Smark Out Moment

We're not breaking any news here, but even though it was a guarantee, I felt as though I would hold off until a more definitive statement was made. Now that it has, it can be announced: Alberto Del Rio has been released from World Wrestling Entertainment.

My reaction: This seemed like an inevitability for a long time. He came back to some fanfare, but was quickly demoted to the midcard and left with not much to do. Then, after he and his girlfriend were split up during the draft, he was suspended. We've been waiting for the official statement of his release for quite some time. Obviously, I can't speak to whatever's happened backstage, but Del Rio has always struck me as someone who is a perfect midcarder who likely feels that he should be the top guy, and I've never been on board with that. If he's as adversarial as some reports claim (as well as a bad influence on Paige, which could very well be true, but again, I have no "insider knowledge" of that stuff to speak on the behalf of), then good riddance. Was he probably promised the world and not given it? Sure. Is that wrong? Yes. WWE should be more outright when they sign people about what their reality is. Ryback shouldn't be told that he'll squash AJ Styles at WrestleMania unless that's legitimately in the plans. Del Rio shouldn't be told that he will have 20 world titles in a year if they don't want to use him in that way. However, two wrongs don't make a right. It's a shame they lose someone who could be a good hand for roster notoriety on SmackDown, but if he's more of a problem than he's worth, oh well.

Click here for the full list of people who have been released, quit or retired from WWE this past year.