Analyzing Impact of Alberto Del Rio, Paige Suspensions on Their Futures with WWE

Suspension will derail both Alberto Del Rio's and Paige's WWE careers, but the effect will last much longer for The Pride of Mexico.

Just a day after Del Rio battled John Cena on Tuesday's SmackDown, news emerged that WWE would pull the former world champion from its programming for 30 days. WWE announced on its official website that it is suspending Del Rio for violating the company's talent wellness policy. Hours later, WWE revealed it has handed down a suspension to his girlfriend Paige, too: 

There has been no word on what substances led to the violations. 

This marks the first suspension for both Superstars, but Del Rio's slate isn't clean. WWE released Del Rio in 2014 following a backstage incident involving "an altercation with an employee."

This is partly why Del Rio's getting popped will have more of an impact than it will with Paige. His relationship with the company is more strained.

Although the two sides resolved their issues enough for Del Rio to re-sign with WWE last fall, the wrestler can't have forgotten how quickly officials tossed him aside two years ago.

It can't help that Brock Lesnar's failed drug tests in his return to UFC this year went unpunished by WWE. As Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet pointed out, that has to anger Del Rio and Paige:

Combine that with Del Rio's recent slide down the card, and there's enough frustration present for him to just walk away. 

When Mexico's Greatest Export returned to WWE last year, he immediately won the United States Championship from Cena. The spotlight soon stopped pointing at him, though. Roadblock, Payback, Extreme Rules and Battleground all came and went with no sign of Del Rio. 

Last month, Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc) that Del Rio may have an out clause in his contract in September. 

Although his suspension will undoubtedly worsen his relationship with WWE, it's a safe bet that he'll make use of that clause.

In a 2014 interview with Wrestle Talk TV, Del Rio said simply of WWE, "I don't need them, and they don't need me." That first part is truer for him than most Superstars. He has a name he can lean on outside of WWE circles.

After the company booted him in 2014, Del Rio went on to work for Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor and Mexico's Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion. Those promotions treated him like royalty, making him a headliner and awarding him major titles including the AAA Mega Championship.

Following a disappointing stretch with WWE, he has to be itching to get back to those spots. 

And although it would put a strain on her relationship with Del Rio, Paige is more likely to remain where she is now. She has more value to the company than her boyfriend thanks to being one of the stars of the Total Divas reality show and contributing to WWE movies and cartoons.

Plus, where Del Rio is pushing 40, Paige is still in the early stages of what should be a long career. IWNerd.com noted that she's young and has plenty of wrestling ahead of her:

WWE will certainly be upset with Paige for creating bad press, but other first-time offenders have gone on to climb back up the company hierarchy, most notably Randy Orton. 

She would've likely missed most of the next month anyway due to injury. Paige is dealing with shoulder and neck issues of late, as her mother Saraya Knight revealed:

When Paige gets healthy, she will find that she stands lower on the card for awhile. Other women will get the prominent opportunities while she piles on the losses. 

But not for long.

She will have to earn back WWE's trust, but the company will want her to succeed. She has accomplished a great deal in her first years as a Superstar, twice taking home the now-defunct Divas Championship and wrestling on a number of pay-per-views.

Paige is a young, blue-chip prospect with a marketable look. A second chance won't be hard to come by.

As for Del Rio, his suspension will deepen the cracks in his relationship with WWE, serving as the catalyst for him to go elsewhere.