Alberto Del Rio, the former 4-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, turns 39 today.
Already a megastar in his native Mexico, Del Rio, real name Jose Alberto Rodriguez, is also a former CMLL, AAA, and WWL World Heavyweight Champion and has wrestled all over the world. He went under the ring name of Dos Caras, Jr in Mexico and Japan and worked primarily as a luchador.
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Del Rio is also the only wrestler in company history to win the Royal Rumble and Money In The Bank matches in the same calendar year (2011).
Having burst onto the scene after several vignettes announcing his arrival, Del Rio started a feud with fellow Mexican star, Rey Mysterio. He would work his way up in 2010, eventually winning the Royal Rumble and challenge Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship. Though, Del Rio was unsuccessful at WrestleMania, Del Rio would get another chance at the champion at Extreme Rules.
However, fate had other plans.
Edge, still the champion at the time, would soon retire, leaving the championship vacant. Christian would take Edge’s place and go on to defeat Del Rio, but Del Rio would not be so distraught to give up the chase for the gold.
Having won the Money In The Bank contract, Del Rio would cash in on CM Punk at SummerSlam to be crowned WWE Champion. Del Rio easily had one of the best rookie years in WWE history, and would continue to find success in the company.
After a brief departure from WWE, Del Rio returned and quickly captured the United States Championship from John Cena and had formed an alliance with Zeb Coulter. After the MexAmericans broke up, Del Rio became part of the League of Nations. Though the League of Nations quickly dispersed, Del Rio is looking to recapture the glory of his first year in the company flying solo once more.
Feliz Cumpleanos, Alberto Del Rio!
