Alberto El Patron Talks Wrestler Treatment In Mexico Needing To Change, Fielding MMA Offers, Fedor
Alberto El Patron was recently interviewed by The Roman Show to promote the new MMA series Combate Americas, which launched earlier this month on NBC Universo. They sent us these highlights from the interview.
During the interview, El Patron said that he wouldn't mind fighting inside a cage. Del Rio last fought in 2010 and holds a 9-5 record, with most of his wins coming from submission. His notable fight was against MMA legend Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, which he lost by knockout.
"Since I left WWE everyone has been trying to get me in their organization to fight again," El Patron said. "But the money is just not there. Luckily I do pretty well in wrestling. I am one of the most paid pro wrestler out there. If the money is not there then there's no reason for me to go back in there fight and hurt my body."
Del Rio also spoke about how he got the play-by-play announcing gig.
"My good friend Campbell McLaren has been trying to get me to join the organization since I left the WWE, since the beginning he's been trying to convince me to get in the ring or cage and fight again," he said. "Unfortunately we couldn't get a good deal talking about money wise. We found this way being part of the organization without fighting. He invited me as an announcer."
When asked if he would be interested in fighting MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, who recently announced that he is coming out of retirement to fight in Japan on New Year's Eve, El Patron replied, "If the money is there why not?"
He also spoke about wrestler treatment in Mexico with the passing of El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo, who passed away almost instantly during a match earlier this year.
"It's difficult to accept when someone like him goes before his time especially for us in the business," he said. "We all know what risks we have when we go out there. If you do something wrong or if the other guy does something. All we can do is learn from that mistake. The originations in Mexico need to change the way they treat the wrestlers the way they treat the sport. We live a different situation down there. It's just a few guys like myself and Rey Mysterio that get treated the way we deserve, they don't do the same with the other wrestlers. It's about to change."
Source: The Roman Show