Ricardo Rodriguez, former manager of Alberto Del Rio, reminisced about his time alongside the former WWE Champion during the peak of John Cena’s era.
In a recent appearance on the Under The Ring podcast, Rodriguez shed light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of matches between Del Rio and Cena.
According to Rodriguez, the tight schedules of Del Rio and Cena often left little time for match preparation. In such instances, Rodriguez took on a dual role, not just as a ring announcer but also as a liaison between the wrestlers and the match agent.
He would convey instructions to them during the match, ensuring smooth execution on the fly.
“I wasn’t just the ring announcer, there were times I would get with the agent who would put the match together. Let’s say, Alberto or Cena would be doing promos so they don’t have time to put together the match. And then as the match would happen, I’m calling it, so if you ever see me running back and forth? It’s because I’m calling it to them,” Rodriguez explained.
Rodriguez’s association with Del Rio spanned from the latter’s WWE debut in 2010, persisting through his various character arcs. However, their partnership saw a dramatic turn in mid-2013 when Del Rio betrayed Rodriguez.
Despite the rift, they reunited with Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler) following Nemeth’s release in September.
Reflecting on his matches against Cena, Del Rio acknowledged Cena’s prowess as an in-ring performer, emphasizing Cena’s underappreciated wrestling abilities.
Del Rio revealed that they rarely discussed matches beforehand, attributing much of his learning and match-building skills to Cena’s guidance.
“John Cena doesn’t get the credit that he deserves from the fans. He is a great wrestler. A real wrestler. You don’t even talk to him before the match. Like, you just go there, and he knows. He was the one teaching me,” Del Rio remarked.
Del Rio’s return to WWE in 2015 saw him swiftly dethrone Cena to capture the United States Championship at Hell in a Cell, marking a significant chapter in their storied rivalry.