Rey Mysterio, born Oscar Gutierrez, is a Mexican-American professional wrestler who is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest high-flyers in wrestling history and has won numerous championships throughout his career.
Throughout his career, Mysterio held a total of 24 championships between WWE and WCW, including three world championships. He is also recognized as the 21st Triple Crown and Grand Slam champion in WWE history and won the 2006 Royal Rumble match. Mysterio retired from professional wrestling in 2021 and is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023. His legacy as a high-flying, acrobatic wrestler and his influence on the popularization of cruiserweight wrestling and lucha libre has made him an enduring icon in the world of professional wrestling.
Rey Mysterio, whose real name is Óscar Gutiérrez, was born on December 11, 1974, in Chula Vista, California, United States. He grew up in a family of wrestlers, with his uncle, Rey Misterio Sr., being a famous luchador in Mexico. Mysterio was exposed to wrestling from a young age and became interested in pursuing it as a career.
Mysterio attended Montgomery High School in San Diego, California, where he was an accomplished amateur wrestler. He won several titles and awards in high school wrestling, including the California Interscholastic Federation state championship in his weight class. Mysterio's background in amateur wrestling helped him develop the technical skills and athleticism that would serve him well in his professional wrestling career.
Rey Mysterio's early career began in 1989 when he was just 14 years old. He began wrestling on the independent circuit in Mexico and California, where he was trained by his uncle, Rey Misterio Sr. Mysterio quickly gained a reputation for his high-flying, acrobatic style of wrestling and his small stature, which set him apart from other wrestlers.
Rey Mysterio had a significant association with Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) during the early years of his professional wrestling career. Mysterio signed with AAA in 1992 and began to gain more experience in the ring, facing off against top Mexican wrestlers and participating in high-profile events.
Mysterio's time in AAA helped him to develop his skills as a wrestler and to gain further exposure in the wrestling world. He continued to work for AAA on and off throughout his career, even after he had achieved great success in other promotions such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Rey Mysterio had a brief stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1995-1996. During this time, he was still a relatively unknown wrestler in the United States, but his appearances in ECW helped to introduce him to a new audience.
Mysterio's high-flying style of wrestling was a perfect fit for ECW's fast-paced and innovative style, and he quickly became a fan favorite. He had several memorable matches during his time in ECW, including a match against Psicosis that is still remembered as a classic by fans of the promotion.
Rey Mysterio had a very successful run in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1996 to 2001. His arrival in WCW coincided with the rise of the Cruiserweight division, and Mysterio quickly became one of the division's top stars.
During his time in WCW, Mysterio won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship five times, the WCW World Tag Team Championship three times, and had several memorable matches against some of the top wrestlers in the company. His matches against Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and Juventud Guerrera are still remembered as some of the greatest matches in WCW history.
Mysterio's time in WCW helped to popularize lucha libre in the United States and brought international attention to the Cruiserweight division. His high-flying, acrobatic style of wrestling captured the imaginations of fans around the world and helped to establish him as one of the top wrestlers in the industry.
Rey Mysterio also had a short stint in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from 2001 to 2002. During this time, Mysterio returned to his roots in lucha libre and competed in some of the biggest matches of his career. In CMLL, Mysterio won the CMLL World Welterweight Championship and had several memorable matches against some of Mexico's top luchadors, including Black Tiger and El Hijo del Santo.
After his departure from WCW, Rey Mysterio briefly competed on the independent circuit and in Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2002. During this time, Mysterio continued to showcase his high-flying, fast-paced wrestling style and proved that he was still one of the top wrestlers in the world.
Mysterio competed for various independent promotions across the United States, including Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. He also made several appearances in Puerto Rico for the International Wrestling Association (IWA), where he had a memorable feud with the company's top star, Savio Vega.
Rey Mysterio made his debut in WWE in 2002 as part of the SmackDown brand. His arrival was highly anticipated by fans, who were eager to see how he would fare in WWE's competitive and fast-paced environment.
Mysterio quickly made an impact in WWE, winning the Cruiserweight Championship just a few months after his debut. He continued to have success in the Cruiserweight division, winning the championship two more times and becoming one of the most popular and beloved wrestlers on the SmackDown roster.
In 2006, Mysterio achieved the pinnacle of success in WWE when he won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22. This victory made Mysterio the first Mexican-born wrestler to win a world championship in WWE history and cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.
Over the years, Mysterio won several other championships in WWE, including the Intercontinental Championship, the United States Championship, and the Tag Team Championship. He also participated in some of WWE's biggest events, including the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, and headlined numerous pay-per-view events.
After leaving WWE in 2015, Rey Mysterio signed with Lucha Underground, a wrestling promotion that aired on the El Rey Network. Mysterio made his debut in the second season of the show in 2016, and quickly became one of its biggest stars.
During his time in Lucha Underground, Mysterio had several memorable matches and feuds, including battles against fellow Lucha legends such as Chavo Guerrero Jr., Prince Puma, and Pentagon Jr. He also won the Lucha Underground Trios Championship as a member of "The Lucha Dragons" stable, along with Dragon Azteca Jr. and Prince Puma.
Rey Mysterio returned to WWE in 2018, making a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble event on January 28. He then signed a two-year contract with the company, joining the SmackDown brand. Mysterio quickly made an impact, engaging in feuds with wrestlers such as Andrade "Cien" Almas and Randy Orton.
In May 2019, Mysterio suffered an injury during a match with Samoa Joe, which forced him to vacate the United States Championship. He returned in September of that year and continued to be a prominent figure on SmackDown, teaming up with his son Dominik Mysterio in tag team matches.
In 2020, Mysterio continued to wrestle on SmackDown, including a feud with Seth Rollins and his disciples in the "Monday Night Messiah" storyline. Mysterio and Dominik also won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, becoming the first father-son duo to hold the title in WWE.
Mysterio has since continued to perform on SmackDown, competing in high-profile matches and feuds. In 2023, he was announced as an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Rey Mysterio has won numerous awards and championships throughout his professional wrestling career. Here are some of his notable achievements:
Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996.
WCW Cruiserweight Champion (5 times) from 1996-1999.
WCW World Tag Team Champion (3 times) from 1999-2000.
Winner of the 2006 Royal Rumble match.
WWE Cruiserweight Champion (3 times) from 2002-2004.
WWE Tag Team Champion (4 times) from 2002-2010.
World Heavyweight Champion in WWE (1 time) in 2006.
WWE Intercontinental Champion (2 times) from 2004-2009.
WWE United States Champion (2 times) from 2011-2019.
Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2010.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him #7 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002.
Returned to WWE in 2018, winning the WWE United States Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship once with his son Dominik.
Announced as an inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Mysterio is married to Angie Gutierrez, and the couple has two children together: a son named Dominik and a daughter named Aalyah. Dominik has followed in his father's footsteps and has become a professional wrestler, making his debut in WWE in 2020. Mysterio's family has been supportive of his wrestling career, and he has often spoken about the importance of family in his life.
Rey Mysterio's uncle, Rey Misterio Sr., whose real name was Miguel Ángel López Díaz, was a legendary Mexican wrestler who was known for his high-flying and acrobatic style in the ring. He began his career in the 1970s and quickly became one of the most popular wrestlers in Mexico, particularly in the Lucha Libre scene.
Misterio Sr. had a long and successful career, winning numerous championships and accolades, and he was particularly known for his feud with El Hijo del Santo. He retired from wrestling in 2003, but continued to be involved in the sport as a commentator and trainer. When Mysterio was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2023, he dedicated the honor to his uncle, saying that he would not have become a wrestler without his influence and guidance.
A. Rey Mysterio's real name is Óscar Gutiérrez.
A. Rey Mysterio started his professional wrestling career in 1989, at the age of 14, on the independent circuit.
A. Rey Mysterio has won 24 championships between WWE and WCW, including three world championships.
A. Rey Mysterio returned to WWE in 2018.
A. Yes, Rey Mysterio has been announced as a member of the WWE Hall of Fame.
