Once SmackDown went off the air, there were not one, but two matches still on tap for the WWE fans in Pittsburgh, PA.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were presented with the new WWE Tag Team Championships on Friday night, which gave them the opportunity to not shake Triple H’s hand during the reveal. The champs did happen to stick around for the fatal four way tag match between New Catch Republic, The Street Profits, AOP, and Legado Del Fantasma to see Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins become the number one contenders.
Waller and Theory’s night was not done however as the new champs had to put their new hardware on the line against Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Popular Pittsburgh Steeler, Cam Heyward happened to be sitting behind commentary and Waller was quick to talk smack on the mic to the big defensive lineman.
Mysterio then grabbed the stick and made it clear that he and Dragon Lee had a different agenda.
“Let me give you a little update, you don’t want to show [the titles to them] it’s all good. Once we take those titles, we’ll bring them over there to them.”
— Dominic DeAngelo | 1TS (@DominicDeAngelo) April 20, 2024
Waller and Theory continued the smack talk during their first title defense as both jaw-jacked with kids at ringside. Lee and Mysterio almost got the victory when Rey just about hit the 619 but the heel duo got the definitive three count on the WWE Hall of Famer to retain.
A “Steel City Street Fight” Also Takes Place
Even though Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee didn’t come out victorious, fans were still anticipating a “Steel City Street Fight” Between Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross. Kross and Lashley slugged it out but it was “The All Mighty” getting the W when he speared Kross through a table and got the 1-2-3.
Last year, Rey Mysterio was honored as one of the inductees in the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class, while also battling his son, Dominik Mysterio on the grand stage of WrestleMania 40. This year, Mysterio found himself facing Dominik once again only this time in tag team action.
SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm caught up with Mysterio at the WWE media day in Philadelphia ahead of WrestleMania, Mysterio revealed that his daughter recently reunited and reconciled with CM Punk after the two worked together on WWE television over a decade ago.
Rey Mysterio’s Daughter Aalyah Reunites With CM Punk
Back In 2010, Rey Mysterio was immersed in a storyline with the leader of Straight Edge Society, CM Punk. It was a memorable storyline that’s still talked about today, due to its personal nature. On one occasion, Punk confronted Rey in the ring, daring him to fight him in front of his family. He also mockingly sang “Happy Birthday” to Rey Mysterio’s daughter, Aalyah Gutierrez.
We asked Rey Mysterio about this angle and he revealed that Aalyah and CM Punk reconnected in person earlier this year backstage at a WWE live event. Despite their rocky past, Mysterio says they “got along great” and it’s awesome that they get along now.
“Believe it or not, she went to the show in San Diego for New Year’s, January 1st, and she knew that CM Punk was there. She goes, ‘Dad, can I take a picture with Punk?’
I said, ‘Let me tell him,’ and he was very ecstatic that she wanted to take a picture with him. They took a picture together. They got along great. So it was awesome. They get along now.”
A long time has passed since 2010, but Punk never forgot about Aalyah Mysterio (or her birthday). Last summer, when Mysterio wished her a Happy Birthday on Instagram. Punk trolled them both with a special message.
Rey Mysterio has held many championships throughout his storied career, including the coveted WWE Championship, which had been vacated in July 2011. He won a tournament to crown a new champion on the 7/25/11 episode of WWE Raw. He wouldn’t have much time to celebrate, as John Cena dethroned him by the end of the night.
His reign with the industry’s top prize lasted a matter of hours, but he’s still proud to be amongst greats like Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan.
“It was such a cool moment,” Mysterio said. “Moments that definitely stand out for the rest of your life. Just to be able to say I had it, whether it was like you said, for that moment being, it’s just such a cool experience. You are now attached onto the legacy books.”
The Superstars of WWE were dressed to kill at WrestleMania 40 with some unique attires at the two-night supershow in Philadelphia, PA.
At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Becky Lynch opened the show with an attire themed around the cover of her new memoir ‘The Man, Not Your Average, Average Girl.’
After being mistaken for D-Generation X by R-Truth, DIY showed their love for the legendary duo of Triple H & Shawn Michaels.
Given that this show was in Philadelphia, The New Day paid tribute to Rocky Balboa in the six-pack tag-team ladder match. Kofi Kingston wore an attire based on the Italian Stallion, while Xavier Woods’ Apollo Creed-inspired attire also served as a nod to his TNA days as Consequences Creed.
Rey Mysterio wore the colors of the Philadelphia Eagles and included Eagles on his attire. The WWE Hall of Famer teamed with Andrade to defeat Santos Escobar and ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
On WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Logan Paul wore the colors of the show. The Maverick walked into the show as United States Champion and his attire bore the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America..
Paul successfully defended his title against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. The Prizefighter once again wore a shirt based that referred to how many WrestleManias he’s competed at, which declared that the show was KO-Mania 8. Given that the show was in Philadelphia, it was fitting that Owens wore ECW-themed trunks for the match.
Owens didn’t just represent ECW with his ring attire. The Prizefighter’s entrance also served as a nod to the extreme promotion that went under in 2001.
Bayley walked into her Women’s Championship match with IYO SKY with an Egyptian-themed attire and entrance. As Corey Graves explained on commentary, Rosicrucian Park in Bayley’s native San Jose hosts an Egyptian museum.
WWE usually brings massive names in for WrestleMania events. This tradition was no different for the 40th anniversary of the showcase of the immortals.
Rey Mysterio and Andrade teamed up at WrestleMania 40 to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio. In the end, two unexpected WrestleMania guests got involved.
During the tag team match, two massive luchadors showed up at ringside. They helped Mr. 6-1-9 and Andrade win the match. Then the two masked men revealed themselves to be Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson.
This was a big surprise for the Lincoln Financial Field crowd, as the pro football players celebrated with Rey Mysterio and Andrade. In the end, both Kelce and Johnson also tore off their shirts in the midst of the excitement.
Jason Kelce played 13 seasons in the NFL, and in every one of them, he was the starting center for the Eagles. At 36 years old, he is now retired and he had a great time at Mania.
It was previously reported that WWE had reached out to Jason Kelce about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40. Travis Kelce apparently couldn’t make it, but they were able to land the former Eagles center for the show of shows.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the show, and afterward for more headlines!
Rey Mysterio is ready and willing to teach Dominik Mysterio a lesson that he believes the Judgment Day member should have learned last year at WrestleMania.
At WrestleMania 39, Rey defeated Dominik in Los Angeles, California, following months of goading by ‘Dirty Dom.’ At WrestleMania 40, the two will face off again in a tag-team match that’ll see Rey team with Andrade to face Dominik and Santos Escobar. Speaking exclusively to SE Scoops, Rey shared his thoughts on being called a ‘deadbeat’ by his son and gave a warning to his opponents.
“Man, I’m kind of tired and over it. I thought I’d taught him a lesson last year at WrestleMania. Obviously, he didn’t learn his lesson, or he probably did and just somehow got convinced by Santos [Escobar] ‘Hey let’s go beat up on your dad or at least try to beat up on your dad once again.’ They have no idea what’s coming to them.”
WrestleMania 40 will mark the 12th’Mania match for Rey Mysterio, who made his debut at the event back in 2003 on the pre-show against then-Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy. Rey often has comic-book-themed costumes at WrestleMania and has worn attires inspired by The Flash, The Joker, Captain America, and Mysterio, among others.
Rey has had some huge victories at WrestleMania, including winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2006 and the WWE Intercontinental Championship three years later. Despite this, the WWE Hall of Famer currently boasts a less-than-impressive 4-7 win/loss record at the Showcase of the Immortals.
WrestleMania kicks off tomorrow, but it’s not too late to change the show of shows. This week’s SmackDown saw a big change for the LWO’s tag team match.
Dragon Lee was supposed to team with Rey Mysterio to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 40. Then, this week’s show saw Dragon Lee get taken out with a backstage attack.
Andrade, who initially appeared to align with Dominik and Santos, turned on the heels to join the babyfaces. This was a big moment as it put Zelina Vega and Andrade on the same side once again.
It was later revealed that Dragon Lee will not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40. Since Lee was not medically cleared, Andrade agreed to take his place. Carlito entered the scene after that with the news that Dragon Lee couldn’t compete, but he was already too late to get in the match. Instead, Carlito told Andrade to take out Santos Escobar at WrestleMania 50.
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Andrade) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Night 2 Matches:
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)
Rey Mysterio is known as the Greatest Mask of All Time, but he isn’t covering his face all the time. That was very true for a recent TikTok video on his daughter’s profile.
Rey Mysterio made a rare unmasked appearance in a TikTok video with his daughter, Aalyah Gutiérrez. This was a candid moment, where he showed off some of his family life behind the mask.
Mysterio Goes Unmasked
Rey Mysterio recently appeared without his mask in a TikTok video alongside his daughter, Aalyah Gutiérrez.
While Mysterio started off the video with his face covered, as Marciano by Flako Stik kept playing, he revealed his whole face for the camera. Then, as the beat dropped, both he and Aalyah put on sunglasses and started dancing.
Aalyah Gutiérrez has previously appeared on WWE television, notably during a feud involving Buddy Matthews and Seth Rollins against The Mysterio Family, where she was romantically linked to Murphy in the storyline. Ironically, the two were never an actual couple, but Matthews is in a real-life relationship with Rhea Ripley, who is linked up with Aalyah’s brother, Dominik Mysterio, in storyline now.
Rey Mysterio’s Road to WrestleMania 40
Mysterio’s return to WWE TV followed a period of absence due to knee surgery he underwent in late 2023. On a recent episode of SmackDown, he was involved in a match against Santos Escobar.
While Mysterio’s unmasked appearance may not be new to longtime fans who recall his time in WCW when he couldn’t wear his mask due to contract stipulations, he typically keeps his identity concealed and rarely appears publicly without his mask. However, in the TikTok video, he and his daughter engaged in some lip-syncing, revealing his unmasked face.
Mr. 6-1-9 likes to do up his masks for WrestleMania, so we’ll have to see what he rocks on his face at the show of shows this year. If anything, we know he’s not going maskless like this TikTok video.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from throughout the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back on a regular basis for more updates!
Rey Mysterio proposed a tag team challenge to Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio for WWE WrestleMania 40. This could set up another son vs father confrontation on the grandest stage of them all.
Rey Mysterio’s WrestleMania 40 Challenge
During Friday’s SmackDown, Rey Mysterio, accompanied by the LWO, announced his intention to face Escobar and Dominik with a mystery partner. Then, that mystery partner was revealed.
Rey later said that Dragon Lee is his chosen partner for the WrestleMania match, and a brawl ensued between the LWO and Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma.
The ongoing storyline between the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma gained momentum on the 3/29 SmackDown when Dominik Mysterio appeared to align with Santos Escobar’s faction.
Dominik, originally part of The Judgment Day on Raw, did not have a clear WrestleMania 40 direction. Now, it appears he may have a match. Despite this development, WWE has not yet confirmed the tag team match for WrestleMania.
In the aftermath of Friday’s segment, a match between Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez is scheduled for next week’s SmackDown, serving as the go-home show for WrestleMania 40.
Rey Mysterio’s Recent Injury
The 48-year-old had been working through a torn meniscus for nearly three months. Then he needed to go out of action to get that corrected. He is now back in WWE, where he is more than ready to step up at the show of shows.
We will have to see how WWE books things for WrestleMania 40. You may find the updated lineup for the 4/5 episode of SmackDown in the space below.
WWE SmackDown Card (4/5):
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
The KO Show with Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
The feud between Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar may be coming to a boiling point even before WrestleMania 40.
Escobar took on Dragon Lee on the 3/15 episode of WWE SmackDown and got a quick victory against the young star, but the Legado Del Fantasma leader wasn’t done. He along with Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza aimed to unleash a beatdown on Lee before Carlito came out to even the odds.
Not long after, Mysterio ran down and set up Escobar for the 619, but Santos slid out before it could be done. Months ago, Santos stabbed Mysterio in the LWO in the back and Rey didn’t forget the pact he and Escobar once made.
“It was supposed to me and you together – familia! Let me give you what you want. How about next week: one-on-one, you and and me? And I promise you, [first spoken in Spanish] from the bottom of my heart, I will slap that stupd, arrogant smile off your face!”
WWE later confirmed the match, but Legado del Fantasma are already setting themeselves up for some sort of WrestleMania appearance.
Garza and Carillo happened to advance in the 6-Pack Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament, defeating Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde but so did Catch New Republic against Pretty Deadly. Those teams fill out bracket one and another set of four teams will fill out bracket two next week. In addition to that Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes will meet face-to-face before they clash twice at WrestleMania.
Zelina Vega knows exactly how she’d book herself at WrestleMania 40 if given the opportunity.
Vega grew up playing WWE video games and would use the “create a wrestler” mode to construct a grappler bearing her likeness. Today, she’s a featured character in the latest installment of the company’s flagship video game franchise, WWE 2K24.
We recently spoke with the LWO member, who discussed what it’s like to be a trailblazer in WWE and seeing better representation on television and even in the game. She also revealed what she wants to do at WrestleMania.
Zelina Vega’s WrestleMania Dream Scenario
The specifics are not that important, as long as Zelina Vega gets to tag up with Rey Mysterio so they can take out some ‘goons’ together.
“I know what I would want for WrestleMania. In my head, and maybe clip this because I feel like if this ends up happening, I said it here first. I would love to have a match at WrestleMania with me and Rey [Mysterio] and Carlito and Joaquin [Wilde] and Cruz [del Toro] against Santos [Escobar], Elektra [Lopez] and whoever other goons he wants to add to the miss.
“That match would be incredible, even if it’s just me and Rey against goon #1 and goon #2. I think it’d be really cool to just be able to say ‘Man I was on WrestleMania with Rey Mysterio. That’s my hero, that’d be crazy.’ That’s what I would want.”
Zelina Vega At WrestleMania
Vega has competed twice at WrestleMania and is yet to pick up a win at WWE’s biggest annual event. On WrestleMania 35’s pre-show, she was one of the entrants in the Women’s Battle Royal that was won by Carmella.
Three years later, she would team with Carmella and make it to the main card. The pair would lose their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Sasha Banks and Naomi in a fatal four-way Women’s tag-team match.
Women’s Matches at WrestleMania 40
Currently, two women’s matches have been confirmed for WrestleMania 40. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will defend against Becky Lynch. on the SmackDown side of things, 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley will challenge former ally and WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.
Rey Mysrerio did not return at the Royal Rumble as many thought he would. The WWE Hall of Famer did make his comeback on the road to WrestleMania, and now he is back on the blue brand after the March 1st episode.
During WWE SmackDown this week, Rey Mysterio returned to action. He did so with a huge pop, and in babyface fashion to help out the LWO, picking up things where he left them months ago prior to his absence.
Rey Mysrterio’s Return
After nearly four months of recovery following knee surgery, Rey Mysterio made his return to WWE on the latest episode of SmackDown. The veteran wrestler wasted no time in reigniting his feud with Santos Escobar, lending his support to Carlito in a heated street fight against Escobar.
During the match, Legado del Fantasma’s Angel and Humberto intervened, prompting Mysterio to intervene. Despite the attempted interference from Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro, Mysterio emerged, albeit on crutches, to confront the heels.
Initially feigning that he wasn’t cleared to compete, Mysterio then turned his crutches into weapons against Angel and Humberto. Following a tense standoff with Escobar, Carlito seized the opportunity to spit an apple in Escobar’s face, setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events.
As Wilde and Del Toro neutralized Angel and Humberto, Mysterio executed his signature 619 on Escobar, creating an opening for Carlito to drive Escobar through a table for the victory. The LWO, including Carlito, Mysterio, Wilde, Del Toro, and Zelina Vega, celebrated their hard-earned triumph together.
Mysterio’s return marks the culmination of a grueling rehabilitation process from a torn meniscus suffered in November. Despite working through the pain for months before undergoing surgery, Mysterio’s determination has paid off with a faster-than-expected recovery.
In a storyline twist, Mysterio’s injury was attributed to an attack by Escobar, fueling the animosity between the two wrestlers that came to a head in their intense SmackDown showdown.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more in the pro wrestling world, so keep checking back for more updates.
WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio surprised fans with an appearance at the UFC Mexico event, in the latest example of a crossover between the two companies.
Mysterio was shown on the video screen during the show and was seen to be having a great time. The three-time former WWE World Champion had a beverage and threw up his signature hand gesture as the crowd cheered for him.
Mysterio’s presence at the event is just the latest example of a crossover between UFC and WWE. On this week’s Raw, Michael Chandler appeared in the crowd with plenty to say. The UFC fighter grabbed the mic and called out Conor McGregor and said he’d “See you at the top.”
A big return is on tap for WWE and it’s good timing considering the company is rolling down the road to WrestleMania 40. In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer reports that Rey Mysterio will be medically cleared to return in a matter of weeks.
Mysterio had to underwent knee surgery, a procedure that was necessary, and due to that was written off television to give the WWE Hall of Famer time to recover. Mysterio was sent off in a memorable way as it was his former LWO member, Santos Escobar, who attacked him, leaving the legend laying and out of the equation for the foreseeable future.
Rey previously noted on an episode of K100 that he has to factor in slowing down his ring style, but even so, the legendary luchador can still get it done at a high level.
“I know that I’m slowing down, the older I get, but I can make things look faster just by being in the business so long, that keeps the fans the perspective of ‘he hasn’t slowed down.’ I can go out there every time and pour it out. I don’t know how to hold back.”
The options could be open for Mysterio when he makes his return to WWE programming as it would seem likely for him to continue a feud with Escobar, but due to his star power, WWE creative may not be against putting him into a high-profile program.
Rey actually had one of the most memorable matches at WrestleMania 39 last year when he defeated his son, Dominik Mysterio, in a showcase battle. Just recently Dominik admitted that he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in the WrestleMania puzzle, but is open for anything.
The WWE Superstars shined bright at Super Bowl LVIII which saw the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers face off in the Big Game.
Super Bowl LVIII is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, which WWE fans will recognize as the host of SummerSlam 2021. The game went into overtime after the four quarters resulted in a 19-19 tie.
WWE Superstars at the Super Bowl
Allegiant Stadium was packed with football fans and there were several WWE Superstars who made their presence felt. WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio had a great view of the game in support of the 49ers.
It wasn’t just WWE Superstars who were at the Big Game. On social media, AEW’s Britt Baker was able to share a selfie with Bayley.
Wrestling & the Super Bowl
Several names from the world of wrestling competed in the Super Bowl. Monty Brown played in the Big Game before he’d make his mark in WWE as Marcus Cor Von. Raw commentator, Pat McAfee played in Super Bowl XLIV in his rookie year but was unsuccessful. Rob Gronkowski is better known for his NFL success but was briefly a WWE Superstar and former 24/7 Champion.
The WWE Royal Rumble is approaching on January 27th, and that will always spark speculation about potential returns. Rey Mysterio may be out of action with an injury, but he is eyeing a return at Tropicana Field.
Rey Mysterio Gives Positive Injury Update
Rey Mysterio is currently in recovery after undergoing knee surgery a few weeks ago. His absence from television was prompted by an attack from Santos Escobar. In reality, this was a planned procedure, because Mysterio needed to get this work done on his knee.
Unfazed by this physical setback, Rey Mysterio is determined to make a swift return to the ring. While speaking to Baker Banter, Mr. 6-1-9 mentioned actively engaging in physical therapy and expressed optimism about being back in action for the Royal Rumble.
“I’m really working hard on my physical therapy,” Mysterio stated. “I just had knee surgery, thanks to Santos Escobar, and his time will come eventually. I do hope that I can return for the Rumble, if not shortly after that. I am working very hard to make my return as soon as possible.”
Rey Mysterio Speaks on Seth Rollins
If Rey Mysterio can win the 2024 Royal Rumble match, he may elect to take on Seth Rollins for his WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40. Myserio has seen Seth Rollins operate, and he had a unique take on The Visionary’s career metamorphosis in WWE.
“Seth Rollins, to me, he’s like a chameleon. He disguises himself as many characters. He had beef with a lot of Superstars because he does carry the World Title. But now that CM Punk is on board, it’s like he pushed all the rivals that he had on [in] his site and is now focused strictly on one person. Personally, I respect Seth Rollins. I enjoy watching his work, and I appreciate that he was Dominik’s godfather. He was the first superstar to step in the ring with Dominick [SummerSlam 2020] and trusted Dominik. So at that time, Dominik and I were very close and that makes me feel full of respect towards Seth Rollins. But in the ring right now, he’s a crazy man.”
Rey Mysterio also inked a new deal with WWE, along with his son, Dominik Mysterio. While it is believed that Dominik’s contract is a full five-year deal, many believe that Rey Mysterio only inked a three-year agreement. Either way, that will ensure that WWE fans have years to come for that father/son storyline to finally circle back to each other.
CM Punk spent nearly a decade away from WWE prior to his triumphant return during the closing moments of the 2023 Survivor Series event. He left a lot of friends behind him in WWE when he departed, and he stopped talking to some of them, but it appears Rey Mysterio’s number was never deleted from Punk’s contact list.
Rey Mysterio and CM Punk have a history with each other in the ring. They shared the squared circle prior to Punk’s WWE departure, although they have yet to mix it up during this run for Punk.
Rey Mysterio recently sat down with Konnan and Disco Inferno on K100 for an interview. During that time, CM Punk came up. Mr. 6-1-9 was transparent about his interactions with the Second City Saint. It appears that they never lost total contact.
“I was texting Punk back and forth every now and then. We would say ‘hi’ and ‘what’s up?’ Always been, not super close, but connected. Watching Dominik’s career take off, we would constantly shoot each other texts. Punk was a big rival during the whole Mysterio family on board with my daughter’s birthday, six or seven years old at the time, it’s cool to revisit all that and now see the growth of the Mysterio family and how we’re all still connected in some way,” he said.
CM Punk and Rey Mysterio are far apart on the WWE roster right now. Not only are they on different brands, but Mysterio is also out of action with an injury; and he has Santos Escobar to handle upon his return.
CM Punk, on the other hand, is vying for a good spot in the 2024 Royal Rumble match, where he wants to get that WrestleMania main event match he’s had his eye on for over a decade.
Since CM Punk just returned to WWE, and Rey Mysterio inked a new deal, you never know if their roads will intersect down the line. Both of them have years left with WWE.
Rey Mysterio was taken out of action with a knee injury, one they blamed on Santos Escobar in storyline. The fact is that Mysterio’s knee needed to be fixed up after a ton of wear and tear.
Rey Mysterio Discusses His Knee Injury
During a discussion with Konnan and Disco Inferno on K100, Rey Mysterio opened up about his current knee affliction. He attributed this time away from the ring to simple wear and tear on his right knee, which caused a meniscus tear.
Mysterio admitted that he’s slowing down as he gets older. That does not mean he is going to stop.
Rey Mysterio is no stranger to injuries, as he’s experienced worse ones in the past. He is currently on week four of this hiatus, with an expected return around six to eight weeks. Mr. 6-1-9 is also training hard to make that return while he’s out of action.
“Just wear and tear. This time, it was my right knee. I’ve never had any injuries on my right knee since 97 when I had my first surgery in WCW. The left knee kept on breaking down every other year, sometimes a little bit longer. Numerous ACL tears. The last big surgery I had on my left knee was in 2011. This time, you put in all the years, I’ve been favoring the right knee for the left one and finally, I tore the meniscus on my right knee. It’s six to eight weeks. I’m in week four. I’m getting a personal trainer at the beginning of the year that’s going to work with me just so I can work on my lower body and strengthen up my hips, my quads, my legs in general so I can resist. I’ve never had a personal trainer that can train me, kind of like UFC fighters train, so I can use most of my power from the hips down.”
“I know that I’m slowing down, the older I get, but I can make things look faster just by being in the business so long, that keeps the fans the perspective of ‘he hasn’t slowed down.’ I can go out there every time and pour it out. I don’t know how to hold back. I know how to hold back on movements and stuff I know I can’t do, like pushing off my left knee is really hard. I know personally that I’ve slowed down over the years. I try to be very innovative and creative with my style that it makes it seems that I haven’t slowed down.”
Rey Mysterio’s Future In WWE
Rey Mysterio has been seen on WWE television since his injury. He was backstage at NXT Deadline, where he had some segments with Dragon Lee, who took Dominik Mysterio’s NXT North American Title that night. WWE fans are still awaiting Rey Mysterio’s return to main roster programming.
The LWO is in the middle of a breakup, with two factions splintering from the group. It appears that Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza have joined Santos Escobar on his quest to take down his former stable.
Rey Mysterio’s return to the ring is around the corner, but they can’t rush that process. With the Royal Rumble taking place on January 27th, Mysterio will cut it close to make the big Tropicana Field show.
Dominik Mysterio has been an absolute workhorse for WWE in 2023. As we enjoy Dominik Mysterio’s rise in WWE, it’s always important to remember when he came from.
Dominik Mysterio’s Arrest Situation
Many fans consider Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley invading Rey Mysterio’s home on Christmas as one of the benchmarks for his rise as a heel in WWE.
That was quite a fiasco, resulting in a viral video, and the “My mom hit Mami” meme. The Judgment Day members were just getting started, and that viral video created quite a storm. It also caused the catalyst for the Prison Dominik character.
That all went down one year ago today, and WWE wanted to make sure that fans remember that monumental event in Dominik Mysterio’s WWE career. The company’s social media account posted the video, along with a caption, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of that memorable moment.
Dominik Mysterio recently inked a new WWE contract. He will be with the company for years to come. Although it wasn’t 100% confirmed, the belief is that Dirty Dominik’s new WWE deal is a five-year contract.
So far in 2023, Dominik Mysterio has wrestled 102 matches, doubling his number from 2022. He’s not finished yet, because Dominik still has two matches against CM Punk coming up at WWE live events.
WWE has been securing its talent with new contracts as existing deals come to an end. They really don’t want to lose a lot of top Superstars in 2024, and they’re prepared to offer big money to secure them.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio’s New WWE Contracts
The latest developments in contract news revolve around the Mysterio Family, with both Rey and Dominik Mysterio recently signing new deals. While there is more information on Dominik’s reported five-year deal with WWE, Rey Mysterio’s contract duration was initially undisclosed.
Haus of Wrestling has now reported that Dominik Mysterio’s new WWE contract is a bit longer than his father’s. While Dirty Dominik is believed to be locked into a five-year deal, Rey Mysterio is actually only with WWE on a three-year commitment.
Haus of Wrestling has confirmed that Rey has signed a new three-year deal with WWE.
Haus of Wrestling has not been able to confirm the length of Dominik’s deal. However, Dominik’s is believed to be a little longer, five years. Haus of Wrestling has also confirmed that, despite the injuries he has accrued, Rey plans to continue wrestling throughout his new contract.
What’s Next For Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is currently recovering from a knee injury, one that was created in-storyline by Santos Escobar when he turned on the LWO leader. Now, it appears we will have a group vs group dynamic whenever Rey Mysterio is able to make his return to the ring.
This dual contract renewal for Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysrterio solidifies the company’s commitment and happiness with what they are doing on television. Dominik Mysterio became one of the hottest heels in the company, working all three brands as NXT North American Champion for 66 days.
Rey Mysterio’s three-year commitment represents a significant investment by both the wrestler and the company. As a Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio’s continued presence contributes depth to the roster, and it’s his upcoming return will hopefully put him in line for a featured match on the WrestleMania 40 card.
The new contract of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio will keep the masked legend around for years to come, it has been claimed.
This week, news broke that the three-time former World Champion had signed a new deal with WWE, though it was not stated how long he’ll be sticking around. In an update from Wrestling Observer Radio, it is believed that Rey’s new deal is a five-year contract with the promotion.
If this report is accurate, Rey’s new contract will keep him locked into a deal with WWE until the end of 2028. At this point, Rey will be 54 years old and likely retired. Mysterio said last year that he does not intend to wrestle past 50, though it’s entirely possible plans have changed.
WWE’s Upcoming Contracts
Rey Mysterio will be staying with WWE for years to come, but the promotion has several notable contracts due to expire relatively soon. Drew McIntyre’s contract is due to expire in 2024 and there has been no public confirmation that he has re-signed with the promotion. McIntyre will challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on the Day 1 episode of Monday Night Raw.
WWE is closing out 2023 with some big headlines, and a ton of momentum as they race toward the Royal Rumble on January 27th. This next calendar year will also include some notable moments with WWE’s business, and they want to make sure a big roster shake-up isn’t a part of that.
2024 Will Be A Big Year For WWE
WWE faces significant changes as they navigate new television deals in 2024. There are indications that WWE RAW might depart from the USA Network, and it’s confirmed that NXT will transition from the USA to the CW Network, while SmackDown is set to leave FOX for a return to the USA. Superstar contracts are also a big matter of concern for the company in 2024.
Expiring WWE Talent Contracts in 2024
The upcoming year brings the expiration of contracts for notable stars like Becky Lynch, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Sheamus, and Drew McIntyre.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio have secured new deals with WWE, with Dominik’s contract reportedly spanning five years. While the length of Rey’s deal remains unconfirmed, there’s a belief that it’s a substantial, long-term commitment.
While going over all of these subjects during Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer highlighted WWE’s strategy to prevent talent from entering the free-agent market by securing them with substantial, extended contracts, a practice they’ve adhered to for decades.
“They’re [WWE] obviously very happy because they signed both of them. Both of them could have waited until free agency, and at that point, they could have gotten probably a giant offer from AEW and a giant offer from WWE. But obviously, WWE really made it worth their while, which was what I was told is that they are going to they were looking at longtime deals with, greatly increased compensation for the guys because they don’t want free agents right now,”
It was also noted that WWE is planning to pick up those contract talks once again in 2024. They may wait until the Holidays are behind them, but there is no doubt that they don’t want to lose those top Superstars.
AEW could be in the market to offer big money to any of those top Superstar with expiring deals. WWE realizes that, and they also do not want to lose people who they used to promote those new blockbuster television deals before they start in October, either.
Dirty Dom’s new deal is rumored to be a five-year contract. No note about the length of Rey Mysterio’s new deal was made.
Rey Mysterio has been part of WWE on and off since 2002. He made his most recent comeback in 2018 and, two years later, formed a team with his son, Dominik Mysterio. AEW was actually a thought on the table for Rey Mysterio, but he stayed with WWE for his son, a move that has paid off in time.
Their partnership continued until last summer, when Dominik betrayed Rey, leading to a match at this year’s WrestleMania, which Rey won.
What’s Next For Rey Mysterio In WWE?
Currently, sidelined due to a knee injury, Rey Mysterio’s absence from the storyline occurred after Santos Escobar turned on him following WWE Crown Jewel. The reason behind Escobar’s betrayal was Mysterio choosing Carlito over him.
The expectation is that Santos Escobar will introduce new allies to team with against the LWO. At this time, that storyline may be waiting for Rey Mysterio’s in-ring return, but it was reportedly in the pipeline.
Since parting ways with his father, Dominik Mysterio joined the Judgment Day stable, aligning closely with Rhea Ripley. He is also a two-time NXT North American Champion, with his most recent title loss to Dragon Lee at NXT Deadline earlier this month.
WWE has taken care of the Mysterio Family at this point. Now, both father and son are locked into the company with contracts for years to come.
We will have more updates on WWE’s contract landscape at SE Scoops as they are made available.
Dominik Mysterio is a heat magnet in WWE and one current AEW star thinks he knows exactly why.
On Monday’s episode of “Busted Open Radio,” Mark Henry gave his veteran insight as to what makes Dirty Dom so darn good at getting a reaction from fans.
“I put him in the same category as The Rock and the Harts and people that come from pro wrestling,” Henry said. “They have [a] legacy — Randy Orton. There are things that Dominik does that are just intuitive. You can tell he just picked it up. It’s not trained.”
Henry makes note that it’s just like Dom is playing with his wrestling toys as a kid and learning what makes a great heel due to his dad being such a great babyface.
“He knows what he’s doing. And all those years of watching his dad,” he continued, “and all those years of knowing what the bad guy did, knowing all of those things of what his dad had to fight through to get to be who he was. I think it’s paying dividends for him.”
Rey certainly had his share of heelish adversaries, perhaps most notably, Eddie Guerrero, who Dominik was the primary aspect of a storyline between his dad and his late Uncle Eddie.
Dominik Mysterio has held the NXT North American Title since October 3rd, when he beat Trick Williams. He carried the North American Title proudly, as a member of Judgment Day, on every WWE brand. That reign came to an end at NXT Deadline.
With Rey Mysterio at ringside on commentary, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Dragon Lee gave it their all. In the end, Dragon Lee picked up the big win over Dirty Dom.
It should be noted that Judgment Day members were not around ringside for this match. They called attention to that on commentary as well. Odds are, Dominik Mysterio will figure out some way to excuse this loss.
This win is interesting, because Dragon Lee was called up to the SmackDown brand already. The NXT North American Champion is still a main roster Superstar, but it is no longer Dirty Dom.
After Dragon Lee won the NXT North American Title, he celebrated with Rey Mysterio at ringside. Mr. 6-1-9 was very happy by the result of this match, even if it meant his son had to lose.
In the early 90s, Konnan was brought into the WWF to play the Max Moon character but would leave the promotion after three televised matches.
In interviews, Konnan has said the cost of the costume ($13,000, equivalent to $27,000 today) immediately caused friction with the company’s higher-ups.
Konnan and the Mysterios
In WCW and in Mexico, Rey and Konnan worked together, but the latter has kept a close eye on the Mysterio family.
It has been reported that Konnan has been helping Dominik Mysterio throughout his career, but especially since his heel turn last September in Cardiff.
Konnan is a godfather to Dominik, and many have said that Dom’s ex-con attire and character have been influenced by Konnan.