Rey Mysterio 2

World Heavyweight Champion (2005–2007)

Mysterio participated in the main event of Survivor Series on November 27 as part of Team SmackDown! along with Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, Batista, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) who defeated Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Kane, Big Show, Carlito, and Chris Masters).[85] Mysterio then started a feud with Big Show after Mysterio eliminated Big Show at Survivor Series. Mysterio would face Big Show in a match billed as "David vs. Goliath" in a SmackDown! special show, 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, and found a tag team partner in World Heavyweight Champion Batista. They were booked to face Raw's Kane and Big Show in a tag match at Armageddon on December 18. Before Armageddon, Batista and Mysterio defeated MNM on the December 16 episode of SmackDown! to win the WWE Tag Team Championship in a match they both dedicated to Eddie Guerrero.[86] Mysterio and Batista's match with Big Show and Kane was then billed as "Champions vs. Champions," which they lost.[87] On the December 30 episode of SmackDown!, MNM invoked their rematch clause, defeating Batista and Mysterio after interference from Mark Henry to regain the WWE Tag Team Championship.[88] The following week, Mysterio and Batista received their rematch for the titles in a steel cage match, which they lost after interference by Henry.[89]
Mysterio at a house show in 2005
Mysterio was the second entrant in the Royal Rumble match on January 29, 2006, setting a record by lasting 62 minutes, winning the match, and earning a world title shot by last eliminating Randy Orton.[90] Orton urged him to put the title shot at stake in a match at No Way Out.[91] Over the following weeks, Orton made disparaging remarks about Eddie Guerrero, which many felt the comments were unwarranted and distasteful in the wake of Guerrero's death.[92][93][94] Orton won at No Way Out on February 19, earning Mysterio's title shot for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22 on April 2.[95] General Manager Theodore Long re-added Mysterio to the WrestleMania title match however, making it a triple threat match between Orton, Mysterio, and then-champion, Kurt Angle.[96] At WrestleMania, Mysterio pinned Orton to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. On the following episode of SmackDown!, Mysterio – billed as an "underdog champion", made his first successful World Heavyweight title defense against Orton.[97] Mysterio retained the title again during a WrestleMania rematch on SmackDown! against Angle three weeks later.[98]
Mysterio quickly moved into a feud with the United States Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). The rivalry kicked off after JBL, celebrating his United States Championship win, stated he deserved the World Heavyweight title.[99] This feud saw Mysterio face off against three opponents chosen by JBL in the three weeks leading up to their title match at Judgment Day.[100] Mysterio was defeated by Mark Henry and The Great Khali in separate non-title matches before wrestling Kane to a "no contest";[100][101][102] Mysterio retained his title against JBL at Judgment Day on May 21.[103] The feud intensified when JBL lost the United States Championship to Bobby Lashley five days later on SmackDown! after being tricked by Mysterio to take on all comers like Mysterio himself had.[104] JBL vowed that if he did not win his rematch against Mysterio, he would quit SmackDown!.[104] In their main event match, Mysterio retained the World Heavyweight Championship, causing JBL to leave SmackDown!, until ECW One Night Stand, when he announced his return as a color commentator.[104][105] Mysterio was booked to defend against ECW wrestler Sabu at ECW One Night Stand.[106] In the weeks leading up to his title defense, Mysterio defeated Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in a Champion vs. Champion match, and lost to Rob Van Dam at WWE vs. ECW Head-to-Head on June 7.[107][108] At ECW One Night Stand on June 11, Mysterio retained the title, after he and Sabu were ruled unable to continue following a triple jump DDT through a table by Sabu. Mysterio then retained his title in a match against Mark Henry, winning by disqualification after Chavo Guerrero handed Henry a chair and Mysterio acted as if he was hit, a tactic for which Eddie Guerrero was known.[105]
Mysterio began a feud with King Booker after Booker won a battle royal to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.[109] Booker attacked Mysterio from behind backstage with the help of Booker's wife Queen Sharmell.[110] The next week on SmackDown!, Mysterio gained revenge by attacking Booker and his "court".[110] This rivalry continued for several weeks and saw Mysterio defeating Booker's court member William Regal on an episode of SmackDown!, moments before attacking the challenger and hitting him with a 619 around the steel post.[110] On July 23 at The Great American Bash, Mysterio lost the World Heavyweight Championship to King Booker after Chavo interfered in the match and turned on Mysterio, hitting him with a steel chair. Guerrero cost Mysterio his rematch the following week. This culminated in a match at SummerSlam on August 20, where Mysterio lost to Guerrero after Vickie Guerrero tried to stop both men from fighting, but accidentally knocked Mysterio off the top turnbuckle. Vickie then along with Chavo turned on Mysterio after she hit him in the back with a steel chair and gave him an injury, thus, siding with Guerrero. Mysterio then defeated Guerrero in a Falls Count Anywhere match at No Mercy on October 8.[111][112] Subsequently, Guerrero challenged Mysterio to an "I quit" match for the October 20 edition of SmackDown!.[113] In that match (which Mysterio lost), Guerrero injured Mysterio's knee, using the match to write Mysterio out of the storyline for a while to get knee surgery.[114]
Mysterio made his in-ring return at SummerSlam on August 26, 2007, defeating Guerrero, after Guerrero obsessed over Mysterio's return as well as wanting to injure Mysterio again.[115] On the August 31 episode of SmackDown!, Mysterio won a "Championship Competition" to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Batista and Finlay.[116] On the September 7 episode of SmackDown!, Mysterio had an "I Quit" match with Guerrero,[117] which he won after hitting Guerrero's knee with a steel chair repeatedly in a similar manner to which Mysterio had been put out of action, to end the feud.[117] Mysterio then began a feud with The Great Khali, which led to a World Heavyweight Championship match at Unforgiven on September 16. The match was later made a Triple Threat match, also involving Batista, who won it.[118]

Various storylines (2007–2009)

Mysterio then began a feud with Finlay, an opponent chosen by JBL.[119] The rivalry was marked as "Fight vs. Flight", contrasting the fighting styles of both wrestlers – Finlay's physicality, versus the high-flying Mysterio.[120] After fighting to a "no contest" at No Mercy on October 7,[121] followed by a double-disqualification in a number one contender's match for Batista's World Heavyweight Championship on the next SmackDown![122] he defeated Finlay in a Stretcher match at Cyber Sunday on October 28.[123] During this feud, he lost a match to Finlay on the November 9 episode of SmackDown! and was part of the winning team at Survivor Series on November 18 which consisted of both wrestlers on opposing sides (although Mysterio was second to be eliminated).[124][125][126]
He re-entered the World Heavyweight Championship picture on the January 4, 2008, episode of SmackDown! when he won a Beat the Clock challenge for a chance to face the World Heavyweight Champion Edge at the Royal Rumble.[127] He was unsuccessful in winning the championship at the event on January 27.[128] WWE's official website announced on February 14 that Mysterio suffered a biceps injury during an overseas tour.[129] Despite the injury, Mysterio faced Edge for the title in a rematch at No Way Out on February 17, which he lost.[129] On the February 22 episode 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.[130][131]
Mysterio in November 2008
Mysterio made his return on the June 23, 2008, episode of Raw, as the first wrestler to be drafted in the 2008 WWE Draft from the SmackDown brand to the Raw brand.[132] Mysterio made his Raw in-ring debut on July 7, pinning Santino Marella after a 619.[133] General Manager Mike Adamle announced that John Cena was injured and that Mysterio would replace him in the Championship Scramble at Unforgiven. The next week, Mysterio made his return to Raw after an extended absence by attacking Kane, turning back numerous claims that Kane had "ended his career".[134] Mysterio then made his in-ring return at Unforgiven on September 7, competing in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match, which was won by Chris Jericho.[135] Mysterio put his mask on the line in a match at No Mercy on October 5, which he won by disqualification after Kane attacked him with a steel chair.[136] He defeated Kane again at Cyber Sunday on October 26, this time in a No Holds Barred match,[137] and again at Survivor Series on November 23, when the pair were on opposing sides in a five-on-five elimination match.[138] At No Way Out on February 15, 2009, Mysterio competed in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship, but was eliminated by Edge when the two were the last men in the match.[139]

Intercontinental Champion (2009–2010)

At WrestleMania 25, Mysterio defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) for the Intercontinental Championship in 21 seconds.[140] His win made Mysterio the twenty-first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history. Mysterio was drafted back to the SmackDown brand during the 2009 WWE Draft on the April 13 episode of Raw, in the process making the Intercontinental Championship exclusive to SmackDown for the first time since August 2002.[141] He then entered into an extensive feud with Chris Jericho, retaining his title against him at Judgment Day on May 17.[142] During their second match at Extreme Rules, Jericho won after he unmasked Mysterio and pinned him, losing the title.[143] Mysterio and Jericho were booked in a Title vs. Mask match that was scheduled for The Bash on June 28, which Mysterio won, regaining the title.[144] He then moved into a feud with Dolph Ziggler, whom he retained the title against at both Night of Champions[145] and SummerSlam.[146] On August 2, WWE announced that Mysterio would be suspended for 30 days, effective September 2, for violating the company's Wellness Policy.[1] Before the suspension, he lost the title on September 1 (aired September 4) against John Morrison.[147] In an interview with Mexican newspaper Record, Mysterio stated that he was suspended for a drug he was using for his knee and arm.[148] 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.[148]
When he returned, Mysterio began a storyline with Batista. They lost to Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show) in a match for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship at Hell in a Cell.[149] At Bragging Rights, they participated in a Fatal 4 Way match for the World Heavyweight Championship. During the match, Mysterio prevented Batista of winning the title and, after the match Batista attacked Mysterio.[150] Batista defeated Mysterio at Survivor Series.[151] Their feud moved around the World Heavyweight Championship, when Mysterio defeated Batista on the December 18 episode of SmackDown to gain a title shot against The Undertaker on the December 25 episode of SmackDown, but the match for the title ended in a no contest after Batista interfered.[152][153] On the January 15 episode of SmackDown, they faced again in a number one contender's match in a Steel Cage match, where Mysterio won. However, Mysterio lost the title match to The Undertaker at the Royal Rumble.[154]
Since February, Mysterio began a feud with CM Punk that also involved Punk's Straight Edge Society. During the Elimination Chamber match, Mysterio eliminated Punk.[155] Mysterio continued to feud with Punk and had a match at WrestleMania XXVI with the stipulation that if Mysterio were to lose at WrestleMania, he would be forced to join the SES.[156] After Mysterio defeated Punk at WrestleMania, they faced again at Extreme Rules with Mysterio losing to Punk in a match where Punk should have had his head shaved if he lost.[157][158] At Over the Limit on May 23, Mysterio faced CM Punk again with both previous stipulations in place (Mysterio's allegiance to the SES and Punk's hair); Mysterio defeated Punk, resulting in Punk's head being shaved.[159]

World championship reigns (2010–2011)

Mysterio in 2010
At Fatal 4-Way, Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger, Big Show, and CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship for the second time.[160] He only retained the title for 28 days, losing it at Money in the Bank against Kane, who had won the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match earlier that night.[161] He had the rematch for the title at SummerSlam, but he was defeated.[162]
Between August 2010 and January 2011, Mysterio had a feud with the debuting Alberto Del Rio, a Mexican wrestler who portrayed a high-class aristocrat. During Del Rio's debut on the August 20 episode of SmackDown, Mysterio lost to him by submission.[163] They both participated at Bragging Rights as part of victorious Team SmackDown, but during the match Del Rio attacked Mysterio.[164] At Survivor Series on November 21, Mysterio and Del Rio led two opposing teams as part of the traditional Survivor Series match, where Team Mysterio won.[165] They also participated at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in a fatal four-way Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship, won by Edge.[166] His feud with Del Rio culminated on the January 7, 2011, episode of SmackDown in a two out of three falls match, which Del Rio won by countout.[167]
Mysterio's next feud was against Cody Rhodes. On the January 21 episode of SmackDown, during a match against Cody Rhodes, Mysterio accidentally broke his nose when he hit him with a 619.[168][169][170] WWE used this accident to start a feud and, as part of the storyline, Rhodes began to wear a mask and they wrestled at WrestleMania XXVII, where Mysterio lost to Rhodes.[171] At Extreme Rules on May 1, Mysterio defeated Rhodes in a Falls Count Anywhere match to end the feud.[172][173]
Mysterio in 2011
In the 2011 WWE Draft, Mysterio was drafted to the Raw brand. In May, Mysterio started feuding with CM Punk, with the pair exchanging victories on consecutive episodes of Raw.[174] The feud culminated in a singles match on June 19 at Capitol Punishment, where Punk emerged victorious.[175] On July 25, Mysterio won a tournament for the vacant WWE Championship to win his first WWE Championship, but he lost the title to John Cena later that night.[176] On the August 15 episode of Raw, Mysterio received a rematch for the WWE Championship against new champion Alberto Del Rio, but lost via submission.[177] Mysterio suffered an injury in late August.[178]

Teaming with Sin Cara (2012–2013)

On April 26, 2012, WWE reported that Mysterio had been suspended for 60 days due to his second violation of the company's Talent Wellness Program policy and that his suspension would expire on June 25.[179] After his return on the July 16 episode of Raw,[180] Mysterio had two matches at SummerSlam and Night Of Champions for the Intercontinental Championship held by The Miz, but he was defeated both times.[181][182][183] Since September 2012, he was paired with Sin Cara, working as a tag team.[184] Despite working for 3 months, Mysterio took the decision to leave WWE when he saw no creative direction about his tag team with Sin Cara.[185] The team dissolved in December since Mysterio was taking time off and Sin Cara underwent knee surgery.[186] To write him off television, the storyline was that The Shield attacked them and Mysterio suffered an injury.[187] In March, Mysterio took another leave of absence due to a legitimate knee injury, explained in storyline as an attack by Mark Henry.[188]

Final storylines and departure (2013–2015)

Mysterio's last WWE in-ring match before his return in 2018 was a loss to Bad News Barrett in April 2014
After eight months, Mysterio returned at a WWE live event on October 17, 2013, and returned to television as part of the Spanish commentary team at Hell in a Cell on October 27. On the November 18 episode of Raw, Mysterio saved CM Punk and Daniel Bryan from an attack by The Wyatt Family and The Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro), which led to Mysterio being part of a 10-man elimination tag team match at Survivor Series on November 24, in which Mysterio's team lost after he was eliminated by sole survivor Roman Reigns.[189] At TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs on December 15, Mysterio and Big Show unsuccessfully challenged Cody Rhodes and Goldust for the WWE Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way match also involving RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel) and The Real Americans.[190] At WrestleMania XXX on April 6, 2014, Mysterio competed in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal but was eliminated by Cesaro.[191]
On the April 7 episode of Raw, he made an appearance and lost to a returning Bad News Barrett, subsequently deciding to take time off to heal a wrist injury. During his hiatus, it was reported that Mysterio wanted to leave WWE, but the promotion had extended his contract without his approval.[192] Mysterio did not return to WWE programming, and instead appeared in a video message at AAA's Triplemanía XXII and also visited Lucha Underground.[193][194] On February 26, 2015, WWE officially announced that Mysterio's WWE contract had expired, ending his nearly 13-year tenure with the company.[195][196]

Return to AAA (2015–2016)

On March 3, 2015, five days after being released from WWE, it was announced that Mysterio had agreed to work for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide for the first time since (excluding sporadic appearances) 1995.[197] He made his in-ring return as part of AAA's 2015 pay-per-view Rey de Reyes ("King of Kings") on March 18, 2015. Mysterio teamed up with Myzteziz (formerly Sin Cara in WWE) to defeat the Los Perros del Mal team of El Hijo del Perro Aguayo and Pentagón Jr., with Mysterio scoring the winning pin.[198] During another tag team match in the days following, tragedy struck, resulting in Perro Aguayo Jr.'s death in the ring following a drop kick from Mysterio. Mysterio delivered a dropkick to Perro's back, causing him to fall to the second rope, setting him up for Mysterio's signature "619" wrestling move, which involve Mysterio running towards the rope, grabbing it, and spinning around 180°, hitting the person on the face with his legs. Mysterio, seeing that something was wrong due to Perro becoming limp, purposely missed. The other wrestlers continued performing while each coming up and checking on Perro. They quickly finished the match after realizing that something serious had happened. The ref, wrestlers, and lockerroom crew came out and took Perro out using a piece of plywood. He was pronounced dead by the doctors later that night. His official death was ruled as cardiac arrest.[199]
On May 24, 2015, Mysterio came together with Myzteziz and El Patrón Alberto to form the "Dream Team" for AAA's Lucha Libre World Cup. The trio eventually won the tournament, defeating Johnny Mundo, Matt Hardy and Mr. Anderson in the finals with Mysterio pinning Mundo for the win.[200] For Triplemanía XXIII, AAA's biggest show of the year, a "dream match" between Mysterio and Myzteziz took place. Both wrestlers teamed during their time in WWE and AAA but had never competed against each other. Mysterio was victorious, forcing Myzteziz to submit to a Fujiwara armbar. After the match, Myzteziz turned rudo and sprayed mist at Mysterio's face and challenged him to a Lucha de Apuestas.[201][202] In early February 2016, AAA announced that Mysterio had left AAA due to financial issues between Mysterio and AAA.[203] Despite not working directly for AAA, Mysterio Jr. participated in the 2016 Lucha Libre World Cup alongside Dr. Wagner Jr. and Dragon Azteca Jr., known as "Team Mexico International" the trio finished in third place.[204]

Return to independent circuit (2015–2018)

Mysterio has also appeared on a number of independent shows, facing Amazing Red in House of Glory,[205] Ricochet in Drive Wrestling, P. J. Black in Black Destiny Wrestling,[206] AJ Styles at a 5 Star Wrestling show in the UK, Alberto El Patron in Qatar Pro Wrestling, amongst others.
Mysterio faced fellow WWE alumnus Kurt Angle on March 20, 2016, for the upstart URFight promotion.[207] Mysterio successfully defeated Angle in a two-falls match with assistance from rapper Riff Raff. In January 2017, Mysterio noted in an interview that he may consider opening up his own wrestling school. During the interview, he said: "I just thought I would never have the time. Now being able to make that time – to not have the busy schedule I had with WWE – gives me plenty of time to be a family man. I'm hoping that this time I'm spending with my son will open up that idea again and create a Rey Mysterio Wrestling school". On April 30, 2017, at the WCPW Pro Wrestling World Cup – Mexican Qualifying Round, Mysterio won the Mexico Leg with Penta El Zero M defeating Alberto El Patron in the semi-finals, and defeating longtime rival Juventud Guerrera in the finals. In Round 16, Mysterio lost to the English qualifier Will Ospreay.
Rey Mysterio teamed up with Mexican luchadors Fenix and Bandido for the main event of the indy super show All In on September 1, 2018, losing to The Golden Elite team of Kota Ibushi and The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson).[208]

Lucha Underground (2015–2018)

Mysterio signed with Lucha Underground on December 12, 2015, and appeared on the second season.[209] On January 10, 2016, Mysterio teamed with Dragon Azteca Jr. and Prince Puma to defeat Ivelisse, Johnny Mundo and Son of Havoc and Fénix, Jack Evans, and P. J. Black and Cortez Castro, Joey Ryan and Mr. Cisco in a 4-way Trio Tag Team Elimination Match for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship. Mysterio was the second competitor to enter the second ever Aztec Warfare match and was the final elimination by the eventual winner Matanza. On January 31, 2016, at Ultima Lucha Dos, Rey Mysterio defeated Prince Puma.[210] On April 9, 2016, Mysterio was in an Aztec Warfare match where he eliminated Matanza Cueto after Mysterio was eliminated by Johnny Mundo.
During an interview with Title Match Wrestling in December 2016, Mysterio was asked if he would ever return to WWE, Mysterio replied:

"You never say never. [sic] But I am very, very comfortable in the position I'm in with Lucha Underground. I love their schedule, I love their style, I love what they have to offer. I don't think there will ever be another company that has what Lucha Underground has. It's very unique, exciting, and fresh—this is really something new".[211]

At the end of Season 3, Mysterio was seen locked inside a cell with Matanza Cueto, implying that he had been killed off and would not be returning for Season 4. It was confirmed that Mysterio would not return for Season 4 as he had chosen not to renew his contract with Lucha Underground.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2018)

Rey Mysterio made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) debut on June 9, 2018, as part of NJPW's Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall show. Mysterio teamed up with Jushin Thunder Liger and Hiroshi Tanahashi, losing to the Bullet Club team of Cody, Marty Scurll and Adam Page.[212]

Second return to AAA (2018)

On June 3, 2018, Mysterio returned to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) at Verano de Escándalo, competing in a three-way match for the AAA Mega Championship against Rey Wegner and Jeff Jarrett, with Jarrett winning.[213]

Return to WWE (2018–present)

United States Champion (2018–2020)

In 2018, Mysterio made two surprise appearances at Royal Rumble and Greatest Royal Rumble, but he didn't win the matches.[214][215] On September 19, it was confirmed Mysterio had signed a two-year contract with WWE.[216]
Mysterio in July 2018
He participated in the WWE World Cup,[217] but was defeated in the semi-finals by The Miz at Crown Jewel.[218] Two nights later on SmackDown Live, Mysterio was attacked by Randy Orton, where he ripped Mysterio's mask off of his face.[219] The two fought the following week, with Orton getting the upper-hand.[220] At Starrcade on November 25, Mysterio faced Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship and won the match by disqualification, but not the title; he then teamed with Rusev to defeat Nakamura and The Miz.[221] At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 16, Mysterio defeated Orton in a Chairs match, ending their feud.[222][223] On January 27, 2019, at the Royal Rumble, Mysterio entered at #25, but was eliminated by Orton.[224]
From February to May, Mysterio had several matches for Samoa Joe's United States Championship. He failed to win it at Fastlane and WrestleMania 35.[225][226][227] After being drafted to Raw as part of the Superstar Shake-up,[228] Mysterio won the title at Money in the Bank, becoming the twenty-first WWE Grand Slam Champion in the process.[229] However, on the June 3 episode of Raw, Mysterio announced that he would return the title to Joe due to suffering an injury.[230] Mysterio returned from injury one month later.[231]
On the September 23 episode of Raw, Mysterio won a fatal five-way elimination match, which led to Mysterio earning a Universal Championship opportunity against Seth Rollins.[232] However, the following week on Raw, Mysterio and Dominik were brutally attacked by Brock Lesnar, resulting in a storyline injury for the latter.[233] On the October 4 episode of SmackDown, Mysterio assisted the debut of Cain Velasquez to attack Lesnar after the latter's WWE Championship win.[234] At Crown Jewel on October 31, Lesnar defeated Velasquez by submission and continued to apply the Kimura Lock after the match had concluded until Mysterio attacked Lesnar with a chair.[235] On the following week, Lesnar quit SmackDown to move to Raw in order to seek revenge against Mysterio, who had been drafted to Raw.[236] At Survivor Series on November 24, Mysterio lost to Lesnar despite interference from Dominik.[237][238]
Mysterio regained the United States Championship on the November 25 episode of Raw, when he defeated A.J. Styles,[239] but 31 days later lost it during a house show at Madison Square Garden to Andrade.[240] He then attempted to win the title back on the January 6, 2020, and January 20 episodes of Raw, but Andrade successfully retained the title.[241][242]