- The former champion has reportedly returned to the company after AAA news
- WWE has acquired lucha libre company AAA, with news broken at WrestleMania
- Fans haven’t taken well to the star reportedly returning to former home WWE
WWE fans have criticised the reported return of a former champion in the company.
The promotion recently acquired with AAA, a lucha libre promotion, with the announcement made in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 41, with boss Triple H joined by the likes of Rey Mysterio to share the news.
There will also be a joint show involving the promotions, to be held on Saturday June 7 featuring both WWE and AAA wrestlers.
One of those AAA wrestlers could be Alberto Del Rio, who is a former WWE champion, as well as a Royal Rumble winner and world heavyweight champion. He was with WWE from 2008 to 2014, and returned briefly between 2015 and 2016.
Since, he has wrestled for the likes of Impact and AAA, but his life away from wrestling has also drawn attention. In 2016, he went public in a relationship with fellow former WWE wrestler Paige, and, after their split in 2017, he made threats to expose her for previous arrests and alleged domestic violence against her.
In May 2020, meanwhile, Del Rio, real name Jose Alberto Rodriguez Chucuan, was arrested after allegedly battering and sexually assaulting his girlfriend, booked into and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of assault causing bodily harm.
WWE fans have criticised the reported return of former world champion Alberto Del Rio (left)
Del Rio has reportedly signed with the company after it acquired lucha libre promotion AAA
Del Rio has had issues away from wrestling and was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual assault
He was released after posting a bail of $50,000, but later indicted by a grand jury and formally charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault. The trail was delayed a number of times before the charges were dropped in December 2021.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Del Rio has signed with WWE on a new contract, part of a selected number of AAA wrestlers who have done so, while other reports suggest WWE have simply assumed the contract he has at AA.
The news received backlash online, with one fan writing: ‘WWE released all that talent on Friday just to turn around and sign Alberto Del Rio. Sad times.’
Another wrote: ‘If people don’t boo Alberto Del Rio out of the building, I swear to God.’
A third posted: ‘Alberto Del Rio in what year?’
Upon acquiring AAA, meanwhile, Triple H said: ‘AAA has a rich cultural heritage with some of the most passionate fans in the world and it’s an honor to work with the Pena family to embark on this journey.
‘By bringing together WWE’s global capabilities and AAA’s amazing tradition, we look forward to an exciting future filled with new opportunities.’
