Eduardo Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Sorrow Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rey had an awesome run in the WWE. I'm hoping he does a final run in Mexico and hangs it up, given his physical state. Him being gone personally stinks cause my nephew still asks when "Rey is gonna get better and come back." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduardo Posted February 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artDDP Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Bennett Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strand Peanut Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rey - Eddie feud was great TV. Not even talking about matches. Rey had a ten year upper-card-babyface-only run in WWE, without ever really being the true #1 guy. Kinda unique in the modern era. Whatever he does next, he's sure to be remembered and appreciated by many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Bennett Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Oh, come on. The Dominic angle was Katie Vick levels of cringe worthiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strand Peanut Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 I'm sure we can dis agree on what makes for good TV. But, I'm taking your statement as pure hyperbole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJH Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 I still think his first ever PPV match (Kurt Angle Summer Slam 02) was his best WWE match and in many ways cemented Rey with the WWE fanbase. The match for the new SD tag champs teaming with Edge against Benoit and Angle was also fantastic. The Rumble match against Undertaker in 2010 is another belter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 I'm talking about how the NAO are treated now. Rey has basically been on a part-time schedule for years and whenever they brought him back he's always just another guy on the roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poneglyph Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostka Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 How does Rey's run stack up against guys like Michaels and Hart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Sorrow Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 The Dominick angle may have been silly but it drew ratings, if I recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 It was also wrestling's version of the telenovella. If you've ever watched them, they are deliberately campy, but they are also quite popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Cooke Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 The Dominick angle may have been silly but it drew ratings, if I recall. So did Torrie and Al Wilson and Dawn Marie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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