Alberto Del Rio (Jose Alberto Rodriguez) has been removed from all upcoming WWE live events and is not expected to be returning to the company after his 30 day suspension concludes in September according to new reports on Tuesday.
A report by The Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online states that Del Rio and WWE have already come to terms on a release making him a free agent immediately and allowing him to work dates in Mexico. He would be able to work in the U.S. within a few weeks. Attempts to reach out to WWE for comment were not returned as of Wednesday morning.
WWE announced the 30 day suspension of Del Rio back on August 17 (effective the following day). Del Rio was let go by WWE back in August of 2014 after a backstage incident with a WWE staff member in what they cited as “unprofessional conduct.” After returning to Mexico and working a series of independent dates in the United States, Del Rio returned to WWE last October at the Hell in a Cell PPV defeating John Cena to become the new WWE United States Champion. He was paired with Zeb Colter in a storyline that only lasted a few weeks. Del Rio was then paired with Sheamus, Rusev and Wade Barrett to form The League of Nations group. That angle was also later dropped by WWE. Del Rio was drafted to Smackdown Live during the 2016 WWE Draft and main evented the August 16 episode against John Cena. His 30 day suspension for violating the company’s wellness policy, his first violation, was announced the next day.