In an exciting announcement made on “Friday Night SmackDown,” the WWE declared Rey Mysterio as the first member of its 2023 Hall of Fame class. The crowd erupted into cheers as Mysterio came out to thank them for their support.
Michael Cole, one of the broadcasters for WWE, introduced Mysterio as “the greatest luchador of all time,” and the response from the crowd was nothing short of thunderous.
Who is Rey Mysterio? Rey Mysterio Announced as First Member of WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Born Óscar Gutiérrez, Mysterio is considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, credited with popularizing the lucha libre style of wrestling. Mysterio began training with his uncle, a well-known wrestler in Mexico known as Rey Misterio, when he was just 8 years old. He made his professional debut at the age of 14.
Last year, Mysterio spoke to Fox News Digital about his early days in the wrestling business. He explained that he would have to cross the border from Tijuana to San Diego to attend school by 7:45 a.m., go to his part-time job, cross the border back to Mexico, and then get ready for wrestling practice.
Mysterio’s career began to take off in the mid-1990s when he joined Extreme Championship Wrestling. He quickly became known for his innovative and electrifying matches, often going head-to-head with wrestlers like Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera.
In 1996, Mysterio moved to World Championship Wrestling, where he helped develop the cruiserweight division. However, toward the end of his run with the company, Mysterio was forced to remove his mask after losing a storyline match to Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. This was a huge blow to Mysterio, as in lucha libre, a wrestler being forced to remove their mask is considered the ultimate insult. Although he was initially against the storyline, Mysterio eventually removed his mask and continued performing without it.
One of the defining moments of Mysterio’s career came in the late 1990s when he became known as the “giant slayer” after defeating Nash and proving that wrestlers his size could hold their own against much larger opponents. This helped launch the next phase of Mysterio’s career, where he would go on to win main event matches and eventually capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
Mysterio had some of the most incredible feuds of his career during this period, battling it out with some of the top names in the industry, including John Bradshaw Layfield, Kane, Booker T, and the late Eddie Guerrero. As Mysterio’s popularity continued to soar, his legacy was solidified even further when his own children began to join the company.
Currently, Mysterio is in the middle of a feud with his son Dominik, making for some truly memorable moments in the ring.
In conclusion, Rey Mysterio’s incredible career has cemented his status as one of the all-time greats in the world of professional wrestling. As the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023, he has earned his place among the legends of the sport.
Source: Mckpage.com
