The world of professional wrestling is often filled with tales of triumph and tragedy, of heroes rising to greatness and falling from grace. One such story is that of Alberto Del Rio, a former WWE champion who had the world at his feet but ultimately squandered his potential. According to longtime wrestling personality Dutch Mantel, Del Rio’s downfall can be attributed to his own actions, particularly his involvement with a female WWE superstar.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Story Time with Dutch Mantel, the former WWE manager shared his thoughts on Del Rio, Jack Swagger, and Cesaro, all of whom had immense potential but failed to reach their full heights. Mantel believes that Del Rio had the most potential among the three, but his personal life and relationships ultimately led to his downfall.
Del Rio’s rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric. He burst onto the WWE scene in 2010 and quickly became a fan favorite, known for his charismatic persona and impressive in-ring skills. However, his personal life soon became the subject of much speculation, particularly after he began dating WWE superstar Paige in 2016. The couple’s high-profile relationship was followed by an engagement, but they eventually parted ways due to irreconcilable differences.
Mantel, who managed Del Rio during his surprise return to WWE in 2015, believes that Del Rio’s relationship with Paige marked the beginning of his downfall. According to Mantel, Del Rio became his own worst enemy, allowing his personal life to overshadow his professional aspirations. The result was a talented wrestler who failed to reach his full potential, ultimately leading to his release from WWE in 2016.
Mantel also shared his thoughts on Cesaro and Jack Swagger, two other WWE superstars who were managed by him during his time as Zeb Colter. While Cesaro was a good worker, the company never saw him as a star, and Swagger’s lack of promo skills held him back from reaching the top. Today, Swagger and Cesaro both work for All Elite Wrestling, hoping to rekindle their careers.
Del Rio’s story serves as a cautionary tale for professional wrestlers. With great talent comes great responsibility, and personal relationships can often be the Achilles’ heel of even the most talented individuals. As Mantel so aptly put it, Del Rio’s downfall was a result of his own actions, a reminder that in the cutthroat world of professional wrestling, talent alone is not enough to guarantee success.
