WWE acquired AAA earlier this year, bringing plenty of big names from that promotion into the fold and hosting crossover shows like Worlds Collide and TripleMania.
One major AAA star we haven't seen work under the WWE umbrella is Alberto Del Rio. He originally signed with WWE in 2009 and left in 2014 before returning the next year. However, his time in the company ended again in 2016, though he'd continue making headlines for an allegedly abusive relationship with WWE's Paige and allegations in 2020 that he'd battered and sexually assaulted his then-girlfriend.
He was later formally charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault, but a "missing witness" led to the felony case being dropped.
Those controversies are likely why WWE has yet to work with Del Rio, even with fans in Mexico chanting for him during AAA shows. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE did inherit his deal when they acquired AAA, but no decision has been made about how to use him moving forward.
Some in WWE are pushing for Del Rio to return due to his continued popularity and star power in Mexico. Others aren't convinced and have shared concerns about the risk he poses and the negative backlash likely to follow due to those past controversies.
During a recent interview with Eduardo Bates, the former WWE Champion weighed in on fans chanting his name during the WWE x AAA events.
"Well, that’s something nobody can decide for the fans. The fans love or hate whoever they want. Social media, the internet, television—they just spread it," he stated. "Some do it truthfully, others just want likes, views, or a bit of relevance for a week. We are the protagonists, the ones who step into the ring to give our all."
Del Rio also made a point of praising Vince McMahon, hailing him as a mastermind in the professional wrestling world. "Vince created all the characters—the entire golden era of WWE exists because of him. What most people don’t know—because they really don’t know him—is that he’s the mastermind behind the industry. Everything we have in wrestling today exists thanks to him."
"I was always one of his favorites because of my dedication, professionalism, and effectiveness—because Alberto Del Rio can do whatever he wants with the crowd," the wrestler McMahon dubbed "Mexico's Greatest Import" added. "He makes them believe, makes them feel that what’s happening in the ring is real, exactly as he intends it to be."
You can hear more from Del Rio in the player below.