Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Rey Mysterio – The Biggest Little Man – Disc One

Rey Mysterio is the host of the DVD.

 

When Worlds Collide
November 6, 1994

Fuerza Guerrera, Madonna’s Boyfriend & Psicosis vs. Heavy Metal, Latin Lover & Rey Misterio Jr.
Madonna’s Boyfriend was Louie Spicolli.

The rudos struggled to sustain any sort of momentum towards the beginning of the match. Eventually, Madonna’s Boyfriend just started tossing Rey around on the floor and in the crowd. That was just the break the rudos needed. The rudos were not able to isolate any tecnico for too long though. To the extent that the match had any structure at all, the match broke down towards the end and the teams were just going back and forth. Guerrera applied a variation of a kimura on Heavy Metal who submitted. That was quite the anti-climatic finish.

This came across as a cliche spotfest with no storytelling whatsoever. Some of the maneuvers were obviously impressive, but that’s pretty much the only positive I took away from this match. The crowd clearly cared about the wrestlers in the match, but they were not taken on any kind of emotional ride.
Match Rating: **

 

ECW
September 26, 1995

Rey Misterio, Jr. vs. Psicosis
Psicosis got the early advantage. He was primarily targeting the back and midsection of Rey. Rey eventually made a comeback featuring some absolutely incredible athletic maneuvers. Psicosis avoided a corner splash and appeared to be getting the advantage back. He went for a tope suicida, but Rey blocked it with a steel chair. Psicosis maintained the advantage though. Rey came back with a feint 619 and then a springboard plancha into the crowd. They got back to the ring. Rey hit a super ‘rana: 1…2…3

The stuff these two did here was super impressive (even twenty years later). The match suffered some due to the “I’ll get my shit in, then you’ll get your shit in, major highspots, finish” structure, but it was still a ton of fun to experience. Rey and Psicosis would have a better match in ECW a month later.
Match Rating: ***1/4

 

ECW
February 6, 1996

Rey Misterio, Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera
They obviously did a ton of impressive stuff early on. Rey got the advantage for a bit and used a chair on Juvi. Juvi came back after hitting a deadlift German. He worked Rey over for a bit after that. Rey came back. Juvi went for Splash Mountain, but Rey reversed it into a super ‘rana: 1…2…3

I thought this was a fun showcase for both men. They did not try to do anything too special overall, but they produced a lot of fun stuff throughout the match. Rey Mysterio’s athleticism from this point in his career will always be impressive.
Match Rating: ***

 

WCW Great American Bash
June 16, 1996

Dean Malenko(c) vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]
This was Mysterio’s WCW debut. Mysterio sent Malenko to the floor with a Silverking dropkick. Malenko got back to the ring and sent Mysterio to the floor. Mysterio avoided a baseball slide. Malenko then went after Mysterio’s left arm. Malenko was in control, as he worked over the arm. This went on for a while. Ok, this went on for fucking ever. Like, the crowd was completely restless. Mysterio was finally able to send Malenko to the floor, and he then hit a springboard somersault plancha. Back in the ring, they traded some pinning combinations. Mysterio then hit a springboard hurricanrana: 1…2…NO! Mysterio hit a super hurricanrana for a nearfall. Malenko went for a tilt-a-whirl, but Mysterio reversed it into a body press: 1…2…NO! Malenko then hit a powerbomb and put his legs on the ropes: 1…2…3!

I can’t believe I’m about to write this, but I found this match to be really boring. Almost the whole match was Malenko working over Mysterio’s arm, and it didn’t lead to a single damn thing. To be fair, I was expecting a great match. If my expectations were more in line, I probably would have enjoyed the match more. Needless to say though, this was a huge disappointment personally. I did like the finish in some ways; Mysterio had Malenko on the ropes, and Malenko felt the need to cheat to protect his title.
Match Rating: **3/4

 

Nitro
July 1996

Dean Malenko(c) vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]
Mysterio was having a ton of success early on. They botched something, and Malenko then cut him off with a backbreaker shortly after that. He was generally targeting the back of Mysterio. Mysterio managed to get Malenko to the floor, and then almost completely missed him with an Asai Moonsault. Mysterio then got a nearfall with a diving hurricanrana. Malenko came back with a diving gutbuster. He had the match won, but he pulled Mysterio up for more damage. He had the match won again, but he pulled him up. Mysterio then got a hurricanrana pin: 1…2…3

Despite this match being quite different that their first WCW encounter, my reaction was pretty much exactly the same. The substance of the match was sound in theory but there was no real payoff to it. Malenko’s overconfidence didn’t even really make sense since he knew he had to cheat to defeat Mysterio the first time. That just makes him look like an idiot. With all of that said, they still pulled off enough to fun stuff to make this passable.
Match Rating: **1/2

 

WCW Hog Wild
1996

Rey Mysterio, Jr.(c) vs. Ultimate Dragon (w/ Sonny Ono) [WCW Cruiserweight Champion]
Dragon had the early advantage. “USA!” chants distracted him though. I cannot even. He worked Mysterio over for a bit. Mysterio hit a springboard dropkick and then made a comeback. Dragon cut him off by blocking a springboard move with a dropkick and then hitting a pescado. Dragon then hit a number of moves, but Rey kept kicking out. Rey fought back. Dragon avoided a regular Frankensteiner, but Rey then hit a springboard Frankensteiner: 1…2…3

I thought this match was a ton of fun. There were some awkward moments and transitions that held it down to a degree. However, I thought they overcame those miscues overall and turned into a fun midcard match. While the Dean Malenko matches aim higher than the other matches on the set, the other matches are delivering on their premise more.
Match Rating: ***1/4

 

WCW Fall Brawl
1996

Rey Mysterio, Jr.(c) vs. Super Calo [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]
Calo was dominating the match for a while. Calo hit a missile dropkick to the floor that caused Rey to smack the back of his head against the concrete floor. Such a fucking stupid thing to let happen. You know it’s a bad bump when the diving dropkick to the floor looks fine in comparison. Calo hit a slingshot senton to the floor. This was a Wargames PPV, which means there were two rings. Calo was dominating the match forever it seemed. Rey threatened to come back, but Calo quickly cut him right back off. Rey finally came back after pulling off a fantastic double jump, springboard hurricanrana to the floor. Calo looked close to cutting Rey off again, but Rey used the two rings to hit a double springboard hurricanrana: 1…2…3

That finish nearly saved the match and has to be the only reason this match made it to the DVD. Super Calo’s work was not interesting at all, and he was in control for 95% of the match. Rey pulled off some fantastic stuff near the end, but it was not enough to make me like the match. Just watch the final two or three minutes of this one.
Match Rating: **1/4

 

Halloween Havoc
1996

Rey Mysterio, Jr.(c) vs. Dean Malenko [WCW Cruiserweight Championship]
While I was not overly impressed with their first two matches on this set, the in-ring chemistry between these two is absolutely undeniable. They clearly are capable of great things.

Malenko recently took a mask from Mysterio. Malenko was very aggressive early on. Mysterio fought back and did a feint 619. He followed that up with a tope con hello. Mysterio then switched out his mask for the one Malenko stole. That’s a great character moment. Malenko finally cut him off with a sidewalk slam and then went to work on Rey. Malenko’s work was not as focused as last time, but I do not mind that given the lack of payoff to that in their last two matches. I guess Malenko was somewhat targeting the back. Rey hit a somersault and appeared on the verge of a comeback. Malenko cut him off again though. If someone wanted to make to claim that Malenko dominated this match too much, I would not blame them. It has not bothered me as much. Mysterio connected on a springboard corkscrew splash on the floor and then made a comeback in the ring. Malenko kicked out of one hurricanrana and then reversed another into a Liger Bomb: 1…2…NO! Those both led to great nearfalls. Both were perfectly believable finishes. Malenko avoided a Frankensteiner and then hit a diving gutwrench powerbomb: 1…2…3

I thought this was a really strong match. The biggest negative about the match was that it was probably overlong. I was not bored during the heat, but I think they could have accomplished the same result in half that time. Rey’s hurricanranas have proven so effective in ending matches that they made for great moments down the stretch. The finish even played into the majority of the work that Malenko did. Big thumbs up for this one, and it is my favorite match on the set so far.
Match Rating: ***3/4

 

WCW Starrcade
1996

Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Jushin Liger
Mike Tenay said this was the first meeting between these two. Liger was in control to start the match. Mysterio eventually sent Liger to the floor with a hurricanrana and then did a feint 619. Mysterio went to suplex Liger back into the ring, but Liger just reversed it and suplexed Mysterio to the floor. Liger then powerbombed Mysterio onto the floor. Ouch. Back in the ring, Liger locked in the Mexican Surfboard. Mysterio came back with a German suplex and a standing moonsault. Mysterio hit a springboard missile dropkick. Mysterio went for another one, but Liger blocked it with a standing dropkick. Liger hit a koppou kick, but Mysterio came back with a spinning heel kick and a headscissors takedown. Mysterio sent Liger to the floor and hit an Asai Moonsault. Back in the ring, Liger got hung up in the ropes. Mysterio then hit a springboard legdrop: 1…2…NO! Mysterio went for a springboard backsplash, but Liger avoided it. Liger then hit a diving headbutt: 1…2…NO! Mysterio went for a springboard hurricanrana, but Liger blocked it. Liger then hit another koppou kick and a Liger Bomb: 1…2…3

I knew this match was considered a disappointment going in, but I was still surprised by how unremarkable the match was. Liger and Mysterio have to be considered two of (if not) the most important junior heavyweights in the history of wrestling, but this match really didn’t show it. It’s such a cool matchup that it’s worth watching, but you should keep your expectations relatively low. The match never got into a rhythm, and it felt like just a collection of moments.
Match Rating: ***

Watch this match here.

 

WCW Spring Stampede
April1 997

Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Ultimate Dragon
Dragon was in control early on. He hit one of my favorites: the Argentinean Backbreaker. Dragon’s ego got the better of him though, as he pulled Rey up after a tombstone. Rey could get nothing going. Rey finally fought back. He hit a Silver King somersault plancha. Rey was running through Dragon after that. Dragon came back after violently sending Mysterio to the floor. Mysterio hit a Mysterio-rana, but Dragon reversed it into a nearfall of his own. They went back and forth some more. Mysterio eventually caught him with a springboard hurricanrana pin for the win.

This match featured the same excitement than their 1997 Hog Wild match, but everything was much smoother here. These two are a lot of fun to watch together in the ring. It’s funny to see how much of Mysterio’s offense was based on hitting hurricanranas back then. That really stood out here. It’s not an insult, but it’s a glaring difference from his later years as a performer.
Match Rating: ***1/2

 

Watch Rey Mysterio matches for free!

Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Liger

Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis (one of my favorite ECW matches ever)

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddy Guerrero (considered their best match together)

Rey Mysterio vs. John Cena

Rey Mysterio vs. Batista

Rey Mysterio & The Usos vs. The Shield

Rey Mysterio, John Cena, & Batista vs. Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, & The Big Show

Rey Mysterio & RVD vs. Eddie Guerrero & Booker T vs. The Bashams vs. Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddy Guerrero

Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero

Rey Mysterio vs. Jamie Noble

 

Thanks everybody for reading! You can send feedback to my Twitter or to my email address: [email protected]. Also, feel free to check out my own wrestling website, FreeProWrestling.com. Check out a full/organized list of all the wrestling show reviews I’ve done at 411mania.

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Rey is so much fun. Two more discs to go!