The Only Real Honest Man: Who Is Alberto Del Rio?

In recent weeks, several vignette's have appeared on Smackdown introducing the WWE universe to Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio appears to be the whole package, at least on the mic. He exudes charisma, class, and possesses a unique sort of Latin charm. Think of Eddie Guerrero as a billionaire in a suit.

Every successful superstar needs to bring something different or new to the table. Del Rio presents himself as a role model for all the fans. But unlike other arrogant heels who endlessly rave about their amazing looks and abilities, Del Rio emphasizes the power of the mind. He takes great pride in his education and his self-proclaimed sense of integrity.

So who is the man behind the expensive suit? Born May 25th, 1977, Alberto Del Rio is actually Alberto Rodriguez, a former Luchador who went by the name of Dos Caras Jr. in Mexico. He is a second generation superstar and part of a prominent Latino wrestling family.

Rodriguez has a mixed martial arts background with a 9-5 record in professional competition. He's been billed at either 6'4" or 6'5" but has a relatively thin build for a wrestler. A repertoire of excellent aerial and technical skills is what ultimately led to Rodriguez getting a WWE contract. He has wrestled in several dark matches, defeating Finlay on one occasion.

So what will Alberto Del Rio do once he debuts on WWE television? He displays some characteristics of a face but it seems likely that he will be a heel. He'll probably start his WWE career by defeating some jobber faces before engaging in midcard fueds. JTG seems like a natural opponent for the classy Del Rio. Should he succeed, a program with Rey Mysterio is inevitable.

With his charisma and in-ring style, it is unlikely that Del Rio can remain heel for very long. Look for a full-fledged face turn to happen within a year. Whether he is face or heel, Raw is probably a better show for Del Rio. Superstars like Miz, R-Truth and John Morrison are natural foils for Del Rio. John Cena is too, but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to Del Rio's debut? Should he be heel or face? Should he remain on Smackdown or transfer to Raw? Will Del Rio's age be a factor in his development as a WWE superstar?