Wrestling

Family important to WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio

 

“Si, Si, Si, Si”

jvarsallone@miamiherald.com

Yes, he’s about the expensive cars, the GQ wardrobe, the lavish home and the demeaning sophistication, making him a snobbish Mexican aristocrat, but there’s more to WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio than meets the eye of the WWE Universe.

More important to the scarf-wearing, hand-gesturing sports entertainer is ‘la familia.’

Family.

So when someone’s messing with his family, Del Rio takes action.

Like when his younger brother, Memo Montenegro, competed in a recent match against Corey Graves during a WWE NXT show at the West Palm Beach National Guard Armory in South Florida.

Montenegro, 24, is the latest from the legendary lucha family to embark on a pro wrestling journey, learning the American sports entertainment version in WWE NXT, the Florida developmental system of WWE.

Del Rio, an established WWE superstar, along with his personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez, an WWE NXT/FCW alum, attended the show to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans.

Little did Del Rio think he later would be wrestling, too, but when the deranged South African Leo Kruger and the obnoxious Kassius Ohno attacked Montenegro during his match, Del Rio and Rodriguez made the save. An irate Del Rio challenged the trio.

Rodriguez told Del Rio he also wanted to wrestle, and it became one of those classic moments.

Del Rio looked at Rodriguez and asked, “You want to wrestle?”

Rodriguez said, “Si.”

Del Rio responded, “Si?”

Rodriguez: “Si.”

Back-n-forth a couple more times, and then the enthusiastic crowd followed suit, chanting, “Si, Si, Si, Si.”

(Thank you Daniel Bryan.)

A six-man tag with Latino favorites Del Rio, Rodriguez and Montenegro battling Graves, Kruger and Ohno served as the main event.

Ohno is better known to the Internet overworld as indie sensation Chris Hero.

It marked the first time Del Rio teamed with his brother as his brother just started ring training. The ‘hermanos’ are the continuation of the family legacy. Their father, Dos Caras, is a Mexican wrestling legend, and their uncle, Mil Mascaras, is a Mexican icon, a national and international superstar and a WWE Hall of Famer. Their uncle, Sicodélico, is well known in lucha circles, and their cousins, Sicodelico Jr. and El Hijo del Sicodelico, also wrestle in Mexico.

Montengro began training in wrestling, after earning a veterinarian degree from a university in Mexico. He listened to his father, who encouraged him to obtain a degree, before testing his mettle in the world of sports entertainment.

Del Rio, already an established lucha style grappler in Mexico, made a stellar transition to the American version. He is one of WWE’s top superstars. Montenegro is working toward that goal. The novice did a respectable job in the six-man, taking a pretty good beating and providing some offense.

Del Rio, Montenegro and Rodriguez won the match which made everyone leave happy. After Montenegro and Rodriguez did consecutive suicide dives, Del Rio made Ohno tap. The audience even chanted “Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo” afterward.

Del Rio leaped to the middle rope to celebrate before hugging his younger brother. The three teammates then embraced with the crowd still in a frenzy.

“It was a fantastic experience. It was like a dream come true,” Del Rio said. “My entire family has been in the business for five decades. Having the chance to introduce my brother was an honor for me. I hope one day we can do it again in WWE.”

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