Alberto Del Rio def. U.S. Champion John Cena in the U.S. Open Challenge

LOS ANGELES — At WWE Hell in a Cell, an unlikely challenger from John Cena’s past took hold of the future of the United States Championship.

Alberto Del Rio, competing in his first WWE match in over a year, made an impactful return at WWE Hell in a Cell Sunday evening by defeating John Cena for the U.S. Title. Del Rio, who was reintroduced to the WWE Universe by an unlikely spokesman in Zeb Colter, secured victory in the U.S. Open Challenge by knocking out The Champ with a whirlwind kick after avoiding an attempted Attitude Adjustment.

Check out Cena vs. Del Rio match photos |  Full Hell in a Cell 2015 results

The unexpected return of Del Rio, whose last taste of WWE competition took place more than 14 months ago, may create more questions than answers about the fate of the U.S. Championship. It’s unclear why the San Luis Potosí, Mexico, native chose the U.S. Open Challenge for his shocking return. Moreover, Del Rio triumphed with a new cornerman in Colter, whose differences of opinion with his new client are well documented, and who was probably at the bottom of every fan’s list for the leader of the new U.S. Champion’s cheering section.

Colter initially stepped out of the shadows to answer Cena’s call for a challenger to “come get some.” After elaborating a more worldly view about international relations, Colter conceded he sought to deliver a challenger who would raise the prestige of the U.S. Title.

"I think it’s time for you to lose that U.S. Title to someone who will do more with it than you ever have," Colter said before introducing the returning Del Rio.

Considering his tumultuous history with Del Rio, Colter shocked the WWE Universe with his choice. However, a pairing the WWE Universe thought they would never see quickly demonstrated that they might just make for a championship-caliber combination.

Watch Cena vs. Del Rio match highlights — courtesy of WWE Network

Del Rio showed no ring rust after the opening bell, answering Cena’s early offense with timely attacks at The Champ’s appendages. The challenger also balanced aerial attacks from the ropes with ground-based barrages, especially a powerful tilt-a-whirl backbreaker that visibly sent Cena reeling.

Both match combatants futilely tried their battle-tested signature finishers to secure victory, but only one’s failed attempt resulted in defeat. Del Rio’s late Cross Armbreaker try resulted in a shoulder block from Cena, leaving the challenger prone for a Five-Knuckle Shuffle. Unfortunately for The Champ, his opponent still had enough in the tank to turn an Attitude Adjustment attempt into a recipe for an upset victory. Del Rio delivered a thunderous kick that left Cena motionless during the title-clinching pinfall.

The victory officially adds a new name to the U.S. Title lineage in Del Rio, who can also boast of being the 18th foreign-born U.S. Champion in WWE history. Cena, on the other hand, concludes his fifth reign as U.S. Champion, ending a 34-day run that represents his second shortest ever.