Alberto Del Rio was once a prominent figure in wrestling. However, slowly by slowly, he has declined; both personally and professionally. He was recently ousted by the Mexican promotion, AAA. Now, he faces time in prison for abuse.
Alberto Rodríguez, the former WWE champion better known to wrestling fans as Alberto Del Rio and later El Patrón, was arrested on Monday, 6 April, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, after authorities responded to a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife.
According to TMZ, Rodríguez was detained after his wife contacted emergency services and reported that she had been physically assaulted. Preliminary reports state that members of the State Civil Guard responded to a call placed through the region’s C5 emergency system.
Rodríguez’s wife warned police about what she described as the "dangerousness of the aggressor" while alleging she had been the victim of physical violence.
Rodríguez first signed with WWE in 2009 and quickly became one of the company’s biggest international stars. In 2011, he made history by becoming the first Mexican wrestler to win both the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship.
That same year, he also became the first wrestler to win both the Royal Rumble match and the Money in the Bank ladder match in a single calendar year.
Rodríguez continued wrestling after leaving WWE, spending time in AAA, Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and several independent promotions before stepping away from the ring in 2025.
Outside the ring, Rodríguez’s personal life has frequently overshadowed his accomplishments.
In 2017, Impact Wrestling suspended him following a highly publicised and volatile relationship with fellow wrestler, Paige, now known as Saraya. The two became engaged in 2016 before splitting the following year.
Rodríguez was also arrested in San Antonio, Texas, in May 2020 after his then-girlfriend accused him of sexual assault and physical abuse. He was later indicted on felony charges, including aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault. Those charges were ultimately dropped in December 2021, after the case was delayed multiple times.
As per Milenio, prosecutors could file one of two charges under the state's criminal code. The standard charge of violencia familiar (domestic violence) carries a penalty of one to seven years in prison, along with a fine ranging from 20 to 700 UMA days. Based on the 2026 UMA rate of 117.31 pesos per day, that equates to approximately 2 346 to 82 117 pesos.
Furthermore, Lesiones Cometidas contra la Mujer en Razón de su Género (injuries committed against a woman based on her gender), carries a potential sentence of eight to 20 years in prison and a fine between 400 and 700 UMA days; or roughly 46 924 to 82 117 pesos.
Milenio reported that this charge might apply in cases involving degrading or severe injuries, mutilation or when the alleged assault follows prior threats, harassment or a pattern of violence.
Per Telediario México, after a 911 call from Rodríguez Lucero, authorities responded to a residence in the Lomas del Tec neighbourhood. Members of the Guardia Civil Estatal reportedly arrived and found her with visible injuries to her face and arms.
Del Rio was detained at the scene and transferred to the Fiscalía General del Estado de San Luis Potosí for further investigation.
Infobae México reports that the alleged victim is currently under medical and legal protection. About a month before the 6 April incident, Rodríguez Lucero allegedly contacted Mexican journalist Flor Rubio via WhatsApp before later retracting the outreach. The reported message read:
"I went through a situation with my husband. It was an impulse on my part. I've changed my mind. I don't want to cause trouble or make things bigger."
It's rather disturbing to see just how low a professional can sink to. You would've thought that wrestlers can control their emotions. These constant issues are atrocious and he deserves to serve some time in prison to hopefully teach him a lesson.