History of Alberto Del Rio in Timeline
José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan is a Mexican-American professional wrestler, promoter, commentator, and mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the UFC as a commentator and also appears as a wrestler for AAA. He is best known for his time in WWE as Alberto Del Rio and Impact Wrestling as Alberto El Patrón.
May 1977: Birth of José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan
José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan, better known as Alberto Del Rio, was born in May 1977.
1997: Bronze Medal at World Junior Championships
Alberto Del Rio, then known as José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan, won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic in 1997, showcasing his prowess in Greco-Roman wrestling.
May 2000: Professional Wrestling Debut as Dos Caras Jr.
In May 2000, José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan debuted as Dos Caras Jr., making a dramatic entrance to save his father during an AAA show, embarking on his professional wrestling journey.
2000: MMA Debut
After starting his professional wrestling career in 2000, Dos Caras Jr. ventured into mixed martial arts (MMA). He notably faced Mirko Cro Cop in Pride Fighting Championships.
2000: Missed Opportunity at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Despite being a promising athlete, Alberto Del Rio couldn't participate in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney due to Mexico's decision not to send a wrestling team that year, marking a setback in his amateur wrestling career.
2001: Puroresu Debut with Battlarts
Dos Caras Jr. made his foray into the world of puroresu, Japanese professional wrestling, in 2001, debuting with the Battlarts promotion.
2002: Wrestling in Japan for Zero1 and AJPW
Dos Caras Jr. expanded his horizons in Japan, wrestling for Pro Wrestling Zero1 and All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002, gaining valuable experience in different wrestling styles.
2002: Appearance at AAA Verano de Escándalo
Dos Caras Jr. participated in the 2002 AAA Verano de Escándalo, teaming up with El Gronda and El Hijo del Solitario in a winning effort, further solidifying his presence in the wrestling scene.
2003: Continued Wrestling for Zero1
Dos Caras Jr. continued to wrestle for Zero1 in 2003, further honing his skills and solidifying his presence in the Japanese wrestling scene.
October 2004: Departure from Hustle
Dos Caras Jr. concluded his tenure with the Japanese wrestling promotion Hustle in October 2004, marking the end of an era in his career.
2005: Signing with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
Dos Caras Jr. joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in 2005, marking a significant step in his wrestling career and setting the stage for future accomplishments.
March 2006: Victory in the La Copa Junior Tournament
Dos Caras Jr. triumphed in the La Copa Junior tournament in March 2006, showcasing his talent and earning a significant victory in his career.
July 2007: CMLL World Heavyweight Championship Reign
In July 2007, Dos Caras Jr. reached a pinnacle of success in CMLL by winning the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship, a testament to his abilities as a wrestler.
June 30, 2008: Brief Appearance on WWE Raw
Dos Caras Jr. made a fleeting appearance on WWE Raw as a security guard on June 30, 2008, hinting at a potential future with the company.
January 2009: Initial WWE Offer
Alberto Del Rio declined an offer from WWE in January 2009, citing reasons that were later addressed in his eventual contract.
April 2009: Heel Turn and Departure for WWE
Dos Caras Jr. embraced a villainous persona in April 2009, solidifying his heel turn. This marked a shift in his character and coincided with his departure from CMLL for WWE.
June 2009: Alberto Del Rio Signs with WWE
In June 2009, Alberto Del Rio signed a three-year contract with WWE. He negotiated to retain the rights to his name, mask, and image, although WWE could use them for promotional purposes.
2009: Alberto Del Rio Signs with WWE
In 2009, José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan signed with WWE, marking a pivotal moment in his wrestling career.
2009: Rumors of WWE Signing and Royal Rumble Speculation
Rumors circulated in 2009 about Dos Caras Jr. potentially signing with WWE, with speculation of him being a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble, although these rumors ultimately proved untrue.
April 2010: WrestleMania Revenge Tour
During WWE's WrestleMania Revenge tour in April 2010, Del Rio wrestled in several untelevised matches, experimenting with different personas like Dos Caras, both masked and unmasked.
June 2010: Debut of Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio made his official WWE debut on SmackDown in June 2010, presented as an arrogant, wealthy Mexican aristocrat.
December 2010: Mentorship on NXT
Beginning in December 2010, Alberto Del Rio took on the role of a mentor on the fourth season of NXT, guiding rookie Conor O'Brian.
2010: MMA Hiatus
Rodríguez took a break from MMA competition for nearly a decade before returning in 2019.
January 2011: Royal Rumble Victory
Alberto Del Rio emerged victorious in the 2011 Royal Rumble, outlasting 39 other competitors and securing a championship opportunity at WrestleMania XXVII.
January 2011: Victory Over Rey Mysterio
In January 2011 on SmackDown, Del Rio concluded his feud with Rey Mysterio, defeating him in a two-out-of-three-falls match with assistance from Ricardo Rodriguez.
February 2012: Alberto Del Rio Returns to WWE
In February 2012, Alberto Del Rio marked his return to WWE with an appearance at a house show in San Francisco on February 11th, where he participated in an arm wrestling contest against Sheamus that ended in a draw. This marked the beginning of his return to the company.
August 2012: Guillermo Rodríguez Joins WWE NXT
In August 2012, Guillermo Rodríguez, Alberto Del Rio's younger brother, joined WWE's developmental brand, NXT, under the ring name Memo Montenegro.
July 2013: Guillermo Rodríguez Released from WWE
Guillermo Rodríguez's time in WWE was short-lived, as he was released from his contract in July 2013.
January 2014: Del Rio's Return and Rivalry with Batista
Alberto Del Rio's January 2014 was marked by a series of encounters with the returning Batista. Del Rio's victory over Sin Cara on January 6th was followed by his verbal jabs at Batista, setting the stage for their confrontation. Their rivalry escalated on January 20th when Batista attacked Del Rio after his win against Rey Mysterio. This culminated in the Royal Rumble on January 26th, where Batista eliminated Del Rio.
August 2014: Alberto Del Rio Returns to AAA as El Patrón
After being fired by WWE, Alberto Del Rio returned to AAA in August 2014 under the new ring name El Patrón. He was unable to wrestle due to a 90-day no-compete clause, but made his presence known by attacking Los Perros del Mal leader El Hijo del Perro Aguayo.
August 2014: WWC Starts Storyline with El Patrón
In August 2014, WWC (World Wrestling Council) initiated a storyline involving El Patrón, despite him not being physically present. They used Ricardo Rodriguez as a messenger to disrespect and challenge Ray González Sr.
September 2014: El Patrón's Absence at WWC Aniversario
After being announced and hyped up, El Patrón was unable to appear at WWC Aniversario in September 2014. The storyline was adjusted with Hernandez taking his place.
September 2014: El Patrón Makes In-Ring Return, Wins AAA Mega Championship
In September 2014, El Patrón made his AAA in-ring return, teaming with Myzteziz and La Parka. He then began feuding with El Texano Jr. for the AAA Mega Championship, ultimately winning the title in December 2014, becoming the first wrestler to hold both the CMLL and AAA world heavyweight championships.
November 2014: El Patrón Debuts for Wrestle-1 in Japan
In November 2014, Alberto Del Rio, wrestling under the name "Alberto", debuted for the Japanese promotion Wrestle-1. He marked his debut with a victory against Masakatsu Funaki.
December 2014: El Patrón Signs with Ring of Honor
Alberto Del Rio, billed as "Alberto El Patrón," signed with Ring of Honor (ROH) in December 2014 and made his in-ring debut the following month.
2014: Departure from WWE and Wrestling as Alberto El Patrón
Alberto Del Rio left WWE in 2014 and adopted the ring name Alberto El Patrón, embarking on a new chapter in his wrestling journey with various promotions.
2014: Del Rio's Championship Pursuits and Departure
Throughout 2014, Alberto Del Rio was involved in several championship pursuits. He competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship and challenged Sheamus for the United States Championship on multiple occasions. However, his efforts proved unsuccessful. Del Rio's time with WWE came to an end in August 2014 when he was released due to unprofessional conduct following an altercation with an employee.
January 2015: El Patrón Wins WWL World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio added another championship to his name in January 2015 by defeating Glamour Boy Shane and Ricky Banderas to win the WWL World Heavyweight Championship.
January 2015: El Patrón Joins Lucha Underground
El Patrón joined the Lucha Underground roster in January 2015, immediately entering a feud with his rival, El Texano Jr.
January 2015: El Patrón Debuts for Ring of Honor
El Patrón made his highly anticipated debut for Ring of Honor (ROH) in January 2015, defeating Christopher Daniels in his first match.
March 2015: El Patrón Challenges Jay Lethal for ROH World Television Championship
In March 2015, at ROH's 13th Anniversary Show, El Patrón unsuccessfully challenged Jay Lethal for the ROH World Television Championship.
May 2015: El Patrón Forms Dream Team, Wins Lucha Libre World Cup
Alberto Del Rio, known as El Patrón in AAA, teamed up with Myzteziz and Rey Mysterio Jr. to form the "Dream Team" for AAA's Lucha Libre World Cup in May 2015. The trio went on to win the tournament, solidifying their dominance in AAA.
May 2015: El Patrón's Feud with Johnny Mundo
In May 2015, El Patrón's pursuit of the Lucha Underground Championship was cut short by Johnny Mundo. This ignited a feud between the two wrestlers that culminated at Ultima Lucha, where Mundo emerged victorious after interference from his girlfriend, Melina.
September 2015: WWL World Heavyweight Championship Vacated
The WWL World Heavyweight Championship, held by El Patrón, was vacated in September 2015 following a controversial title defense against Ricky Banderas.
October 2015: Alberto Del Rio Returns to WWE, Wins United States Championship
In a shocking turn of events, Alberto Del Rio made a surprise return to WWE at Hell in a Cell in October 2015. Aligned with Zeb Colter, he defeated John Cena to capture the United States Championship, which he unofficially renamed the "MexAmerican Championship."
October 2015: WWE Return
Rodríguez returned to WWE in October 2015, but he was reportedly unhappy with his position and the direction of his character.
November 2015: El Patrón Returns to WWC, Feuds with Ray González Sr.
El Patrón made his physical return to WWC in November 2015, reigniting his feud with Ray González Sr. The storyline involved El Patrón attacking González's son as retaliation for a past injury.
December 2015: El Patrón Faces Ray González Sr. at WWC Lockout
In December 2015 at WWC Lockout, El Patrón, who was the WWE United States Champion at the time, faced Ray González Sr. in a match that ended in a disqualification victory for González.
2015: Return to WWE and United States Championship Reign
In a surprising turn of events, Alberto Del Rio returned to WWE in 2015, capturing the United States Championship twice during his time there.
May 2016: Relationship with Paige Begins
Alberto Del Rio and fellow professional wrestler Saraya-Jade Bevis, known as Paige, made their relationship public in May 2016.
June 2016: Divorce from Angela Velkei
Rodríguez's wife, Angela Velkei, filed for divorce in June 2016, citing adultery as the reason for the separation.
August 2016: Suspension and Departure from WWE
In August 2016, Rodríguez was suspended by WWE for violating their wellness policy. Following his suspension, he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and left the company, citing unhappiness with his position and unfulfilled promises.
October 2016: Engagement to Paige
Del Rio and Paige got engaged in October 2016.
October 2016: El Patrón Returns to WWC for Aniversario
El Patrón returned to WWC in October 2016 for their annual Aniversario event. He faced off against his rival, Ray Gonzalez, in a brutal "Jaula de la Muerte" match.
October 2016: Combate Americas Presidency
Rodríguez took on the role of President of MMA promotion Combate Americas in October 2016, focusing on promoting the brand to Mexican audiences.
November 2016: WCPW Appearances
Del Rio made several appearances for What Culture Pro Wrestling (WCPW) in November 2016, competing in matches and engaging in storylines.
2016: La Cantinita Restaurant Opens
Alberto Del Rio opened a restaurant called La Cantinita in San Antonio, Texas in 2016.
2016: Second Departure from WWE and Signing with Impact Wrestling
Alberto Del Rio's second stint with WWE ended in 2016. He subsequently signed with Impact Wrestling, adding another layer to his diverse wrestling career.
2016: WWE Return and Departure
In 2016, Del Rio returned to WWE, participating in various matches and storylines. He was involved in a Battle Royal, qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match, and was drafted to SmackDown. However, his return was short-lived, and he departed from WWE in September 2016.
March 2017: Impact Wrestling Debut and Championship Wins
Rodríguez debuted for Impact Wrestling in March 2017, adopting the ring name Alberto El Patrón. He immediately inserted himself into the world title picture, winning the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship and later the GFW Global Championship.
July 2017: LAX Storyline and Suspension
In July 2017, El Patrón's storyline in Impact Wrestling involved a feud with the Latin American Xchange (LAX) faction. However, he was later suspended by GFW due to a domestic violence issue with his then-girlfriend, Paige, leading to the vacating of his championship title.
July 2017: Resignation from Combate Americas
In July 2017, Rodríguez stepped down from his presidential role at Combate Americas to prioritize his professional wrestling career.
November 2017: La Cantinita Restaurant Closes
Del Rio's restaurant, La Cantinita, closed in November 2017.
November 2017: Return to Impact Wrestling
El Patrón returned to Impact Wrestling in November 2017 after his suspension, confronting other wrestlers and inserting himself back into the main event scene.
2017: Breakup with Paige
Del Rio and Paige ended their relationship in late 2017.
April 2018: Release from Impact Wrestling
El Patrón's time with Impact Wrestling ended in April 2018 when he was released after allegedly no-showing an event.
May 2018: Becomes US Citizen
Alberto Del Rio became a naturalized citizen of the United States on May 24, 2018.
2018: El Patrón's Planned Return to AAA Cancelled
Alberto Del Rio's highly anticipated return to AAA for Triplemanía XXVI in 2018 was canceled due to a disagreement over payment and difficulty finding a suitable opponent.
July 2019: Return to MMA
Rodríguez returned to MMA competition in July 2019 after a decade-long hiatus, signing with Combate Americas to face Tito Ortiz.
December 2019: Fight Against Tito Ortiz
Rodríguez faced UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz in a Combate Americas match in December 2019, losing the bout in the first round by submission.
2019: Nación Lucha Libre Creation
In 2019, Rodríguez and Chavo Guerrero Jr. established their own wrestling promotion, Nación Lucha Libre, expanding their entrepreneurial endeavors within the industry.
May 2020: Arrest for Assault
Alberto Del Rio was arrested on May 9, 2020, in San Antonio, Texas, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. He was charged with sexual assault and assault causing bodily harm.
July 2021: Public Threats Against Paige
During an interview, Del Rio made threats towards Paige, including exposing her past arrests and making allegations of domestic violence against her in July 2021.
December 2021: Charges Dropped
After several delays and a grand jury indictment on charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault, the charges against Del Rio were dropped on December 10, 2021.
March 2022: UFC Commentator Debut
In March 2022, Rodríguez joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as a Spanish-language commentator, expanding his role within the MMA world.
April 2022: Angela Velkei's Health and Passing
In April 2022, Del Rio shared news of Velkei's hospitalization, requesting blood donations. Sadly, she passed away in early May 2022.
March 2023: Return to AAA
El Patrón made his return to AAA in March 2023, participating in the Lucha Libre World Cup after a seven-year absence from the promotion.
April 2024: AAA Mega Championship Pursuit
In April 2024, El Patrón challenged for the vacant AAA Mega Championship at Triplemanía XXXII: Monterrey but was unsuccessful. He was scheduled for a rematch for the title in August.
