There are rumors circulating around that Alberto Del Rio is considering leaving WWE after returning to the company less than a year ago. According to speculations, WWE's recent brand split -- which put Del Rio in SmackDown and his girlfriend Paige in Raw -- contributed to the Mexican wrestler's exit plans and made him unhappy.
Del Rio was fired from WWE in 2014 after a scuffle with a backstage employee, but he was rehired by the company in October 2015 and instantly won the U.S. Heavyweight Championship, CamelClutchBlog wrote. Despite the two camps' reconciliation, there still might be lasting tension between them. Del Rio's contract has a stipulation or a provision that allows him to leave WWE in September.
Del Rio has demonstrated that he could excel outside WWE. He appeared in the wrestling serial drama television series "Lucha Underground" and promotion company Ring of Honor, Bleacher Report noted.
Also, there are reports claiming that Del Rio's publicized relationship with Paige is straining his involvement with WWE. Sports journalist Dave Meltzer said on a recent Wrestling Observer Radio episode that Del Rio and Paige are "getting in trouble" for "taking their relationship public" and posting sweet photos of them together on social media sites including Instagram and Twitter.
Meltzer said Del Rio and Paige's relationship forced WWE to split the couple into two separate brands. WWE stars dating each other aren't a rare commodity, but the company frowns upon the personal lives of its wrestlers complicating storylines.
Some of the identified couples in WWE are John Cena and Nikki Bella, Rusev and Lana, Zack Ryder and Emma, and The Miz and Maryse, Forbes listed. These romances between WWE stars are expected given that they always travel together with no offseason in sight.
Del Rio, however, has previously expressed his gratitude and happiness about going back to WWE. In an interview earlier this year, Del Rio said the reason why he returned to WWE is because the company is where he belongs, WrestleZone.com reported.
"I'm just doing it different this time, I'm not stressing myself with things that I know I'm not able to change," Del Rio added. He also revealed that he was on the verge of signing with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, but the company didn't have the money to afford him back then. Ultimately, he chose WWE.
Whether Del Rio would leave WWE remains to be seen. Fans, however, should savor the wrestler's upcoming fights especially now that his departure from the company is a possibility.
