WWE: 10 Stars More Worthy of the WWE Title than Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio is your WWE Champion, and chances are you feel one of two ways about it: You love it, or you hate it.

I’m actually in neither of those groups. I’m willing to give Del Rio time and see how he performs while holding the company’s most prestigious title.

That being said, I’m still not crazy about Del Rio carrying the strap so early in his WWE career. He’s only been with the company for a little more than a year, and there are a number of WWE stars who are just as deserving—if not more so—of a WWE Championship run.

My guess is that most of these guys probably aren’t too excited about the massive push that Del Rio’s received so far when they’ve been in the company three, four or five times as long as he has.

In fact, I can name a dozen or more stars who are more worthy of a run with the WWE Championship than ADR. But, for today, let’s just take a look at the top 10. 

10. John Morrison

As a face, John Morrison is about as entertaining on the mic as a sheet of loose-leaf paper. That’s the main knock on a guy who’s been lost in the shuffle for a few years now.

But, as boring of a talker as Morrison is, he is still one of the most exciting stars the WWE has to offer. He has a great look, some solid charisma and a unique move set that’s unlike anyone else’s on the WWE roster.

I’m not sure he can ever get to that main event level without turning heel, but if we’re looking strictly at in-ring ability, then Morrison should be wrestling for world titles on a consistent basis.

Just look at what the guy does when given a shot at the top—his WWE TLC 2010 Ladder match against Sheamus, or his WWE Championship match against The Miz on Raw earlier this year—and it’s clear that the guy delivers when the spotlight is on him.

Perhaps a tweak in his character or a heel turn could turn Morrison’s fortunes around.

9. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston is the WWE’s resident happy-go-lucky superstar, someone who is incredibly over with the fans despite lacking any real depth to his character.

He does everything right as a face—wears bright colors and a smile on his face while getting the crowd into his matches—yet he’s toiled in mid-card hell for most of his WWE career.

Even though Kingston has never really received a sustained push, there’s a call for him to break into that world title picture. Why? Well, most fans look back to late 2009 when he was embroiled in a fierce rivalry with Randy Orton on Raw.

Kingston showed some intensity that we don’t usually see from him in that feud, but he just got going when the botched finish of a match with Orton sent him back to the mid-card. It’s time for Kingston to get back to where he was when he hit the Boom Drop on Orton at Madison Square Garden.

The crowd loves him, and he always puts on quality matches—that’s what you want out of your face WWE Champion.

8. Dolph Ziggler

Like his two predecessors on this list, Dolph Ziggler gets criticized for his struggles on the mic, and rightfully so.

But that’s what managers—such as Vickie Guerrero—are for. Ziggler’s actually not that bad of a talker anyway, and he more than makes up for his subpar verbal skills with a ton of charisma and some great in-ring abilities.

When you watch Ziggler wrestle, you can tell he knows what he’s doing. His match with Randy Orton on last Monday’s Raw is a shining example of how he can thrive when given time and the right opponent.

Should Ziggler continue to put on performances like that, he’ll be dropping that United States Championship sooner or later. Not to move down the card either.

To move up it.

7. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan might very well be the best wrestler in the world.

But, like Alberto Del Rio, he hasn’t been in the company all that long, and some will still question whether or not he deserves a push. Now, I might be being a bit hypocritical here (after saying ADR doesn’t deserve the World title because he hasn’t been around that long), but it’s my article—I do what I want.

Truth is, no one in the company—except for maybe CM Punk—can carry a match quite like Bryan, and he should be rewarded for being the WWE’s most consistent wrestler.

If you think that his in-ring ability isn’t enough because “he has no mic skills,” then watch this promo from Bryan on NXT and be prepared to change your mind.

Bryan’s actually decent on the mic. He just hardly ever gets a chance to show it.

6. Christian

Wrestling fans across the country are crying foul because Christian’s two recent World Heavyweight title reigns lasted less than a month combined. I am, too.

Having debuted in the WWE in the late 1990s, Christian is a seasoned veteran of the business and, from top to bottom, one of the most complete performers in all of pro wrestling.

He put on several classic matches with Randy Orton this summer, and did so while becoming one of the most hated heels in the WWE. It’s a shame that he was treated like an absolute joke of a champion, with one cheap title win and exactly zero successful title defenses.

If for no other reason, Christian should get a WWE Championship run because the WWE and the Orton power trip screwed up his first two reigns so badly.

5. Wade Barrett

I see plenty of parallels between Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio: Both wrestlers received huge pushes upon their debuts, they ooze charisma and they know how to talk.

The main difference between the two? Del Rio’s better in the ring, while Barrett’s better on the mic.

Therefore, in a “Who’s better?” debate, you can really just pick your poison. If you’re more worried about mic skills, you’d probably take Barrett. If you’re more worried about in-ring work, you’d probably take Del Rio.

As for me, I’m taking Barrett for one simple reason: He generates legitimate heat like very few WWE stars do. He’s such a natural and charismatic speaker that he compels an audience to listen to him—and he makes them hate him when he does.

Few people have exploded onto the WWE scene like the NXT Season 1 winner, who’s proven that he can work main event programs (like he did with John Cena and Randy Orton) and more than hold his own as a stable leader.

4. R-Truth

R-Truth used to be more boring than a day at the DMV.

But that all changed when Truth became the Little Jimmy-hating heel who claimed that the entire WWE had a conspiracy against him. Seemingly overnight, he became an exciting character that the fans actually had a reason to hate.

Yet, at the same time, Truth became downright hilarious. He’s found the perfect balance between being a serious heel—probably thanks to his alignment with The Miz—and one of the company’s top comedic performers.

While I’ve never been a huge fan of his in-ring work (he’s above average, though), there’s something to be said for Truth’s ability to completely reinvent himself.

And, judging by the crowd’s reaction to his “You Suck” song on last week’s Raw, Truth is one of the WWE’s top three or four heels at the moment.

3. The Miz

I’ll admit that I was shocked when The Miz got a five-plus month run with the WWE Championship, but I really enjoyed “the most must-see WWE Champion in history.”

The Miz is that guy who is just so obnoxious that you can’t help but hate him. Despite being relegated to the mid-card over the last several months, the crowd can’t stand the Miz.

I mean, he actually got showered in boos for plugging Subway on Raw a couple weeks back, and the heat he’s generated during his brief pairing with R-Truth is rocking the arena. That heat is legitimate, too.

The fans aren’t booing The Miz because he can’t wrestle or can’t cut a promo. They’re booing him because they hate the fact that the former laughingstock of the WWE can now do both of things, and he can do them very well.

2. CM Punk

CM Punk has had two recent WWE championship reigns, but they lasted—what?—a week total.

He deserves better than that.

While I get that Punk’s not in the title scene because he’s the key player in Raw’s top storyline with Triple H, he still should be the WWE champion. He’s been the hottest act in the wrestling business for the last few months, and he’s put on two straight “Match of the Year” candidates with John Cena.

For a guy who actually lost something like 12 consecutive pay-per-view matches, Punk is worthy of a lengthy WWE title reign more than almost anyone else.

He can wrestle, he’s incredibly charismatic and he’s the best mic worker in the business. What more can you ask for?

1. Sheamus

Maybe a surprise pick here, but I’ve become a big fan of Sheamus over the last few months.

I thought he’d be a guy who would spend his entire WWE career as a heel, but he’s managed to get over in a huge way as a fan favorite. The crowd really likes the Celtic Warrior now, even though he’s been hated for the last two-plus years.

There’s just something truly likeable about Sheamus, who brings a certain air of honor and respect to the table as a good guy. But what else does Sheamus bring to the table?

Well, if you ask me, I’d say very good mic skills (despite the accent) and arguably the best in-ring ability of all the WWE’s active big men.

If you really think about it, there aren’t many big wrestlers (6’5” or taller) in the WWE who can put on very good matches on a consistent basis like Sheamus can. He’s come a long way since his first two WWE title reigns, and I’d love to see how he performs with some more experience under his belt.