling has always been my passion. I always wanted to be a pro wrestler. But because of my amateur wrestling background, I had the opportunity to participate in events in Japan. And I had the opportunity to train with important people like Marco Ruas and Bas Rutten. They helped me a lot at the beginning of my MMA career.

At the end of the day I was doing it for the sport, but mostly because I was getting paid. I was being rewarded in a good way. If there's no money, I'm not interested.

B/R: I was always amazed you would step into the ring for a real fight wearing your mask. And you had some impressive performances. What challenges did it present as an athlete to wear the mask? That's commitment to the cause! But it couldn't have been easy to fight that way could it? 

Del Rio: Well, it was really hard (laughs). When you have something covering your face it's really hard to breathe. But back then I had a different perspective on what the business is. It was very important to me to keep my identity secret.

I know the rest of the world doesn't see pro wrestling or the mask, the culture, the way we see it in Mexico. In Mexico, luchadores, the wrestlers, are the only Mexican superheroes. And to keep the mystery behind the mask is really important. 

Pro wrestling is such an important part of our culture it's almost like a religion. It's not just entertainment like it is in the rest of the world. That's why I did it. That's the reason I wore a mask even in a real fight. 

B/R: I know for you, there was also a family legacy at stake. Your father is one of the best professional wrestlers I've ever seen in my life, an amazing talent. And your uncles are both legends in the industry as well. 

I've often wondered what life was like growing up in your family. Because the mask was so important, did you have to hide who your dad was growing up? From your friends at school and your neighbors and everyone you knew? 

Del Rio: Thank you for saying that about my dad. He is one of the most popular wrestlers to ever come out of Mexico. 

I know here in the States there are a lot of big guys. Muscular guys. But in Mexico when I was growing up it was not like that. So imagine my dad, 25 or 30 years ago when he was in his prime, coming to school to pick me up. Everyone would ask me what he does for a living because he was such a big guy. 

I always told them he was a teacher. And they'd say, "That has to be the biggest teacher we've ever seen."

B/R: So you had a story ready?

Del Rio: We were always trying to keep that mystery. It was something that was really important to my dad. 

B/R: There had to have been times, with friends at school, where you wanted to brag, "That guy you watch on TV, that famous wrestler, that's my dad!"

Del Rio: Yes, of course. All the time! But my dad was always telling me that I needed to keep it a secret. It was his profession and it was very important to him.

B/R: When you came to WWE you didn't wear the mask anymore. I thought it really freed you to become your own man. You are so expressive and adapted so well. Do you think taking the mask off helped you live up to your potential?

Del Rio: In Mexico we see the business in a different way. But when I moved here to the States and started to work for WWE, I saw quickly the differences between one place and the other. 

Here you have to be able to communicate, to tell the audience what you are feeling, your emotions. If you're feeling pain, if you're happy, if you're frustrated. It helps you sell your character even better. 

So, I agree with you. Taking off the mask was the best decision of my life. It took me to a different level and I was able to become one of the most popular wrestlers in the United States.  Just as importantly, I was able to make my company and my culture proud of what I was doing.  

B/R: Did your father and uncles understand your decision to take the mask off? Or are they from a different era where that just wasn't done?

Del Rio: Oh no, no. They did approve my decision. Before doing it, before removing the mask, I asked them. Especially my dad. I asked my dad if he was good with the idea of me doing that. Because if he would have disagreed, I wouldn't have done it. Ever.

All my decisions are based on what my father says, because he has been with me since the beginning of my career. The beginning of my life. For me, it's really important what my dad has to say. 

When I asked him, he was totally cool with the idea. He said, "You belong with the most important wrestling company in the world. And removing the mask is going to take you to the place where you deserve to be. So be it."

I did it and the rest is history.

B/R: Some of my favorite wrestling matches ever are matches where a wrestler puts his mask on the line against another wrestler's mask. Or his mask against someone's hair. Those matches have so much emotion, both from the wrestlers and the fans. When you decided to leave Dos Caras Jr. behind in order to become Alberto Del Rio, why didn't you lose the mask in the ring?

Del Rio: A lot of people say, "When Alberto removed the mask, he decided to throw his legacy away." I didn't think that. The reason I didn't do a mask-vs.-mask match before I left Mexico is because I have so much pride in what I do. 

I have so much respect for my business. If I'd done that it would have been because I had no pride. Because I've loved this business since the day I was born, I decided to just remove it without losing it. Not caring about the money I could have made if I'd done that.

B/R: The connection between wrestling and MMA is so strong right now, with Brock Lesnar going from the UFC back to WWE and CM Punk making the opposite journey. Lots of wrestlers have tried their hand at fighting over the years, including yourself. Did you anticipate CM Punk being one of them?

Del Rio: When we were working together in WWE, he was already training. He was doing some jiu-jitsu and was always interested in fighting. When those problems happened between him and WWE, I think he decided it was his chance to really go for it.

Everybody is asking me if he's really going to fight or if he'll eventually decide not to at the last minute. CM Punk is my friend, but I'm not saying this because he's my friend. He's an athlete. He's getting in the best shape of his life. He's getting ready for what's coming.

He'll fight. I don't know when, but I know he's going to do a good job.

B/R: I know you've turned down other offers. But with UFC expanding to the Mexican market, if the money was right would you join Punk and do your own UFC fight?

Del Rio:  I'm still in touch with some people from UFC. While I'm in Vegas they want me to do some stuff with them for UFC in Espanol. We're thinking about it. We'll see.

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.