Jump to content
Pro Wrestling Only

Rey Mysterio's WWE Run (2002-2015)


Eduardo

Recommended Posts

While the last few years he hasn't been able to work much due to injuries, he still had an almost 13 year run that was filled with all sorts of interesting stuff, outside of his ring work.

 

Random interesting notes in his run.

 

--Key WWE draw with Dave Bautista in Spain and Italy. Led to some sort of boom period there that Jose Fernandez could explain way better than any of us here.

--Key WWE draw in Mexico, and also important house show draw for WWE in the Southwest.

--One of the top merchandise sellers for years, usually behind just John Cena.

--Program with Eddy Guerrero in 2005 drew some wild numbers. I forgot exactly how many people were tuning in just to watch those segments but they were impressive.

--Was promised lengthy run with Intercontinental Championship, was then told to drop it. Refused to lose to Dolph Ziggler, and then failed Wellness Policy.

--The horrible way WWE booked him after his title win at WM22.

--Was refusing to cash checks to get out of his contract.

 

Mysterio (and people close to him) probably have some wild stories about WWE management.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you told me once WCW was bought out that he'd be a top guy and main event WrestleMania I probably would have laughed in your face. I knew how good he was in the ring, and that he probably would have a career once he came but never expected that he would get as far as he did. How he grounded his style was quite the transformation, but he was no less exciting to watch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I first started taping pro wrestling in 1995, so from 1995-2015, I don't think there was a guy who had more fun-good-great TV matches during this 20-year period. His WWE stuff on Smackdown was my favorite work he did. As a kid, I liked Rey so much I named my first cat after him. Seriously.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rey Mysterio is one of my all-time favorites. The first live card I attended was WCW Monday Nitro in February 1997 and I remember all I could think about was wanting to see Rey live. I wound up getting a pretty cool five-minute match with Rey vs. Juventud Guerrera.

 

I loved his first year or so in WWE. His was one of my favorite WWE-produced DVDs. I was glad he got a WrestleMania main event and a title run, however brief. I was also in attendance at the 2009 WWE Bash card. The match with Jericho was awesome live.

 

It's unfortunate that this seems like another messy WWE divorce rather than one side or both deciding it's time to part ways. Will Rey be another former wrestler to claim WWE treats their talent like garbage and their minority talent even worse?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the biggest merchandise movers and best workers of the past decade is now a free agent? This is a huge pickup for AAA, Japan and the Indies for sure. There are a stupid amount of dream matches that are now a legitimate possibility.

 

Admittedly bummed about not getting a Rey-Cesaro singles match though. :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Dominic angle was awful - and panned at the time - and the matches were considered disappointing bar the June Smackdown match. I'm not sure how aware people were of just how bad Eddie's physical state was at the time but, with the exception of the Smackdown match and the darkened promo on Smackdown I can't recall much top draw stuff from it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There were little moments I liked a lot, like when Eddy made Rey team with him vs MNM for the tag titles and then turned on him, just to mess with his head. I'm not saying it was brilliant storytelling or anything but Eddy's delivery was just so good.

 

I mean look at this:

 

v1qp9o.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rey was a huge part of Smackdown's really wonderful 2009 where there were great matches every week while Raw had turned into a shitty variety show with the guest host gimmick. Watching him adapt his style as he aged and moved around the card was a treat. He's a major player in the last 20 years of American wrestling history, and I hope eventually he'll be recognized as such by WWE. Perhaps one day they'll stop trying to duplicate him and realize he's one of a kind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's sad that he's just done with no fanfare whatsoever. He should be treated just like Shawn or Taker, hell even the New Age Outlaws are treated as bigger legends than him.

 

Bottom line, Rey is one of the most likeable people in and outside of wrestling. He is a true once in a lifetime performer that will never be replaced.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While the last few years he hasn't been able to work much due to injuries, he still had an almost 13 year run that was filled with all sorts of interesting stuff, outside of his ring work.

 

Random interesting notes in his run.

 

--Key WWE draw with Dave Bautista in Spain and Italy. Led to some sort of boom period there that Jose Fernandez could explain way better than any of us here.

 

Curious to hear more about this. I'm up to early '05 in rereading my old WONs so won't get there for a bit, but am drawing a blank spot here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hell even the New Age Outlaws are treated as bigger legends than him.

 

Road Dogg and Billy Gunn didn't exactly leave their runs with fanfare - they were simply kicked / dropped out of the puzzle. Rey will likely be back for things in the future where he will be presented as a big deal. He carved out a tremendous history there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

While the last few years he hasn't been able to work much due to injuries, he still had an almost 13 year run that was filled with all sorts of interesting stuff, outside of his ring work.

 

Random interesting notes in his run.

 

--Key WWE draw with Dave Bautista in Spain and Italy. Led to some sort of boom period there that Jose Fernandez could explain way better than any of us here.

 

Curious to hear more about this. I'm up to early '05 in rereading my old WONs so won't get there for a bit, but am drawing a blank spot here.

 

Spanish TV started showing Smackdown in 2006 around 2 AM. I don't know how, but it caught on and suddenly every kid was watching wrestling and it was moved to a saturday morning spot. During the first year, they were only showing Smackdown, so Rey, Undertaker and Batista were regarded as the biggest stars - most people didn't know about Cena, which is really weird when you think about it now. Before that, there was a WWE show in the early 90s with a lot of fans and in 2006 Smackdown was shown under the same name and with the same lead announcer, so I guess that brought some older fans and helped the show catch fire.

 

Wrestling got really big for a couple of years, which led to WWE and CMLL touring Spain and Ultimate Warrior making his in-ring return in Barcelona, but by 2010 it was mostly forgotten and it has been on and off TV since.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's just how things go Chief. At the end of the day whenever Rey returned over the last few years there'd be clock watching towards his next injury. It's hard to invest in somebody who will likely be on the bench sooner than later, and likewise leave an opponent in limbo. Many legends get phased down the card towards the end of their active run, Snuka in the late 80's and early 90's is probably the best example. But Rey will be treated with due respect when the time is right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

While the last few years he hasn't been able to work much due to injuries, he still had an almost 13 year run that was filled with all sorts of interesting stuff, outside of his ring work.

 

Random interesting notes in his run.

 

--Key WWE draw with Dave Bautista in Spain and Italy. Led to some sort of boom period there that Jose Fernandez could explain way better than any of us here.

 

Curious to hear more about this. I'm up to early '05 in rereading my old WONs so won't get there for a bit, but am drawing a blank spot here.

 

Spanish TV started showing Smackdown in 2006 around 2 AM. I don't know how, but it caught on and suddenly every kid was watching wrestling and it was moved to a saturday morning spot. During the first year, they were only showing Smackdown, so Rey, Undertaker and Batista were regarded as the biggest stars - most people didn't know about Cena, which is really weird when you think about it now. Before that, there was a WWE show in the early 90s with a lot of fans and in 2006 Smackdown was shown under the same name and with the same lead announcer, so I guess that brought some older fans and helped the show catch fire.

 

Wrestling got really big for a couple of years, which led to WWE and CMLL touring Spain and Ultimate Warrior making his in-ring return in Barcelona, but by 2010 it was mostly forgotten and it has been on and off TV since.

 

 

Pretty sure it was a case of Smackdown being moved to free TV in Spain and Italy. A European promotion called NWE would book a lot of released Smackdown talent like Heidenreich, Matt Morgan and Orlando Jordan due to the exposure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I first started taping pro wrestling in 1995, so from 1995-2015, I don't think there was a guy who had more fun-good-great TV matches during this 20-year period. His WWE stuff on Smackdown was my favorite work he did. As a kid, I liked Rey so much I named my first cat after him. Seriously.

 

Should have named your cat Rumina in 1995 - would have beat out Silva.

 

Rey vs. Eddy from 3/18/04 SD, vs Noble from 5/1/04 Velocity, and 6/23/05 vs Eddy (SD) are three of my favorite WWF matches ever. He also did some good stuff with Chavo in the ring, but nothing that comes to the level of those three matches.

 

Hope he gets one last run.

 

Perro Jr. vs Rey Hair vs Mask or Mistico vs Rey Jr Mask vs Mask could be quite spectacular.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...