Rey Misterio Sr., a legendary luchador and uncle to the famed WWE superstar Rey Mysterio, died on December 20. He was 69.
The news was confirmed by his son in a Facebook post Friday morning.
After initially training to become a boxer, Miguel Ángel López Díaz — the future Misterio Sr. — was told by his trainers that his body had gotten bigger and he could not punch the most effective way. They introduced him to wrestling. He made his professional debut on January 6, 1976, after his brother took him to get trained as a wrestler.
While never a true headliner, he was a part of many promotions, and held titles such as the AAA’s IWC World Middleweight championship twice, the America’s Championship in Tijuana Wrestling, and he was the WWA’s World Junior Light Heavyweight champion.
It was always confusing to people about Rey Misterio Sr., El Hijo del Rey Misterio, and Rey Mysterio, noted Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, in February 2011: “Rey Misterio Sr. is auditioning for a new wrestler to be El Hijo del Rey Misterio. Apparently his son has quit the business. El Hijo del Rey Misterio drew a lot of big crowds in the U.S. because he had similar tattoos and contacts as the WWE’s Rey Mysterio, so put on posters in the Mexican-American community, people thought he was the famous guy,” wrote Meltzer. “But he was never the wrestler people expected him to be with that name. Rey Misterio wants the name and gimmick to continue now that he’s retired due to crippling back injuries.”
Along with training his son and nephew, Misterio Sr. helped train other names like Konnan and Misterioso (Roberto Castillo).
In 2007, Misterio Sr. was the star of the movie Wrestlemaniac. The movie’s director, Jesse Baget, told SlamWrestling that Mil Mascaras was his first choice for the slasher flick, but Mascaras wanted no part of it. Instead, Misterio Sr. brought something unique to the role, said Baget.
“Having him in his tights and mask was done tongue-in-cheek,” said Baget. “And he’s not your typical wrestler with the buff six-pack.”
Misterio Sr. was inducted into the Tijuana Sports Hall of Fame in its Class of 2006.
Funeral details have yet to be announced.
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