Latest on WWE’s Plans for Alberto Del Rio, SmackDown Commentary

Posted by Marc Middleton on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

- Todd Grisham said on last week’s SmackDown that Alberto Del Rio won a gold medal in the 1999 Pan-American Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. This isn’t true as Alberto, representing Mexico, placed 4th at 211 pounds, coming one match short of winning a medal.

WWE has done something similar with Jack Swagger – calling him a two-time All-American when he really was a one-time All-American.

The plan is to push Del Rio all the way as a top heel, with the idea of eventually turning him babyface in the role of WWE’s top Latin Superstar.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

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17 Responses to Latest on WWE’s Plans for Alberto Del Rio, SmackDown Commentary:

Ant
Date: Aug 25, 2010 at 10:56 PM
wow WWE your now telling the fans bulls***
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Renz
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 1:35 AM
haha when grisham mentioned that he won gold i got curious to see if it was true so i went to wikipedia (i know not the most reliable but neevr short on info) an found out he came 4th lol. hey i bet most ppl didnt even botehr to clarify that fact but i like’d how he wrestled and acted so wanted to know. who cas wat the wwe do to get their wrestlers over its if it works y not
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Ed
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 3:16 AM
While he himself may not have won gold, maybe his CHARACTER did!!! re: “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”
silly marks…..
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
sroeballs
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Since when is anything said on wrestling to be taken seriously? It’s a show built on lies & simulation, so it’s no surprise to hear this.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Matt
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 5:38 AM
why this need to have a top latino superstar? Wrestlers should not be hired and pushed because of race, but for their in ring skills and to a lesser extent for their mic skills. The idea that latino fans can only relate to latino wrestlers, that white fans can only relate to white wrestlers, black, asians, etc, is racist by itself.
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Paton
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 5:43 AM
mysterio has proven he takes in the latino ratings because when he was on RAW the ratings of SD went well down with latinos
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Matt
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 6:21 AM
If thats true, then that proves that their is a lot of people that are racist. Why watch wrestling just because there is a wrestler that is from your own race instead of actually enjoying the product.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Yo
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 6:51 AM
@Matt I dont think it’s racist. I’m from Newfoundland, Canada. I believe only two wrestlers came from here, Sailor White and A-1 over in TNA a few years ago. I watch raw and smackdown whenever I can, and if I miss either I get caught up on the recaps. If WWE had a superstar there now from Newfoundland I sure as hell would give an extra effort to try and tune in to their product. It’s not that people will only tune in if their race is on the show, but it does give that extra attraction when someone can relate to a superstar.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Paton
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 10:39 AM
because hes one of them and maybe seen as a bit of a hero.
its the same with India, many of them watch just for Khali and its also why WWE is looking for a new Chinese wrestler as seen in a headline not for away from this one.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Joe
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Commentators making stuff up is nothing new. Nearly every “fact” that Matt Striker says is bull. Even Kane last week said in his promo that it was Undertaker who forced him to take off his mask and reveal his face to the world. Michael Cole has a problem with names of moves–every single Orton match he calls a powerslam a scoop slam. He also called a bulldog a DDT last week.
Wrestling is so much more entertaining live because you don’t hear commentary, you actually get to see the match for what it is and you are able to think for yourself as to what is going on based on what the wrestlers do and say–not what the commentators want you to think.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Burt
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 12:19 PM
They’ll turn him face when Mysterio leaves. That’s been the plan all along. He’ll most likely continue his feud with Mysterio now, then move on to feud with another big time face on Smackdown (Undertaker, anyone???). If Del Rio plays his cards right, I do believe he has a very bright future in the WWE.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Charlemange
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Why can’t their too Latin star be a heel like why does wwe always do that the top stars have to be heels in wcw it worked they pushed the heels alot and what are they talking about they need a top Asian star if yosih tatsu gimmick wasn’t so childish he could be a top star they could at least push the guy a little revamp his gimmick he has the skills and if he’s not good at english give him a manager like mr Fuji if he can still walk of once he gets better make Ricky steamboat to be his manager like don’t go getting new talent if you already have it
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0
Vicente Obregon
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Here in Mexico, it’s a nationalist thing, not a racist thing. Besides, in my country, lucha libre is part of culture, so that’s why my country needs mexican superstars. Southamerican countries, just follow mysterio because there’s not a huge culture about lucha libre there, and as latinoamericans, mysterio is the closest thing to them. But now, Alberto Del Rio, real mexican, not chicano. You should take a look at his youtube videos as Dos Caras Jr. (Rey Rey was originally Rey Misterio Jr. in AAA)
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James Stone
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 1:23 PM
ALBERTO DEL RRRRIO RULES !!!!
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me
Date: Aug 26, 2010 at 8:13 PM
tatsu is japanese, they want a chinaman.
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Matt
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Vicente Obregon
By definition, nationalism is a subtle form of racism. You say that some of your countrymen like mysterio because he is “the closest thing to them”. Why can’t they consider other wrestlers as just as close to them? Wrestlers should be appreciated for their talent, not for their race or country of origin.
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V
Date: Sep 06, 2010 at 9:15 AM
I don’t care about Del Rio right now. When he turns babyface, then I MIGHT care about THAT CHIHUAHUA.
Like or Dislike This Comment: 0 0

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