Could WWE Make Del Rio The Next "Million Dollar Man?"

[gh88us]

I'm an old school wrestling fan. I've watched wrestling since the early 80's, (awa, nwa, wwf, mid-south, world class, and chicagoland promotions). Alberto Del Rio really hasn't gotta the push or reactions that I think he could. If the WWE would go down the road and have Del Rio start a faction of wrestlers( which would gain them heat, as well as TV time). Del Rio could use his money to bring in wrestlers to do his dirty work, then he could take the credit. Flaunt his riches, make fun of the crowds, heck maybe even "buy" his way into regaining the championship.
I think one of the greatest heels of all time is Ted Dibiase Sr. I loved how he was allowed to make fun of fans, offer them money and then take it away. Some of the best TV stuff ever was Dibiase kicking the basketball away from the kid who he offered $100 if he could dribble the ball 10 times.
I think Del Rio would be great at doing this, and it already falls into his character of who he is.
What ya think??

 

[WallsofZakku]

that seems like it would work well.
Del Rio needs something to work off of with his gimmick, instead of just being the rich mexican aristocrat who drives fancy cars and talks about destiny.
He should take advantage of his immense wealth to pull strings and buy his way into things, i think he would be able to pull that off. Then he'd be like a mixture of DiBiase and JBL. I'm not exactly sure though if WWE is smart enough to capitalize off of an idea like that, but if they did i feel like that would give ADR what he needs to stay relevant and would allow him to do better promos and backstage segments.

 

[BigRedMachine88]

you're right about his character. Aside from entering in a fancy car and being called the "mexican aristocrat", he doesn't really play to his arrogant wealthy character at all. He could be part of a good stable, put John Laurinitas and David Otunga in the mix and you get some serious crowd heat there. I think a new feud with CM Punk in that stable would be good too.

 

[JaylisJayP]

I agree the WWE had become extremely stale and the PG does hurt the product, it's overly tame now, they don't take very many chances and it's just not all that entertaining to watch.

That said, I don't think more or less revisiting a very well-known angle from the 80's is "shaking things up". I also think they tried this on a smaller scale with Ted Diabiase Jr. last year (or the year before), and it failed miserably. Yeah, the character was weaker than what I think ADR can bring to the table, but still.

When ADR comes back, I think they should take him to ultra-heel levels by heightening his violent tendencies. Of course, given the PG rating, that might not happen, but having him start saying "It is my destiny to hurt you, or it is my destiny to ruin your career" and then act on it with some brutal attacks, etc..., would be great. You could perhaps work in some of the OP's angle idea by having him pay others to help him out but not have that be the focus...to also have ADR doing the dirty work himself.

I just dont see ADR getting that much more heat than he already did by deferring to paid thugs to beat up on people. It'll get old very quickly.

 

[Xemmy]

Del Rio's gimmick is already criticized openly for just being a Mexican JBL. If they're going to do it, I say amp it up. Let him flaunt his money. Bring out the hundred dollar bills, and wave it at the children in the front row. Del Rio's got heat, but he could have a lot more by using that wealth to his advantage. Is it original? No. Would it work? Yes. As long as they come up with some creative or entertaining ways for him to flaunt his cash, a Million Dollar Man gimmick COULD be gold. Or at least better than the current version of his character.

 

[IHW]

I just do not see the "it" in Del Rio. He does not fit as high up in the ranks as he is IMO. This guys is a former 2 time champion, a Rumble winner, and Mr. MitB, he even competed with Edge in Edge's last match. He has had so many opportunities to get heat or get over and I do not feel like he has. He is boring.

My Grandma agrees that Del Rio is boring. She once told me that he didn't deserve the WWE championship. She also said he needed to be gone. True Story.

Now, if ADR would change his character up a bit, he could get over as a heel. A M$M type gimmick is a chance he should take.

 

[Tattooed Jesus]

ADR suffered from too much too soon and he got boring real fast. He was shoved down our throats worse than Cena but he is not even an ounce as entertaining as Cena is or can be. He was in feuds with Rey Mysterio way to long and way to often that were boring as hell and the matches weren't very good either. He has a weak Royal Rumble win that would have been much more exciting had Santino won. His match at WM27 against Edge was pretty bad, I was there live the crowd was not into it at all and no one wanted him to win the match anyways. Even his MITB win and cash in was lame, and again no one wanted to see it. Punk was riding higher than high at that point and taking the title off him was just stupid, but putting it on Del Rio was even stupider. He wasn't ready and still isn't ready to play with the big boys in the WWE as was evident by how much he was overshadowed by Punk and Cena when they were all in the ring together. He needs a good long mid card championship reign like Cody Rhodes has had with the IC title or put him in a stable or tag team with some other guys. I think that would suit him much better. Saddling him with another wrestlers old gimmick is gonna change the fact that he is boring on the mic, he has failed as the Mexican JBL and would fail harder as the Mexican Million Dollar Man. Like someone else said I just don't see the "It" factor in ADR at all, he may have it and just hasn't found the way to show it yet, but I don't think rehashing old gimmicks is the way to find it.

 

[DirtyD79]

Del Rio's gimmick is already criticized openly for just being a Mexican JBL. If they're going to do it, I say amp it up. Let him flaunt his money. Bring out the hundred dollar bills, and wave it at the children in the front row. Del Rio's got heat, but he could have a lot more by using that wealth to his advantage. Is it original? No. Would it work? Yes. As long as they come up with some creative or entertaining ways for him to flaunt his cash, a Million Dollar Man gimmick COULD be gold. Or at least better than the current version of his character.

Exactly at this point he just has a gimmick in name only. If he is supposed to be a mexican aristocrat he should act like it. Make fans do embarrassing things for money only to pull it away at the last second, bribe a ref or two, maybe throw temper tantrums after losing. Spouting off about "my destiny" every other sentence is just sending the fans on their destiny to the bathroom whenever he shows up.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

The humiliating fans is ages old... he should be manipulating behind the scenes, buying his way onto the board of directors would be a good angle for him if he ever feuds with Trips... I dunno but I think we might get a heel turn out of the Teddy/John match from someone "bought" by Del Rio to get JL into position... maybe a returning Rey Mysterio?

If they are going to keep the destiny stuff, then make it about how money buys destiny...

Del Rio could tap into some really good heat with guys like Michaels and Orton about boyhood dreams and 3rd Generation legacy meaning nothing when he has bought his way to the top by hiring the best teachers etc... and get rid of Ricardo, he's run his course... Del Rio and Eve seem to me to be an obvious pairing, you'd think a rich guy would have all the women after him...

 

[Shotaro]

Could they? Yes, probably. Should they? No.

Del Rio is one of the stars on the roster right now in dire need of a re-vamp. I've said this before but they should either go the heel route and as others have suggested and have him buy his way onto the "board" and put himself in title matches every other PPV for a few months.

Or turn him face, make him go bankrupt, have him become humble and caring, get him to blame the money for his previous lunacy, hell you could get a great feud out of it if you have someone else on the roster be responsible.

Either way, del rio as he is now just isn't quite right, he needs tweaking but he will go down as a great eventually.

 

[The Deadly Viper]

I feel that this could be a "different" route to say the least. I agree that yes, if done correctly, it could be an amazing character for ADR to be put into. Having him pretend to give money out would generate a lot of heat in my eyes. And so I feel this potentially could be a very good career move for him as well.

 

[DeathClutch]

WWE dropped the ball with Alberto; though I personally wouldn't have Alberto be a second Million $ Man, I'd have his own spin on his character who has plenty wealth and to help portray that image when he won the belt, I would have had him debut the new one as his own belt, after all he enjoys the finer things of life and having a belt that looks absolutely horrid didn't help his character. Hell if the belt wasn't received well they (The E) could have dropped the belt once Aberto dropped the belt to Punk or whoever.

 

[rokuma]

I can't see why they would want to waste their time on this bum. They already tried pushing him to the moon and the fans responded: We're not into Del Rio.

I'll never forget watching one of the most hyped rumbles in history (the first ever 40 man) and then seeing HIM win it. I was watching with a group of people and we were into it, thinking Cena would definitely win and then...Cena was gone. It was down to Alberto Del Rio and Santino and then Del Rio won. Silence in the room. Not a single word. I finally spoke up and said, "This is the worst ending to a Royal Rumble I have ever seen." And everyone agreed.

I've watched a grand total of 1 PPV since that victory (this year's Royal Rumble...because I do every year) and I've watched only a handful of Raw's...this year. I was so disgusted with Del Rio winning, I literally turned off wrestling for over a year. I watched briefly during the Summer of Punk, but the last thing I want to see is another bland, cookie cutter loser with mediocre talent parading around the main event. Del Rio is so bad, he makes me respect Cena.

Why push Del Rio when you have guys like Ziggler, even Zack Ryder (I'm not a fan, but he's over with the fans), Wade Barrett (when he returns), shoot even the Miz (whom I hate) is more over with the fans...why waste anymore time with this guy? He's not a star, he doesn't have what it takes to be a star, and wasting anymore time on this guy is just said. You want legacies in wrestling? Build up Cody Rhodes more, make him the main eventer. See if you can reinvent Ted Dibiase (who was some in-ring ability and the charisma of cardboard). Change Michael McGuillicutty's name back to Joe Hennig and let him be his father's son...Lord knows he has the talent to make it, just not given the chance. Anybody but Del Rio.

 

[Bear3209]

I love the ADR gimmick, he is a Mexican Million Dollar Man, only down fall is he got way to much hype at once, and everyone knows that you become famous to quick .. your going to lose your steam and drop like a bad habit.

Personally i would love to see ADR for a team with someone, maybe like a new talent, someone that hasnt got a big push yet.. than maybe once they are on the same level .. maybe break them off or something but right now ADR needs something good and not boring.

 

[KoC417]

I wouldn't have him turn into a Million Dollar Man. Leave that to Ted!

Have some twist in the storyline where Ricardo actually turns out to be "familia" to Del Rio. Have Ricardo do everything in his power to win the approval of ADR (would also explain why Ricardo was so "willing" to take that nasty bump off the ladders many months back). Have ADR initially resist and repeatedly leave Ricardo out to dry. Then as time goes on have ADR's "parents/close relatives" come in and speak to ADR about familia sticking together and needing to unite and stand strong. Have Kane or Mark Henry (just as an example) attacking Ricardo and have ADR initially resist helping but then Del Rio makes a sprint towards the ring and saves Ricardo. From there you could have ADR feuding with some of the top big guys/heels in the WWE (as a face obviously). I mean keep in mind the crowd has loved Del Rio for a while. I remember when he got massive chants. I personally think Del Rio would be fantastic as a face. Let him use a face gimmick, get him away from the "wealth" and such. The best part about this turn idea is- If he isn't getting as over as they would hope, he could immediately have a change of heart, turn on Ricardo and then really go full board heel screaming at the "familia" and fans saying things like "I'm rich! You are all like these Americans! Poor and utterly useless" and other heel type speeches. Of course they would be much more deep than that as it would run as a "family destroyed" thing. I think they need to get him away from the money thing though, and fast.

1.Ted DiBiase
2. Ted Jr
3. Tiger Ali Shing (spell check)
4. Heel JBL
5. Floyd Mayweather (I know..he was a short tenure with WWE..but he played with the money)
etc. The money gimmick IMO is really run its course asnd I do believe my idea would work with some tweaking and some good acting from all parties included.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

"WWE is stale and boring, how about we rehash some of these ideas from our golden years as a fan" yea, yuck.

How about Alberto is the first and only Alberto? Sure, he has elements from other characters, but if you think that the Million Dollar Man is this amazing revolutionary character of the, get this, pompous rich guy, then you are nuts. It's just one of those characters, like the evil cigarette smoking Russian guy in action movies.

Also, he's not boring, he got a HUGE pop at the royal rumble when they thought he was coming out. His character was just over exposed. People like his character. shit man there were people in the crowd at Summerslam dressed like him.

ADR does a great job at his character, mannerisms, etc. He tells a story in the ring. Ricardo is the shit. LOVE Ricardo.

They just need to slow his development down. Although that big year gives him lots of promo fodder as a heel.

 

[Xemmy]

I can't see why they would want to waste their time on this bum. They already tried pushing him to the moon and the fans responded: We're not into Del Rio.

I'll never forget watching one of the most hyped rumbles in history (the first ever 40 man) and then seeing HIM win it. I was watching with a group of people and we were into it, thinking Cena would definitely win and then...Cena was gone. It was down to Alberto Del Rio and Santino and then Del Rio won. Silence in the room. Not a single word. I finally spoke up and said, "This is the worst ending to a Royal Rumble I have ever seen." And everyone agreed.

I've watched a grand total of 1 PPV since that victory (this year's Royal Rumble...because I do every year) and I've watched only a handful of Raw's...this year. I was so disgusted with Del Rio winning, I literally turned off wrestling for over a year. I watched briefly during the Summer of Punk, but the last thing I want to see is another bland, cookie cutter loser with mediocre talent parading around the main event. Del Rio is so bad, he makes me respect Cena.

Why push Del Rio when you have guys like Ziggler, even Zack Ryder (I'm not a fan, but he's over with the fans), Wade Barrett (when he returns), shoot even the Miz (whom I hate) is more over with the fans...why waste anymore time with this guy? He's not a star, he doesn't have what it takes to be a star, and wasting anymore time on this guy is just said. You want legacies in wrestling? Build up Cody Rhodes more, make him the main eventer. See if you can reinvent Ted Dibiase (who was some in-ring ability and the charisma of cardboard). Change Michael McGuillicutty's name back to Joe Hennig and let him be his father's son...Lord knows he has the talent to make it, just not given the chance. Anybody but Del Rio.

That is nothing short of an over-reaction. Del Rio winning probably wasn't the best decision in the world. I'll give you that. But Del Rio is a great in-ring talent. He does not suck. His gimmick is stale, and people didn't buy into it. If that caused you to stop watching for a year, then you may have some issues to sort out. I do agree that more time should be spent on guys like Miz and Ziggler because they've proved their worth- but Del Rio can wrestle his ass off, and if you give him a gimmick like this one it WILL get him over.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Absolutely not.

He has about 1/4 the charisma of Ted DiBiase, not to mention reviving that gimmick is lazy and stupid. I don't know where they go from here with Del Rio, but it's apparent someone within WWE is high on this guy. Why? No clue. I think he's about as entertaining as a chunk of wood, and yes, that includes his matches. He's technically sound, but his boringness carries over from the mic into the ring. That's how boring this guy is.

 

[Paul Bunyan's Axe]

It would be an interesting change of pace, but I just don't see ADR fitting that role. I'd rather see Ted Dibiase try taking that gimmick, it could help him out a lot, but Del Rio is already annoying enough, I doubt that this would work for him.