In India over the weekend, WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio shares his fitness routine, diet and life as an entertainment wrestler in an email interview with Hassan M Kamal
Alberto Del Rio loves to box in his free time. Pics courtesy/wwe
Q. How did you get into wrestling?
A. I hail from a wrestling family. My grandfather, uncles (Mil Máscaras and El Sicodélico Sr), and my dad (Dos Caras) were wrestlers. I grew up watching them in the ring, and it's pretty much the reason I decided to become a pro wrestler.
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Alberto Del Rio loves to box in his free time. Pics courtesy/wwe
Q. At what age did you start wrestling? Did you always want to be a professional wrestler?
A. Yes. This is my dream job. I always dreamt of becoming a wrestler. I started when I was eight years old, but it was amateur wrestling. I was part of the Mexican wrestling team for many years before I became a pro wrestler.
Q. Who was your wrestling hero while growing up?
A. My father was my hero. He was one of the most popular wrestlers in Mexico. I grew up watching and admiring him. He was also my teacher and my trainer. I am where I am today because of my dad.
Alberto Del Rio executes his finisher, the cross armbreaker during a match
Q. Despite WWE being scripted, the arena is filled with risks. Besides, you have to keep a constant watch on your weight and build your stamina. How do you manage all of it?
A. Well, only the storylines are scripted. For someone like me, who has been involved in the business for so many years, it comes naturally. I go out there and just wrestle. There's no choreography. So, there's nothing scripted when I am in the ring. I go out there and do what I do best, which is wrestling.
Q. How much time do you spend in the gym? What's your weekly routine?
A. I head to the gym every single day. When I am at home, and I have more time, I try to go twice a day. Normally, I do either a boxing session or a wrestling session in the morning, and then lift weights in the afternoon. When I am on the road, I only go for 60 or 90 minutes to lift weights. People think that I spend three-four hours in the gym, but I do not. I only watch what I eat. I have learned that if you watch what you eat you will see results in your body.
Alberto Del Rio
Q. Do you practise a set of must-do exercises?
A. No. I just try to balance the way I work and train. I try to do the same muscle twice a week. And now, I have somebody telling me how to train. He (personal trainer) is always watching my progress. If he thinks that I need to train a little bit more of a certain muscle, he points it out to me and I change my training regimen.
Q. Apart from working out in the gym, what other physical activities do you take part in to stay fit? And, how do they help?
A. I love boxing, Jiu-jutsu, and then, there's wrestling. Every time I get the chance, I try out a good boxing session in the morning. I always leave weight lifting for the afternoon.
Q. Diet plays an important role when it comes to fitness. Is there anything that you are always munching on or drinking?
A. My nutritionist advises me to drink amino acids during training as it helps refill your body with energy, and keep up your stamina while you are in the gym.
Q. Do you follow any special diet to fulfill nutrient requirements?
A. Not really. I mostly do a high-protein diet with some carbs, once or twice a week.
Q. What workout routine would you recommend to those trying to get into the entertainment wrestling arena like WWE?
A. It's really difficult to answer that question because not everybody likes to lift weights. But, it doesn't mean that they cannot be a wrestler. They can come from another sport, and have the same opportunity to become a WWE superstar.
Age 39
Height 6'5''
Weight 108.4 kg (239 lbs)
Hometown San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Signature Move Cross Armbreaker
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