Alberto Del Rio talks Rey Mysterio in Lucha Underground, Ricardo Rodriguez, Being a Heel, more

Alberto El Patron of Lucha Underground

Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin interviewed Alberto El Patron on Ring Rust Radio this week. You can check out the full interview in the video below. Here are some highlights:

Donald Wood: Lucha Underground is one of the hottest promotions in the world right now, airing every Wednesday at 8 p.m. on El Rey Network. Adding you to the roster only cemented the company's ascent in the wrestling industry. What are your thoughts on Lucha Underground's instant impact on the sport and do you think it could 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% sure that this company is going to be one of the top three wrestling companies around the World at the end of this year.

Mike Chiari: As someone who obviously has extensive experience with lucha libre in Mexico, in what ways is Lucha Underground most similar to traditional lucha, and also, what do you think are some of 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.

Brandon Galvin: Since joining Lucha Underground, you're arguably the top star and the most recognized wrestler in the company. Do you feel there is a now target on your back now that you've joined and how much pressure to you put on yourself to be the top star in the company?

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.

Donald Wood: Let's switch gears a bit to El Texano Jr. For the fans in the United States who do not know much about the man who has made it clear he is gunning for you and the Triple A title, 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.

Mike Chiari: During your time in Lucha Underground and ROH so far you've been working as a babyface, but most American fans are probably most familiar with your work as a heel. From your perspective, which role do you enjoy playing most and why?

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.

Brandon Galvin: You're one of the most well-rounded in-ring wrestlers in the business right now. Since you're so comfortable wrestling different styles, how or when do you decide which type of style you're going to wrestle that 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.

Donald Wood: Lucha Underground already has a stacked roster right now, but there are rumors that former WWE star Rey Mysterio could be eventually making his debut in the promotion. As someone who understands the mainstream appeal of Mysterio, what would an addition like that mean to the company and how do you think he would be welcomed in the locker room if he does make the jump to 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 1,000 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.

Mike Chiari: One person who a lot of American wrestling fans relate to you is Ricardo Rodriguez. You guys reunited in AAA, but do you think there's any chance that you'll join forces again in Lucha Underground? Is that something you'd be interested in?

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.

Brandon Galvin: In recent months you've traveled and competed in different promotions. Is there anything you've learned about yourself, or the business, that made an impact on you as you embark on your journey with Lucha Underground?

I have worked for so many years and companies but at the end of the day it comes to this: I was born in this business and because of that I have learned how to love and respect this business every day. I have a lot of passion and everyone can see it. Now that I am in a different company, people can see the real Alberto. I am not pretending to be someone else or talk or wrestle the way somebody else is telling me to. This is the real me. Now I am free to do whatever I want and say what I want in the ring.

Donald Wood: One of your first appearances in the United States after your departure from WWE was at the House of Hardcore show in Philadelphia. You were received with a hero's welcome. How has returning to your roots and having the leash taken off you helped in the ring and away from wrestling?

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.

Brandon Galvin: For fans who have yet to see Lucha Underground, or may be on the fence about the company, what do you feel is most special about Lucha Underground and what do you have 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.