Rey Mysterio is one of the most important wrestlers of all time

December 11, 2024, marks the 50th birthday of Rey Mysterio. While professional wrestling isn’t the industry where men typically retire “early,” it’s still amazing to see Mysterio going at the level he goes on a weekly basis. He’s an icon among icons and when history is said and done, he deserves to be recognized as one of the most important performers of all time.

For thirty-five years, Mysterio has defied the typical stereotypes of a male professional wrestler. According to Cagematch, he stands at a meager 5’4, weighing in at 163 pounds. Yet, he remains a giant in a profession that includes some of the biggest men and personalities the world has ever seen.

Mysterio has done nearly all there is to achieve in the industry. He’s a multiple-time champion across several promotions, from the biggest in the world with WWE to several important independents, Mysterio’s legacy is etched into all corners of the globe. Name a major promotion in wrestling and Mysterio has stepped into its ring. When his WWE contract expired in 2015, he went on a trek around the world that quickly reminded fans that Mysterio is one of the best and shouldn’t be seen as anything less than that. It was so impressive at a time when it was still uncommon to see someone of his stature walk away from WWE at that point in his career.

While it is easy to praise Mysterio for what he’s achieved in the ring, it is also important to recognize his contributions outside of it. WWE SmackDown may have been The Rock’s show, but there was a long time that Mysterio was one of the featured stars on it, and for a reason. His ability to draw in the Latino market was important to not only WWE but North American wrestling as a whole. Promotions have continued to try to recapture that magic, without much success. Mysterio was a draw to not only people that share their ethnicity, but children in a way that was tough to duplicate. That power made him one of the most important performers during that era, and that came after he had already spent years in WCW building a cult-like following.

At some point, Father Time is going to push Rey Mysterio out of the ring, finally eliminating him from the Royal Rumble of in-ring performers. When that happens, he deserves a sendoff akin to what AEW gave Sting, and what WWE will give John Cena. Rey Mysterio is one of the most important professional wrestlers in the history of the industry, and it is time to recognize him as such.