December 20th 2024.
The world of lucha libre has lost one of its most iconic names as wrestling legend Rey Misterio Sr passed away at the age of 69. Known for his masked persona, Misterio was the uncle of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and had been a part of the wrestling scene since 1976. While he officially retired in 2009, his last match was in April 2023 where he teamed up with Aero Star and Mr. Iguana to defeat Hereje, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, and Nightmare Azteca.
The tragic news was announced by Mexican company Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide on their social media accounts. "We regret to announce the passing of Miguel Ángel López Días, also known as Rey Mysterio Sr," they wrote in a translated post. Along with their condolences to his loved ones, they also sent their prayers for his eternal rest. The cause of his death has not been revealed.
Misterio was known for his iconic masked look, which his nephew later adopted as well. His son, who wrestles under the name El Hijo de Rey Misterio, followed in his father and uncle's footsteps. Rey Misterio Sr's career spanned across different promotions, including a stint at WCW where he appeared at the 1990 Starrcade pay-per-view. He even teamed up with Konnan to represent Mexico in the Pat O'Connor Memorial International Cup, defeating the UK's Chris Adams and Norman Smiley in the first round before losing to The Steiner Brothers.
In 1987, Misterio opened his own gym where he trained many wrestlers including Konnan, Psicosis, Damian 666, and his nephew Rey Mysterio. The two generations of Misterio even held the WWA Tag Team Championship in 1995. While his nephew initially used the name Rey Mysterio Jr, he later adopted his uncle's name after joining WWE in 2002.
Misterio Sr's death comes just weeks after his nephew's father, Robert Gutierrez, passed away at the age of 76. In an emotional post, Rey Mysterio thanked his father for being a great example of how to love and maintain a strong marriage and family. He described his father as an excellent husband, loving father, beautiful grandfather, incredible son and brother, and an amazing father-in-law.
Despite initially announcing his plans to retire at the age of 50, Rey Mysterio found a new lease of life in the ring after undergoing knee surgery. He continues to be a major part of WWE and his on-screen rivalry with his son Dominik Mysterio only adds to the family's legacy. Rey explained in an interview that his body has been reacting well and his motivation is still strong, allowing him to continue wrestling.
The loss of Rey Misterio Sr is a huge blow to the lucha libre community and his family. If you have any stories or memories to share about the wrestling icon, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you and honor the legacy of this incredible wrestler.
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