| Rey Mysterio, Jr. | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ring name(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The Green Lizard[1] Colibrí[1] Rey Misterio, Jr.[1] Rey Mysterio, Jr.[1] Rey Mysterio[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed weight | 175 lb (79 kg)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 11, 1974 [3] Chula Vista, California[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Resides | San Diego, California[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed from | San Diego, California[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Trained by | Rey Misterio, Sr.[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debut | April 30, 1989[5]
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Gutiérrez originally worked for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico, from 1992 to 1995. He wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), from 1995 to 1996, and World Championship Wrestling, from 1996 to 2001, as Rey Misterio, Jr./Rey Mysterio, Jr. but dropped the "Junior" from his name when he began working for WWE in 2002.
Mysterio is known for having a high flying style, which helped kick-start the cruiserweight wrestling revolution in the United States in the late 1990s during his time in WCW. In WCW, Mysterio won the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship five times, the WCW World Tag Team Championship three times, and the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship once with Billy Kidman as part of the Filthy Animals. In WWE, Mysterio has won the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the WWE World Cruiserweight Championship three times (a record eight times overall when added with his WCW reigns), the WWE Tag Team Championship four times (also a record—shared with two others), and the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice, making him the 21st person to win the Triple Crown Championship. Mysterio was also the winner of the 2006 Royal Rumble.
[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] Early career
Óscar Gutiérrez was born on December 11, 1974. He was trained by his uncle Rey Mysterio, Sr. and made his pro debut in 1989 in a Flyin Mexican church.[5] He began a feud with Psicosis using the ring name Colibrí (Spanish for hummingbird). The feud lasted several years, continuing even after Mysterio's career moved to the United States of America.[edit] Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (1992–1995)
In Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), Mysterio feuded with Juventud Guerrera. Mysterio's uncle Misterio, Sr. also took on Juventud in a tag match: Misterio, Sr. and Mysterio, Jr., taking on Juventud and his father Fuerza Guerrera.[edit] Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995–1996)
After AAA, Rey Mysterio Jr. along with Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis were contacted by Paul Heyman to sign a contract for ECW in the states. Though Rey Mysterio Jr. only had a brief stint in ECW, he had a Mexican Death match with Psicosis that was ranked as best match of the year 1995. Mysterio left ECW however to join World Championship Wrestling.[edit] World Championship Wrestling (1996-2001)
[edit] Cruiserweight division (1996–1999)
Rey Mysterio, Jr. made his WCW debut on June 16, 1996 at The Great American Bash, challenging Dean Malenko for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, which Malenko retained by cheating to win. At Bash at the Beach, he defeated longtime rival Psycosis in a number one contender's match to earn another shot at the Cruiserweight Title.[6] The next night on the July 8 edition of WCW Monday Nitro, he defeated Malenko to win his first Cruiserweight Championship.[7] He reigned as champion for three months, which included title defenses against the likes of Ultimate Dragon, Malenko, and Super Caló before he lost the title to Malenko at Halloween Havoc.[8][9][10][11] After his first Cruiserweight title reign ended, Mysterio challenged Ultimate Dragon for the J-Crown Championship, but was unsuccessful in his title match at the 1996 World War 3.[12] In early 1997, he feuded with Prince Iaukea over the WCW World Television Championship. He challenged Iaukea for the title at SuperBrawl VII, which Mysterio lost after Lord Steven Regal attacked him.[13] Mysterio lost again in a rematch for the title at Uncensored.[14] He had short feuds for the rest of the year before he began a feud with his real-life friend and Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero. He defeated Guerrero in a Title vs. Mask match at Halloween Havoc for his second Cruiserweight Championship.[15] On the November 10 edition of Nitro, he lost the title back to Guerrero. They had a rematch at World War 3, which Mysterio also lost.[16]On the January 15, 1998 edition of WCW Thunder, Mysterio defeated Juventud to win his third Cruiserweight Championship, but lost it nine days later to Chris Jericho at Souled Out.[15][17] After the match, Jericho continued the beating by using a toolbox he found at ringside. This storyline was used to cover Mysterio's need for a knee operation that kept him out of the ring for six months. He made his return at Bash at the Beach, where he defeated Jericho for his fourth Cruiserweight championship.[18] The next night, however, the result was overturned and the belt returned to Jericho due to the interference by Dean Malenko.[18] Later that year, Eddie Guerrero formed a Mexican stable known as the Latino World Order (LWO) (a spin off of New World Order) that included nearly every luchador in the promotion. Mysterio continually refused to join and feuded with Guerrero and the LWO members, including winning a match against long time rival and LWO member Psychosis in a match at Road Wild.[19] He, however, was finally forced to join the group after losing a match to Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio's on-and-off tag team partner Billy Kidman joined him during the feud with LWO, wrestling against the LWO despite Mysterio being a part of the group. His alliance with Kidman was formed after Mysterio helped Kidman defeat Juventud for the Cruiserweight Title at World War 3. Mysterio went up against Kidman for the Cruiserweight title at Starrcade 1998 but was unsuccessful winning back the title in a Triangle match that also involved Juventud. Kidman once again defeated Mysterio for the Cruiserweight title at Souled Out 1999 in a Fatal Four-Way match that also included Psychosis and Juventud.[20][21]
[edit] Giant Killer and Unmasking (1999)
In 1999, after the two factions of nWo reformed – nWo Hollywood and nWo Wolfpac – they demanded that the LWO disband. Mysterio refused to take off his LWO colors and was attacked by the nWo as a result. This led to a match at SuperBrawl IX where Mysterio and tag partner Konnan lost a "Hair vs. Mask match" against Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, forcing Mysterio to remove his mask. After the match, he phoned his uncle to tell him the news. Mysterio has publicly expressed his disappointment over being unmasked:| “ | I was strongly against it! I don't think WCW understood what the mask meant to me, to my fans and to my family. It was a very bad move on their behalf. The fans wanted Rey Mysterio with the mask and losing it hurt me a lot. It was also frustrating that it didn't come as the climax to a feud with another masked wrestler, but in a throwaway match. The same thing happened to Juventud and Psicosis and psychologically wise it was a bad move by Eric Bischoff. I think the fans understand that I was in a position where I had no option. I either had to lose my mask or lose my job.[22] | ” |
| “ | The division kicked off to a certain point but they never put us on top, and when they unmasked us it all came tumbling down. Those in charge of WCW had the mindset that only big men could draw and didn't create new superstars. But wrestling now has changed so much. Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho have all been world champions, but back in WCW they were mainly cruiserweights. Also the top guys in WCW were scared that fans were more interested in watching luchadore action and high-flying moves than big men just going out there and stomping on each other for 10 minutes. The heavyweights were getting into Eric Bischoff's ear, saying: "We can't let these guys be on top. They're small and wrestling has never been about this, we've got to keep the tradition going." It was stupid for Eric Bischoff, who was running a huge company like WCW, to listen to other people. Vince McMahon runs his own company and does what he wants to do, as did Paul Heyman. Wrestling is about what the fans want, not what the boys want.[22] | ” |
[edit] No Limit Soldiers; Filthy Animals (1999–2001)
Main articles: No Limit Soldiers and Filthy Animals
In the summer of 1999, Mysterio teamed with long time friend Konnan, becoming members of Master P's No Limit Soldiers, feuding with the West Texas Rednecks. At The Great American Bash, they defeated Rednecks members Curt Hennig and Bobby Duncum, Jr. in a tag team match.[30] At Bash at the Beach, they defeated the Rednecks in a four-on-four Elimination tag team match when Mysterio pinned Hennig.[31] After Master P's departure from WCW, Mysterio formed a stable with Eddie Guerrero and Billy Kidman known as the Filthy Animals.[32] The three wrestlers soon began a feud with the Dead Pool. The Filthy Animals defeated the Dead Pool in a six-man tag team match at Road Wild and at Fall Brawl.[33][34] On the August 19 edition of Thunder, Mysterio lost the Cruiserweight Title to Lenny Lane.[35]On the October 18 edition of Nitro, Mysterio and Konnan teamed up together (after Konnan joined the Filthy Animals) to defeat Harlem Heat for the World Tag Team Championship.[26] Mysterio, however, was injured during the match and was sidelined due to injury. Billy Kidman substituted for Mysterio and teamed with Konnan during their title defense against Harlem Heat and The First Family, in which the Filthy Animals went on to lose the title back to Harlem Heat.
Mysterio returned in the spring of 2000 and remained a steady performer, eventually joining the New Blood faction in early 2000 opposing the Millionaire's Club.[36] On the August 14 edition of Nitro, Mysterio and Juventud defeated The Great Muta and Vampiro to win the World Tag Team Championship.[37] They were stripped of the title, however, after Ernest Miller pinned Disco Inferno with the stipulation that if he pinned Disco, Mysterio and Guerrera would be stripped of the title. The Filthy Animals then feuded with the Natural Born Thrillers in the fall of the year. At Fall Brawl, the Filthy Animals fought the Thrillers to a no contest in an Elimination tag team match.[38] Mysterio reformed his tag team with Kidman and the two challenged for the World Tag Team Championship in a Triangle match at Halloween Havoc, facing the champions Natural Born Thrillers and the Boogie Knights, where the Thrillers retained.[39]
At the beginning of 2001, the Filthy Animals feuded with Team Canada, to whom they lost in a Penalty Box match at Sin.[40] At SuperBrawl Revenge, Mysterio unsuccessfully challenged Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the Cruiserweight Title.[41] Kidman and Mysterio participated in a Cruiserweight tag team tournament for the newly created WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship and advanced to the final round where they ended up losing to Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo.[42] On the March 26 (and the final) edition of Nitro, they defeated Skipper and Romeo in a rematch to win the Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles before WCW was sold to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[43]
[edit] Independent circuit and Mexico (2001–2002)
After WCW closed Mysterio still received a paycheck from WCW owners Time Warner but was allowed to work for independent promotions and still receive his salary. Mysterio wrestled for the short lived X Wrestling Federation (XWF) promotion. During this time, he also made some appearances for the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) promotion in Mexico, wrestling without his mask. In 2001, Mysterio competed with Eddie Guerrero and CM Punk in a three-way match for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship, a match Guerrero won.[44][edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–present)
[edit] Debut and Tag Team Champion (2002)
In June 2002, Mysterio signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and promos were aired hyping his debut simply as Rey Mysterio. Mysterio made his WWE debut on the July 25, 2002 edition of SmackDown! as a fan favorite in a match against Chavo Guerrero, which Mysterio won.[45] He eventually began a feud with Kurt Angle, which culminated in a match at SummerSlam that Angle won after forcing Mysterio to submit to the ankle lock.[46] Mysterio then defeated Chavo Guerrero at Unforgiven 2002 a month later. He then formed a tag team with Edge; the two participated in a tournament for the newly created and SmackDown!-exclusive WWE Tag Team Championship. They lost to Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in the finals of the tournament at No Mercy.[47] After they failed in winning the title, Mysterio and Edge defeated Los Guerreros in a number one contender's match on the October 24 edition of SmackDown! to earn a title shot.[48] On the November 7 edition of SmackDown!, they defeated Angle and Benoit in a two out of three falls match to win their first Tag Team Championship.[49] They soon lost the tag titles to Los Guerreros in a Triple Threat Elimination match that also involved former champions Angle and Benoit at Survivor Series.[50] After losing the title, Edge and Mysterio went their separate ways to focus on their singles careers.[edit] Cruiserweight Champion (2003–2004)
On the March 6, 2003 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio defeated Tajiri and Jamie Noble in a Triple Threat match to earn a shot at the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.[51] At WrestleMania XIX, he challenged the champion Matt Hardy for the title but lost after Shannon Moore interfered.[52] On the May 22 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio defeated Shannon Moore and Crash Holly in a Handicap Elimination match to become the number one contender for the Cruiserweight title.[53] On the June 5 edition of SmackDown!, he defeated Hardy to win his sixth Cruiserweight Championship.[54] Mysterio's Cruiserweight reign ended when he lost the title to Tajiri on the September 25 edition of SmackDown!.[55] On the January 1, 2004 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio defeated Tajiri to win his seventh Cruiserweight Championship.[56] After a successful title defense against Jamie Noble at Royal Rumble,[57] Mysterio lost the title to Chavo Guerrero at No Way Out.[58] At WrestleMania XX, Mysterio took part in a Cruiserweight Open for the title, but lost as Chavo retained the title.[59]On the June 17 edition of SmackDown!, he defeated Chavo Classic for a record-setting eighth Cruiserweight Championship.[60] He successfully defended the title against Classic's son Chavo Guerrero at The Great American Bash.[61] While Mysterio was Cruiserweight Champion, Spike Dudley turned heel after plowing Mysterio through a table and joined the other Dudleys before winning the Cruiserweight Title from Mysterio on the July 29 edition of SmackDown!.[62] At Survivor Series, he participated in a Fatal Four-Way match for the Cruiserweight Title involving the champion Spike, Chavo Guerrero, and Billy Kidman. Mysterio lost when Dudley pinned Guerrero to retain.[63]
[edit] Teaming with Rob Van Dam, and teaming and feud with Eddie Guerrero (2004-2005)
After an unsuccessful attempt at regaining the Cruiserweight Title, Mysterio formed a tag team with Rob Van Dam, and went on to win the Tag Team Championship from Kenzo Suzuki and René Dupreé on the December 9 edition of SmackDown!.[64] They successfully defended the title against the former champions at Armageddon,[65] before losing the title to the Basham Brothers on the January 13, 2005 edition of SmackDown! after Van Dam was injured.[66] Mysterio then teamed up with Eddie Guerrero to win the Tag Team Championship back from the Bashams at No Way Out.[67][68] In a departure from traditional booking, the new champions did not defend their title at WrestleMania 21, but instead had a match against each other which Rey won.[69] Three months later, at ECW One Night Stand, Mysterio faced and defeated long-time rival Psychosis for the first time in nearly five years.The match at WrestleMania was part of a storyline in which Guerrero turned on Mysterio and beat him up after abandoning him during a match against MNM for the Tag Team Championship.[70] Then after a no disqualification match against Chavo, Eddie came out and slammed Mysterio on the steel steps, displaying Eddie's increasing frustration with being unable to defeat Mysterio.[71] Guerrero and Mysterio continued to feud, with Guerrero threatening to reveal a secret he and Mysterio shared involving Mysterio's real-life son Dominik, unless Mysterio deferred to Guerrero's authority. Guerrero later revealed that, in the storyline, he was Dominik's biological father. The storyline went that Guerrero knew Mysterio was having trouble starting his own family, so Guerrero left Dominik as a baby with Mysterio and his wife Angie to raise. In subsequent weeks, Guerrero threatened to take custody of Dominik, drawing up custody papers and having his lawyer present them to Mysterio.[1] At SummerSlam, Mysterio defeated Guerrero in a ladder match for the custody of Dominik.[72] Their feud ended when Guerrero gained a victory over Mysterio in a steel cage match.[73] On November 13, 2005, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That same day at a WWE "Super Show" where SmackDown! and Raw were both taped, Mysterio gave an emotional speech about Eddie, and in a show of respect removed his mask (though he put his head down, so no one could see his face). Mysterio went on to defeat Shawn Michaels in an interpromotional match later that night. After the match, Michaels and Mysterio hugged in the ring and Mysterio pointed up to the sky, crying, in memory of Guerrero.[1]
Mysterio participated in the main event of Survivor Series as part of Team SmackDown! along with Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, Batista, and JBL who defeated Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Kane, The Big Show, Carlito, and Chris Masters).[74][75] After Survivor Series, Mysterio faced Big Show in a match billed as "David vs. Goliath" in a SmackDown! special show.[1] The match stemmed from Mysterio eliminating Big Show at Survivor Series, and ended as a "no contest" when Big Show's tag team partner Kane interfered in the match. Mysterio continued to feud with Raw's World Tag Team Champions, even finding a tag team partner in World Heavyweight Champion Batista who, along with Mysterio, would be set to face Raw's Kane and The Big Show in a tag match at Armageddon. Before Armageddon, Batista and Mysterio defeated Mysterio's longtime rivals MNM on the December 19 edition of SmackDown! to win the Tag Team Championship in a match they both dedicated to Eddie Guerrero.[76][77] Now the Tag Team Champions, Mysterio and Batista's match with Big Show and Kane was billed as "Champions vs. Champions." At Armageddon, Mysterio and Batista lost this "Raw vs. SmackDown!" match when Kane pinned Mysterio after a chokeslam.[78] On the December 30 edition of SmackDown!, MNM invoked their rematch clause, defeating Batista and Mysterio with help from Mark Henry to regain the Tag Team Championship. Mysterio and Batista lost a Steel Cage match in an effort to reclaim the titles the following week, again courtesy of interference by Henry.[79][80]
[edit] World Heavyweight Champion (2006)
At Royal Rumble, Mysterio won the 2006 Royal Rumble match after entering at the number two spot and lastly eliminating Randy Orton to win the match. By winning the Royal Rumble, Mysterio earned a World Heavyweight title shot at WrestleMania 22. By lasting over sixty-two minutes in the match, Mysterio also set a Royal Rumble record for longevity.[81] Mysterio dedicated his performance at the Royal Rumble to Eddie Guerrero. After his win, he was congratulated by Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Chavo Guerrero, and Rob Van Dam – all close friends and family of Eddie. During the February 3, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, an upset Orton interrupted Mysterio's victory speech, challenging Mysterio to a match for his WrestleMania world title shot.[82] As Mysterio looked upward for guidance on this decision, Orton verbally attacked him and the memory of Guerrero, saying "Eddie ain't in heaven, Eddie's 'down there' – IN HELL!" Mysterio proceeded to attack Orton and later accepted the challenge.[82] Orton defeated Mysterio at No Way Out after illegally using the ropes to get the pin.[83] On the next edition of SmackDown!, however, General Manager Theodore Long added Mysterio to the title match, making it a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight title.[84] At WrestleMania 22, Mysterio defeated Orton and then-World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, pinning Orton after a 619 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.[85][86]
On the April 7 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio – who was billed as being an "underdog champion", made his first successful World Heavyweight title defense against Randy Orton.[87] Mysterio went on to retain his title again during a WrestleMania rematch on SmackDown! against Kurt Angle, three weeks later.[88] The week before the title defense took place saw the start of a feud between the then-United States Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Mysterio. The rivalry kicked off after JBL stated he deserved the World Heavyweight title during his celebration of becoming the U.S. Champion.[89] The feud with JBL saw Mysterio face off against any opponent of JBL's choosing in the three weeks leading up to his title match against Mysterio at Judgment Day.[90] Mysterio was defeated by Mark Henry and The Great Khali in separate non-title matches before wrestling Kane to a "no contest";[90][91][92] Mysterio retained his title against JBL at Judgement Day.[93] The feud intensified when JBL lost the U.S. Title to Bobby Lashley five days later on SmackDown! after being tricked by Mysterio to take on all comers like he himself had.[94] This led JBL to vow that if he did not win his rematch against Mysterio, he would quit SmackDown!.[94] In the main event of the evening, Mysterio retained the World Heavyweight Championship, causing JBL to leave SmackDown!, until ECW One Night Stand, when JBL announced he would return as a color commentator.[94][95]
It was revealed that Mysterio would have to defend his title against ECW wrestler Sabu at One Night Stand.[96] In the weeks leading up to his title defense, Mysterio defeated Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in a Champion vs. Champion match but was defeated by Rob Van Dam at WWE vs. ECW Head to Head on June 7.[97][98] At One Night Stand, Mysterio (who was wearing a mask with the letters "ECW" written on the back, despite being a fan favorite was booed by ECW fans) retained his title in a match after he and Sabu were ruled unable to continue following a triple jump DDT through a table from Sabu.[95]
Mysterio began a feud with King Booker after Booker won a battle royal to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.[99] Booker attacked Mysterio from behind backstage with the help of Booker's wife Queen Sharmell.[100] The next week on SmackDown!, Mysterio gained revenge by attacking Booker and his "court".[100] This rivalry continued for several weeks and saw Mysterio defeating Booker's court member William Regal on an edition of SmackDown!, moments before attacking the challenger and hitting him with a 619 around the steel post.[100] At The Great American Bash, Mysterio lost the World Heavyweight Championship after Chavo Guerrero turned on Mysterio and hit him with a steel chair; Chavo cost Mysterio his rematch the following week.[101][102] Subsequently Guerrero challenged Mysterio to an "I Quit" match.[103] In that match, Chavo injured Mysterio's knee, using the match to write Mysterio out of the storyline for a while to get knee surgery.[104]
[edit] Return and Feud with Chavo Guerrero (2007–2008)
Mysterio made his in-ring return at SummerSlam, defeating Guerrero with the 619, after Guerrero obsessed over Mysterio's return as well as wanting to injure Mysterio again.[105]On the August 31 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio won a "Championship Competition" to become the number 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Batista and Finlay.[106] On the September 7 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio had an "I Quit" match with Chavo Guerrero,[107] which he won after hitting Guerrero's knee with a chair repeatedly in a similar manner to which Mysterio had been put out of action.[107] Mysterio then began a feud with The Great Khali, which would lead to a match at Unforgiven where he would face Khali for the World Heavyweight Championship; the match was eventually made a Triple Threat match also involving Batista, but was unsuccessful in recapturing the title.[108]
Mysterio then began a feud with Finlay, an opponent chosen by JBL.[109] The rivalry was marked as "Fight vs. Flight", a competition between the two contrasting fighting styles of both wrestlers – Finlay's physicality, versus the high-flying Mysterio.[110] On October 28, after fighting to a "no contest" at No Mercy,[111] followed by a double-disqualification in a number one contender's match for Batista's World Heavyweight title on the next SmackDown![112] (The Undertaker would succeed the pair), he defeated Finlay in a Stretcher match at Cyber Sunday.[113] During this feud, he conceded one match to Finlay on an episode of SmackDown! and was part of the winning team at Survivor Series which consisted of both wrestlers on opposing sides (although Mysterio was second to be eliminated). The rivalry ended after Survivor Series as Finlay turned face.[114][115][116]
He re-entered the world title picture when he emerged victorious in the Beat the Clock challenge for the chance to face the World Heavyweight Champion Edge at Royal Rumble.[117] However, he was unsuccessful in winning the championship.[118] WWE.com announced on February 14 that Mysterio suffered a biceps injury during an overseas tour.[119] Despite the injury, Mysterio faced Edge for the title again at No Way Out.[119] On the February 22 edition of SmackDown!, Mysterio announced that his injury would keep him out of action for at least six months, and he eventually underwent three surgeries within the space of a month.[120][121]
[edit] Raw and Intercontinental Champion (2008–2009)
Mysterio was drafted back to SmackDown! during the 2009 WWE Draft on the April 13 episode of Raw, in the process making the Intercontinental Title exclusive to SmackDown for the first time since mid-2002.[128] He then began a long-time feud with Chris Jericho, resulting in Mysterio defending and retaining his title at Judgment Day. At Extreme Rules, Jericho managed to unmask Mysterio and pin him for the Intercontinental Championship, however his face was never shown, as he covered it. As a result, Mysterio and Jericho were booked in a Title vs. Mask match at The Bash, in which Mysterio was victorious after tricking Jericho with a second mask. On August 2, WWE announced that Mysterio would be suspended for 30 days, effective September 2, for violating the company's Wellness Policy.[129] In an interview with Mexican newspaper Record, Mysterio stated that he was suspended for a drug he was using for his knee and arm.[citation needed] Mysterio stated that he had a prescription for the drug, but was unable to produce it in time to prevent his suspension due to being on vacation and doing a promotional tour.[citation needed] On the September 4 episode of SmackDown (taped on September 1), Mysterio lost the Intercontinental Championship to John Morrison.
[edit] Return to SmackDown and Feud with Batista and CM Punk (2009-2010)
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[edit] Second World Heavyweight Championship (2010)
On the May 28 edition of SmackDown, Mysterio fought The Undertaker unsuccessfully, to qualify for the World Heavyweight Championship title match at Fatal 4-Way but in fact injured him and forced Taker to pull out from the competition. On June 4, 2010, Mysterio won a Battle Royal involving the whole SmackDown roster by lastly eliminating Kane to earn The Undertaker's vacated spot, joining then-champion Jack Swagger, Big Show, and CM Punk at the pay-per-view. Fortunately, he was able to put his hands on the World Heavyweight Championship for the second time in his entire career. For the next one month, Swagger continuously assaulted Mysterio using his "Ankle Lock". He also saved Big Show and Kane respectively from his attacks. Mysterio became weak and used ankle braces to support.At Money in the Bank, Mysterio defeated Swagger to retain the title, however Swagger continued attacking the ankle after the match until Kane, who had earlier won the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match, came to the ring to chase Swagger away, seemingly to protect Mysterio. However, Kane returned with a referee and cashed in his title shot, defeating Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship in a very short duration. Seemingly ignoring his rematch clause, on the July 20 edition of SmackDown, Mysterio defeated Swagger in a 2 out of 3 falls match to remain the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, earning a title match against Kane at SummerSlam. However, during the weeks before SummerSlam, Kane had marked Mysterio as the one who had attacked The Undertaker putting him in a vegetative state (which was a storyline put in place to explain Undertaker's absence due to the injury he had sustained against Mysterio in the Fatal Four Way qualifying match). Mysterio retaliated by saying that Kane was the true culprit. After the match at SummerSlam, which Mysterio ultimately lost, Kane had attempted to put Mysterio in a casket, only for The Undertaker to emerge from the casket. Mysterio ended up clearing his name when Kane was revealed to be the one behind the attack on The Undertaker.
[edit] Feud with Alberto Del Rio and Cody Rhodes (2010-Present)
On the August 20 edition of SmackDown, he lost via submission to the debuting Alberto Del Rio.[139] On the August 27 edition of SmackDown, Mysterio lost a No Disqualification match to Kane, and afterwards was attacked by Alberto Del Rio on his injured left arm, fracturing Mysterio's wrist and sparking a feud between the two.[140] Mysterio returned on the first episode of SmackDown on Syfy and confronted Alberto Del Rio. After Del Rio escaped the ring, he hit his personal ring announcer with a 619. On the October 8 edition of SmackDown, Mysterio defeated Del Rio, and thus ending his undefeated streak.[141] On the October 15 episode of SmackDown, Mysterio defeated Cody Rhodes making him the second member of the SmackDown Bragging Rights Team. At the pay-per-view, despite being on the same team, Mysterio was attacked by Del Rio and was forced to receive treatment backstage. However, he later returned to help Edge defeat the rest of Team Raw, giving SmackDown the victory. On the following edition of SmackDown, Mysterio participated in a Triple Threat number one contender's match for Kane's World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series also involving Edge and Alberto Del Rio. He was unsuccessful in winning as Edge became victorious. At Survivor Series, Mysterio led a team consisting of himself, Big Show, Chris Masters, MVP and Kofi Kingston to defeat Team Del Rio(Del Rio, Tyler Reks, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger, and Cody Rhodes). At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2010), Mysterio participated in a fatal four way match for the World Heavyweight title against Kane, Edge and Del Rio, in a losing effort as Edge became victorious. Mysterio then continued his feud with Del Rio which culminated on the January 7, 2011 edition of SmackDown in a 2 out of 3 falls match, which Del Rio ultimately won by countout due to interference from his personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez.Mysterio fought "Dashing" Cody Rhodes in a winning effort by hittting the 619 wint the exposed knee brace in the January 21 edition of SmackDown. This resulted in Rhodes nose being broken and hence he couldn't compete in the Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble (2011). Mysterio participated in the match, entering at number 29, though he was eliminated by Wade Barrett after lasting 19 minutes and 7 seconds. The match would later be won by his rival, Alberto Del Rio who entered at the number 38. Five days later on SmackDown, Mysterio qualified for a spot in the Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view for the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jack Swagger. At the event he made it to the final two but was finally eliminated after getting speared from Edge.[142] On the February 25 edition of SmackDown after defeating Kane, Mysterio was attacked from behind by Cody Rhodes after being tricked by his father, Dusty Rhodes, who fooled him into a fake handshake. Rhodes, unmasked Mysterio at the end of his vengeful attack. On the March 11 edition of SmackDown, Mysterio accepted Rhodes' challenge to a match at WrestleMania XXVII.
[edit] Personal life
On March 19, 2007, Sports Illustrated posted on its website an article in its continuing series investigating a steroid and HGH ring used by a number of professional athletes in several sports. That article mentioned several current and former WWE wrestlers, including Mysterio who was alleged to have obtained nandrolone and stanozolol.[146] WWE subsequently stated that the allegations preceded the Talent Wellness program WWE launched in February 2006.[147] On August 27, 2009, WWE announced that Gutiérrez would receive a 30 day suspension due to a violation of the wellness program.[129] Days later Gutiérrez defended himself in a newspaper interview by explaining the drugs as being on a prescription for his knee and arm. While the Wellness Policy allows for prescribed drugs, Mysterio further contested he had been on a family holiday and subsequently in Europe promoting SummerSlam, giving him only a day to provide the prescription after being notified.[148]
Gutiérrez is friends with Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, of P.O.D. The two met while in high school and P.O.D. performs Mysterio's theme song, Booyaka 619. He is a Roman Catholic, frequently crossing himself before every match and bearing numerous religious tattoos on his body, most notably a cross on his chest attached to rosaries as well as other crosses and allusions to God.[145] Gutiérrez is also friends with Mad One who performed the original version of Booyaka along with Mysterio, and several other of Mysterio's themes in WCW.
[edit] Other media
Mysterio appeared in the 2000 film Ready to Rumble opposite David Arquette and fellow Wrestlers Bill Goldberg, Sting and Diamond Dallas Page. On an episode of the television show Heroes entitled "The Kindness of Strangers", the character Monica sees Mysterio give Randy Orton the 619 at WrestleMania 22. Later in the show, she uses her power to recreate any physical activity she sees to perform a modified 619, similar to Mysterio giving the 619 around a ringpost, to stop a robbery.[149]Mysterio has been a subject of several DVDs during his wrestling career, including "Rey Mysterio: 619", a documentary of Rey's career and personal life, the DVD also featured ten additional matches and other special features, and was released in 2003. The WWE also produced "Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man", a three disc set featuring Rey's best matches. Rey also shares his thoughts about the matches he's had and the feuds that he's been in, the DVD was released on October 23, 2007.[150] He was also featured on the DVD "Before They Were Wrestling Stars: Rey Mysterio Jr" in 2007 which featured matches from his time in Mexico.
In the UK, Silver Vision released a Rey Mysterio DVD as part of their Best of WWE collection. This featured his matches from SummerSlam 2005, Wrestlemania 22, No Mercy 2006, and SummerSlam 2007.[151] Oscar made a guest appearance on the Disney XD show Zeke and Luther as himself.
In "The Nathan James Show" by Crackle.com, there is a luchadore named Chad who wears an early version of Rey's mask, the one with the crown on the forehead from WCW.
