One of the most accomplished wrestlers in history and current Lucha Underground star, Rey Mysterio recently spoke with Sports Illustrated‘s Extra Mustard section to promote Lucha Underground’s return. Rey also went over his first WCW match & his thoughts on WrestleMania 33.
Here are the highlights:
Rey On If There Is Truly A Limit For A Cruiserweight:
“That is not boxing anyone in. Cruiserweight is a form of giving life to those that still want to break into this business. There have been more opportunities given to that cruiserweight division and that’s been helped by a lot of companies, including Ring of Honor and TNA.”
Rey On Being Open To Working Impact Wrestling Shows:
“I was actually in conversations a while back with Impact about doing some shows, to be honest with you, it’s not that I don’t want to go work for them, it’s just like, I didn’t have it in my game plan. I also didn’t have Lucha Underground in my game plan before it was created. If the circumstances were right, I wouldn’t mind going. I’m not interested in signing a contractual deal, but I would love to do some shows. People want to see diversity in their opponents and fans want to see their dream matches. If people want to see a match-up, let’s make it happen.”
The Story Of Mysterio’s First Night In WCW & The Other Wrestlers Thinking He Was A Fan That Drifted Into The Locker Room:
“That’s all true, actually, I had to leave the building and security wouldn’t let me back in. People still tell me I have a babyface and I was 21 at the time, so I looked like a 12-year-old back then. I recall explaining to the security guards, ‘No, no, it’s OK, I wrestle,’ and they looked at me and laughed. So I continued to say that I was a wrestler and they finally asked me for a credential. I didn’t have any credentials, this was a tryout. Finally, security was cool enough to find out who I was and let me back in the building, but that happened several times after that, too. I learned my lesson after the fourth time and I started carrying a WCW badge everywhere with me.”
Mysterio On His Match With Dean Malenko:
“I give Dean Malenko all the credit. He had the choice to make me or break me. I was so nervous prior to that match, but I prepared myself by watching tapes for almost a week-and-a-half on his style and the psychology of his work. I just heard so much at once: ‘it’s a different style’ and ‘it’s not going to be like how you wrestle in Mexico, so you’ll need to adapt,’ so I studied Dean and did my homework and we had chemistry right off the bat.”
“I have the utmost respect for his guiding me, giving me the knowledge and he made me look like a million bucks that night. Konnan still tells this story and said he’d seen it twice before, from when Dean and I walked into the locker room after the match. You had Macho Man, Flair, the Steiners and they were all waiting by this little stairway near an alley that led to the locker room when they received Dean and I with a standing ovation. I asked myself, ‘Did that really just happen?’”
Did Rey Tune Into WrestleMania 33:
“I saw bits and pieces of WrestleMania 33, my son, Dominic and I were actually flying home from Orlando and I still haven’t caught the whole show. I am looking forward to seeing the Hardys’ match. I only saw their entrance. Once I start watching, I’ll restart right when the Hardys come in.”
Mysterio Being Competitive:
“It’s that bit of ego that lives within me that always made me so competitive. I see talent now in Lucha Underground, like Fenix, Killshot, Prince Puma, Sami Callihan, all these up-and-coming stars that are changing the game again. They’re doing it in a way that I respect and I’m trying to leave my work from the 90’s back in the 90’s and reinvent myself, that’s what keeps me in the game and keeps me fresh–mixing the new style with what I used to do in the past. Innovation, in my style and my gear, has always been important to me and that’s helped me keep connected with the fans. They always know that I want to give them more.”
