Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Rey Mysterio – The Life of a Masked Man – Disc 2

Rey talked about what Eddie meant to him as a person. The conversation turned to their Wrestlemania match. Rey mentioned that there was an issue with his mask that hindered the match. They also briefly touched on Rey’s desire to do something different with his gear for Wrestlemanias.

 

WWE Wrestlemania
April 3, 2005

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero

This was a “friendly” between the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Rey was constantly grabbing at the mask, and it was clearly giving him issues. Eddie mostly controlled the match with Rey only sporadically fighting back. There were a couple of moments where it seemed like Rey was about to make a comeback, but Eddie kept staying a step ahead of him. That was the story of the whole match. Even after Rey connected on the 619, Eddie reversed the West Coast Pop into a powerbomb. Eddie then went for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Rey reversed it into a hurricanrana pinfall: 1…2…3!

These two worked a style here that I’ve grown more and more fond of over the years. Eddie controlled the majority of the match, but Rey kept teasing a comeback which really made the match unpredictable. While this did not feature the same level of breathtaking action that their most famous match had, I think the in-ring storytelling was pitch-perfect. It seems to me they never managed to combine those two elements together in one match.

Match Rating: ***3/4

 

WWE Smackdown
Dcember 16, 2005

MnM(c) (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury) (w/ Melina) vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio [WWE Tag Team Champions]

There was a storyline with MnM pimping Melina out to Batista before the match in an effort to get him to drop the challenge. Big Dave accepted the sexual favor but then decided he still wanted the match. WWE, everybody. Given that Melina ended up cheating on Nitro in real life with Big Dave, the story is even more fucked up than it reads on paper.

Rey and Dave dominated the match for a while. Joey eventually hit Rey with a rebound powerbomb, and they then worked Rey over. This went on for a long time. After a couple near-escapes, Rey finally hit Nitro with a super poison ‘rana. Big Dave then made a big hot tag. Big Dave shook them ropes. Rey gave Melina and Mercury a 619 at the same time. Big Dave Bomb to Mercury: 1…2…3!

There probably could have been some more drama after the Big Dave hot tag, but this was a ton of fun to watch. It was tag team formula executed very well with Rey standing out for his work as Ricky Morton.

Match Rating: ***3/4

 

No Way Out
February 19, 2006

Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton

Mysterio’s Wrestlemania shot is on the line.

I miss Orton’s old music. Orton got a disturbingly, nonexistent reaction. Rey did not get much better. This storyline was appropriately met with apathy, it seems.

Orton got control of the match early on and was exceptionally boring as he worked Rey over. The story according to Michael Cole was that Orton just wanted to punish Rey but that he could have finished Rey at any time. Rey’s eventual comeback got over with a few dozen children. Rey went for the 619, but Orton avoided it and caught Rey with a ropes-assisted pinning combo: 1…2…3

What a terrible finish to a boring match. This was Rey Mysterio working a Randy Orton match, and few people come out better for working a Randy Orton match. It was slow, methodical, and no one cared.

Match Rating: *3/4

 

Rey talks about getting into the AAA Hall of Fame. I’m surprised WWE let him talk about another wrestling Hall of Fame. Striker transitioned the conversation to Chavo, and that makes me fear for the amount of Chavo that’s going to happen on this DVD.

 

WWE Summerslam
August 26, 2007

Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero

This was Rey Mysterio’s comeback match after a lengthy stay on the injured list.

Rey ran through Chavo a bit until Chavo was able to target the injured leg. Rey was dressed like the Silver Surfer by the way and was also going through an awkward chubby phase. It was not the best combination. Rey could barely move on the leg after Chavo worked on it for a long time. Rey managed to fight back after a while, but he still was not moving well. Chavo hit a Gory Bomb for a nearfall. Chavo avoided one 619, but Rey connected on his second attempt: 1…2…3

As far as matches that Chavo dominates goes, this was not terrible. The leg work was a solidly done, but Rey eventually had to stop selling it to get in his trademarked offense. That’s why flippy guys should not have their legs worked over in a match. It either makes the match less fun or more stupid. This was a bit of both.

Match Rating: **1/4

 

Cyber Sunday
October 28, 2007

Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay [Stretcher Match]

The fans voted for a stretcher match.

Finlay had control first and tried to get him on the stretcher to win the match. Rey fought back in the ring and tried the same with the stretcher. Finlay avoided it and realized he could use the shillelagh that was up on the poll in case the fans voted for it. Rey was the one that ended up getting the stick down, but Finlay used it first. He attacked Rey’s injured knee with it. Finlay then used the stretcher as a weapon. Rey used a 619 to get Finlay on the stretcher, and he then hit him with a slingshot senton onto the stretcher. The stretcher got caught on a chord, but Finlay did some great ad-libbing to make it work. He made some desperate attempts to reverse his fortune, but Rey got him back on the stretcher and past the line.

This was really well done by two of the most consistently fun guys in the WWE from the middle 2000s. The stretcher stip did not help the match, but it was actually more impressive in some ways to see them work with that limitation.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

WWE No Mercy
October 5, 2008

Rey Mysterio vs. Kane

Rey will have to unmask if Kane wins.

They did a match where Kane was mostly in control while Rey kept teasing comebacks. Rey used some highspots and kicks to fight back. They botched a springboard DDT. Rey hit a 619 to the back of the legs and followed it up with an attempted plancha. Kane blocked the plancha with a chairshot though and that got him disqualified.

This remains one of my favorite Kane matches, as Rey did a great job (as usual) of timing and executing the majority of his mini comebacks to keep the match engaging. Kane is fine with certain wrestlers that bring a lot of energy to his matches. Rey is one of those wrestlers.

Match Rating: ***

 

WWE Judgment Day
May 17, 2009

Rey Mysterio(c) vs. Chris Jericho [Intercontinental Championship]

This feud in 2009 was absolutely fantastic. Their match at Extreme Rules was great and the one at The Bash is one of the best WWE matches ever. I don’t remember this one too well, but I assume that it’s very good.

After some solid (if uninspired) back and forth action to start the match, Jericho did cut Rey off and then worked him over for a while. Jericho distracted himself by focusing on removing the mask, and that gave Rey an opportunity to fight back. They soon started going back and forth. They lots of cool finisher teases and reversals. Rey eventually managed to send Jericho into a turnbuckle and then hit the 619 in the corner: 1…2…3!

This was everything you would expect and want from a Rey Mysterio/Chris Jericho match. There was exciting action, clever reversals, and tons of heat. Great stuff.

Match Rating: ****

 

Rey talked extensively about his tattoos and his faith.

 

WWE Smackdown

September 4, 2009

Rey Mysterio(c) vs. John Morrison [WWE Intercontinental Championship]

They went back and forth early on. After a commercial, Morrison appeared to be in control, but Rey took him to the floor within thirty seconds. Morrison got control in the ring after Rey crashed into a ringpost. Rey came right back though and had control. Morrison escaped after a wonderfully athletic reversal (back flip kick?) and then got control again. They went through another commercial. Mysterio hit a hurricanrana to the floor that Morrison took a hysterical front flip bump for. They went back and forth in the ring after that. Rey connected on the 619, but Morrison then hit the Flying Chuck. Mysterio blocked Starship Pain twice. Mysterio then went for a super Poison ‘Rana, but Morrison avoided it. Starship Pain: 1…2…3!

If John Morrison went on to have a great/main event career in the WWE, this would be a very fondly remembered match that would probably be romanticized by the WWE and appear on many DVDs. Instead, this ended up being the peak of Morrison’s in-ring career, and his IC title reign went nowhere of significance.

Morrison really got good at working babyface vs. babyface style matches at this time, and Rey was the king of WWE television matches for years by this point. Smackdown was a beautiful place in the Summer of 2009.

Match Rating: ****

 

Watch Rey Mysterio matches for free!

Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk vs. Eddie Guerrero

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

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Two discs down, one to go...