Alberto El Patron (Del Rio) recently was interviewed by Ring Rust Radio to talk Lucha Underground.
Below are the highlights:
On Lucha Underground’s instant impact and whether it can become a viable contender with the top wrestling companies in the United States: “Oh, yes, of course. Lucha Underground is a fantastic product. They have the right people talent and backing up the product. I am 100 percent sure that this company is going to be one of the top three wrestling companies around the World at the end of this year.”
On the the major differences that help set Lucha Underground apart and make it so unique: “Lucha Underground is different than basic Mexican lucha libre. They are combing all the great styles out there into one. They are taking the best out of the Japanese, American, and lucha libre style and making them into one. It’s one unique style that all the fans are enjoying. I have been dong the wrestling shows all over the world. People are stopping me and telling me how much they enjoy the product and how different it is. The fans said they have been waiting for something like this that they can watch and enjoy every week.”
On pressure to be the top star: “I never put pressure on myself because I know who I am and where I come from. Everybody knows I work every single day, I never rest, and I always work to give my best to the fans. At the end of the day, we work for the fans. They are the ones buying the tickets and watching us on TV so we can get our paychecks at the end of the week.”
On what can wrestling fans expect from El Texano Jr and what separates him from the rest of the stars in the company: “He is a fantastic wrestler with a great background in Mexican lucha libre. He has been wrestling for 15 years now and started in Mexico and then went to Japan. He spent like 5 or 6 years working for New Japan which is the biggest company out there. He is a second generation wrestler who was born in this business just like myself. He is one of the major superstars in Mexico and they can expect a lot from him. Not only from him, but all the wrestlers in Lucha Underground. We have new names, new characters, and all these fantastic performers. They were stars in other companies and they are here in Underground to help us make us the best company in the World.”
On whether he enjoys being a heel or a babyface: “I love being the bad guy. Everybody loves the bad guy including the chicks. That’s a place where I would like to but at the end of the day I’m going to be what the fans want me to be or where they put me. When I left the other company, they decided to put me in the good guy side. I have been working as a baby face since then. I’m not going to say I am not enjoying it but I do. If you would ask me, though, I would love to be a bad guy again.”
On how or when he decides which type of style you’re going to wrestle on a given night: “I’m one of those wrestlers that leaves everything to the audience and to the fans. I never plan anything and you will never see Alberto Patron planning in the back what he is going to do in the match. I always go out there, listen to the crowd and the fans, and give them what they want. If you plan something in the back, you go out there, and the fans don’t want what the fans last night wanted you are done. You won’t be able to give them a good show and a match. I always go out there and listen to the crowd, and depending on what they want that’s what I do.”
On how Rey Mysterio would be welcomed in Lucha Underground: “It would be fantastic! I don’t know if he is going to join or not because he already joined AAA in Mexico. We know that AAA and Lucha Underground are partners. That pretty much tells me we will see Rey Mysterio at some point in the future and it will be fantastic. We already have a great product and having Rey Mysterio joining the company would make it one thousand times better. We already have the Latinos watching Lucha Underground. Now we will have superstars like Rey Mysterio and Alberto Patron that will make the American fans turnaround and watch the program because they know us from other companies.”
On whether he could reunite with Ricardo Rodriguez in Lucha Underground: “Well, never say never. I have been trying to bring Ricardo to every organization I have worked with but I do not make the final decisions. I always talk about Ricardo with others but at the end of the day they are paying the bills and make that decision. In Ricardo’s situation, I know Lucha Underground already talked to him but nothing happened. I would love to have him on the roster. I wouldn’t want him the way he was before like the other company because he was like my servant. He is not my servant, he is my friend, and I would love to see him do well and showcase his talent in a company like Lucha Underground.”
On working for House of Hardcore: “That was a really good experience. The other day, I saw an interview with Tommy Dreamer about what happened that night with me. They thought I was not going to go, so they invited Ricardo who agreed. When they asked Ricardo to ask me I immediately said yes. I am a big fan of what that arena and company represent. I spoke from the heart and the fans loved it and were happy with what I had to say. Since that day, everyone has talked about my promos and how much love and passion I have for this business. I was the same guy working for the other company, the love and passion was there, but I was following directions. Now I am in a different place and I am happy and the fans are happy to see a different Alberto.”
On what he feels is most special about Lucha Underground and what he has in store for fans moving forward: “We have a product that is totally different than anything else. We are combing the best of everything in the wrestling world and putting it in one single place that is Lucha Underground. All the talent working for Lucha Underground is thirsty and hungry. They want to show the world that they can do it. Most of them tried to join the so called major company. Even though they have a lot of talent, for some reason or politics they were told no. They want to prove to the World that they are the some of the best wrestlers in the World. When people like myself and if Rey joins, we want to prove to the World that we are a 1,000 times better than what they saw in the other company. We still have something to offer and will help this company to grow and be the best out there. With all the help of the media, the writers, producers, and wrestlers in Lucha Underground we will be able to show them.”
Follow us on X @WNSource
Follow us on Instagram & THREADS
LIKE us on Facebook
⚡ News tip? Email ben@wrestlingnewssource.com