WWE TLC Preview: 5 Things to Know About the Rey Mysterio-Alberto Del Rio Match

Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio have become a focal point of Friday Night SmackDown! Their rivalry for Mexican supremacy has been going on for months and now looks to come to a head this Sunday at TLC.

A Chairs match at the PPV will be fitting for this rivalry, though a TLC match would be better for these two competitors.

Del Rio is one of the best technical wrestlers in the business. He's wrestled the world over and brings a wealth of experience to the table. Had it not been for Mysterio, he could've won last month's King of the Ring. Being "King" Del Rio would've done wonders for his push on SmackDown.

Mysterio is a great high-flyer and the most recognizable Mexican wrestler ever. He's seen as the greatest underdog wrestler in WWE history as well. Mysterio has had two reigns as champion and proved to be more than just a transitional champ.

Here are five things you ought to know before Sunday's show.

5. Alberto Del Rio Is SmackDown's Top Heel

Over the past few months, Alberto Del Rio has evolved into SmackDown's top heel. He's engaging and great in the ring, yet you still can't deny the fact that he's a villain. Though charming and charismatic, Del Rio's awesome at drawing heat from the audience.

So far, he's developed rivalries with Mysterio in his young career on SmackDown. From driving out in his custom car to having his own ring announcer, Del Rio proves to be a great heel and will become even bigger moving forward.

In time, he will most likely get an even bigger push and a title shot. His future in the WWE is very bright.

4. This Has Been a Great Rivalary

The WWE has gotten it right so far with this rivalry. These are two of the top guys in the company though are more so being treated like mid-carders. Having this type of talent on the mid-card is appealing to fans debating whether to buy this PPV or not.

Rivalries are what the WWE needs right now, and this one has presented many fireworks. The back and forth tactics will come to a halt this Sunday, but should it end there? Mysterio cost Del Rio the King of the Ring; Del Rio has cost Mysterio several big matches on SmackDown as of late.

3. Alberto Del Rio Is One of the Best Pure Wrestlers in the WWE

Before coming to the WWE a few months ago, Del Rio fought all across the world, particularly in his native Mexico. He even has a background in MMA and to his credit fought Mirko Filipovic.

In both MMA and wrestling, though, one thing has remained the same: His Greco-Roman background and mat skills are superb.

In MMA, he frequently slapped on submission, as we currently see now on SmackDown. It's hard to neglect that this guy is certainly one of the WWE's better "pure" wrestlers. Not many other guys in the company bring that type of experience to the table.

2. What Is a Chairs Match?

The WWE never actually defined what a Chairs Match is. We get an idea that it's just a fancy name for a Hardcore or Extreme Rules Match, but we don't have a clear definition.

Also, many wonder why this match isn't just a TLC match. People are paying to see Tables, Ladders and Chairs, not other types of matches involving them.

Back in the day, Rob Van Dam and Sabu did revolutionary things with chairs. In the old ECW, these two did some special moves and perfected them with the chair: Sabu's Atomic Arabian Facebuster and RVD's Van Terminator, Van Daminator, etc.

We expect that Del Rio and Mysterio will get creative, but why not take this to another level? While the Chairs Match may be unique, we want to see TLC. Apparently Mysterio's injuries are the reason why this didn't become a TLC match.

1. The Battle for Mexican Wrestling Supremacy

Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio are perfect opposites in this rivalry, yet they are a lot alike. Both of them have distinct Mexican wrestling backgrounds and are looking to prove who the better Mexican wrestler is.

They're both popular in Mexico and the States. Mysterio's Lucha Libre style is more of what Mexican wrestling is all about. Del Rio is more technically sound and has a wealth of experience of pure wrestling. These combating styles should make for a great match on Sunday that might steal the show.