WWE announced the release of Alberto Del Rio due to unprofessional conduct and an altercation with an employee.

This is shocking...i wonder what the hell happened

I will miss Del Rio. Great worker. Loved the aristocrat gimmick.

@Dead, I'm guessing he punched someone. Hopefully Kevin Dunn.

Damn. =/ I'm gonna miss Del Rio. He was decent at best on the mic, but a great in ring talent.

Holy shit. This is insanely unexpected. That... really sucks.

- It's worth noting that Albert Del Rio's release is the top story on the front page of WWE's website right now. Usually when WWE announces talent departures they use their real name but Del Rio's real name was not used in today's announcement.

If Del Rio really is gone from the company, his last match would have been a loss to Jack Swagger on this week's Main Event. He did not work the SmackDown taping and did not work today's live event in Melbourne, Australia.

It was recently reported that Del Rio's contract was expiring soon.

- We noted before that WWE did not use Alberto Del Rio's real name when announcing his release from the company this evening. It's also interesting that they did not wish him the best in his future endeavors.

For what it's worth, Rob Feinstein of RF Video wrote on his Facebook that Del Rio was involved in a backstage incident at the recent WWE TV tapings. RF claimed that Del Rio had words with an employee who works for WWE's social media department and allegedly slapped him. This should be taken as strictly rumor for now.

We've noted how Del Rio has expressed interest in leaving WWE and returning to Mexico once his deal expired this year.

never was a fan of his, thought he was boring. However I would understand how frustrated he must be.

It sucks they had to let him go cuz of that, but I'm gonna miss Del Rio. I've always been a fan of his wrestling.

ADR for life.

Next TNA champion.

He'll totally go to TNA when he mostly likely knows about their current situation.

I'm pretty sure he's gonna go back to Mexico whenever he can.

Yeah, I'm sure his home promotion wouldn't want to miss out on a chance to run a storyline where he comes back, masked, and everyone else is fuckin' pissed about it, saying he doesn't have a right to cause he wrestled without his mask in WWE.

Sucks for him that he went like that, but I won't miss him.

Never high on him, his gimmick anyway. I hope he punched someone worthwhile in the face.

He's going back to Mexico to stiff Mistico/Sin Cara some more.

Captain Ozztralia wrote:

Next TNA champion.

Seems like he's going to be  

UPDATE x3: According to Pwinsider.com (via wrestlezone.com) here is another update on the Alberto Del Rio situation. The latest word is that Del Rio slapped an employee in reaction to a racist comment made towards him. WWE does not plan to make any further comment on the situation. 

Read more at http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/331377/UPDATED-x3:--Alberto-Del-Rio-Released-By-WWE.htm#TpBV9jSLapkgymv0.99

SO what happens to the dude who made a racist remark at him? Nothing?

Rio gets fired, nothing happens to the employee..

Remember how Michael Hayes said he was "twice the nigger" that Mark Henry was? Still working for WWE.

He was also placed on indefinite leave then too

With all the oddities in this story it's possible Del Rio was walking from his deal and WWE offered him some money if they could run a story that would get them publicity before Summerslam.

Well this sucks.

With that Mexican bitch slap, you can say he at least he went out swinging.

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer

UPDATE x 6: Here is another update on the Del Rio story which backs up earlier reports that that Del Rio slapped an employee in reaction to a racist comment made towards him.

According to a source, this past Tuesday at the WWE SmackDown tapings in the catering (food) area, somebody asked a person to clean off his plate. The person in question (said to be a WWE.com employee and/orWWE’s Social Media Manager) joked something along the lines of how “That’s Del Rio’s job.” Del Rio found out about the comments and confronted the person. The Social Media Manager refused to apologize and smirked at Del Rio, which led to him getting slapped across the face. Del Rio then stormed off yelling and screaming while others looked on.

UPDATE x 5: According to sources, here is another update on the Alberto Del Rio situation. The latest word is that Del Rio slapped an employee in reaction to a racist comment made towards him. WWE does not plan to make any further comment on the situation.