Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Rey Mysterio – The Life of a Masked Man – Disc 3

Rey talked about happens/changes in his life when the mask comes off. The most notable aspect of this talk was that he refers to sneakers as ‘kicks.’

 

WWE Smackdown
December 18, 2009

Rey Mysterio vs. Batista

Rey was trying to use his quickness to keep it competitive. Big Dave then somewhat caught a moonsault attempt from Rey and powerslammed him on a guardrail. Big Dave then did a Big Heat segment. Rey could get nothing going during this. Big Dave then got too Big for his britches and tried jumping off the middle rope. Rey hit him with a dropkick and then made a comeback. Rey managed to hit the 619, but Big Dave got his Big Knees up to block the splash. Big Dave went back to working over Rey. He also got too frustrated with Rey staying alive that he went for a chair. He didn’t follow through though. Rey then caught him with a small package: 1…2…3!

This was good enough. I think they had too much time to work with, as this would have worked better as a compact, high-energy affair.

Match Rating: ***

 

WWE Smackdown
January 29, 2010

Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels

Shawn was determined to have a match with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Rey was facing The Undertaker for the title at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV. Shawn assumed Taker would still be champion by the time Wrestlemania happened, and Rey had an issue with that.

After some back and forth action, Rey actually got control of the match and started working on top! Unique! Rey targeted Shawn’s injured left leg. Shawn then got control by blocking a top-rope moonsault. Shawn then went after Rey’s left leg. They started going back and forth again. Shawn eventually called for the superkick, but Rey hit the 619. Rey barely was able to attempt the springboard, but he jumped into a superkick! Batista then ran in and speared Shawn to give Rey the win via DQ.

Dave started to attack both of them, but Triple H made the save. They took themselves out on the floor. As Rey and Shawn struggled to their feet, The Undertaker showed up. Double chokeslam!

While the first match these two had in 2005 was much more of a friendly, this match had more of an edge to it. While the action was not as smooth or compelling, the edge that this match had kept me interested. Strong work from both men as you would expect.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

WWE Royal Rumble
January 31, 2010

The Undertaker(c) vs. Rey Mysterio [World Heavyweight Championship]

Taker got control early on and fended off a flurry of offense from Rey after a few minutes of that. Rey fought back yet again and hit an Asai Moonsault. This pattern continued for a while. Taker would mostly be in control, but Rey would occasionally tease his proper comeback. Rey managed to hit two 619s, but Taker came back with the Last Ride: 1…2…3!

I enjoyed this match quite a bit. The Undertaker and Rey Mysterio squaring off is very unique and that alone kept me interested. They also worked the match where the guy working underneath keeps teasing a comeback, which is a style I’ve come to greatly appreciate. Most importantly, this match was fun.

Match Rating: ***3/4

 

WWE Smackdown
February 5, 2010

Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler

The winner of this match gets a spot in the Elimination Chamber match for The Undertaker’s World Heavyweight Championship.

It took a while, but Dolph did eventually get control of the match. Rey fought back, and they started going back and forth. Rey eventually caught Dolph with a fruit roll-up to pick up the win.

Dolph tried to attack Rey after the match, but Rey gave him a 619.

This was missing a spark that you would expect these two to have. It was fine but just far short of my expectations.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

WWE Over the Limit
May 23, 2010

Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk 

If Mysterio loses, he must join the Straight Edge Society. If Punk loses, his head is getting shaved.

Punk tossed Rey into a barber chair, and a bleeding Punk had to be worked on by the referee. The latter brought the match to a screeching halt. Punk brought the energy back to the match thankfully when started to beat up Rey a ton. Punk was in control for a while. A Yoshi Tonic kicked off a Rey comeback. Punk got control again briefly. Rey avoided the GTS and hit a 619. Punk avoided the springboard splash though. Punk cockily covered Rey, and Rey caught him with the crucifix pin: 1…2…3!

Joseph Mercury (in a hood) ran in and attacked Rey. Luke Gallows and Serena showed up. KANE of all people made the save. What on Earth. Chokeslam to Punk. Rey then used Punk’s handcuffs on Punk and hit a 619. Punk desperately tried to escape, but Rey started to shave him. Rey then forced himself to look in a mirror. Punk’s reaction to seeing himself was priceless.

This was good but not great which sadly is the story of all the PPV matches between these two. They finished the match on a great sequence, but the first third of the match did not go well.

Match Rating: ***3/4

 

WWE Fatal 4-Way
June 20, 2010

Jack Swagger(c) vs. The Big Show vs. CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio [World Heavyweight Championship]

They had some decent ideas for this match’s story. Show dominated early on, but other three eventually were able to take him out temporarily. The other three then got a chance to go at it. Show made a comeback, but the other three took him out again. As the other three went at it, Kane showed up with the casket. Kane targeted Punk and tried to put him in the casket. Luke Gallows made the save. Remember kids, it would eventually be revealed that Kane was the one who attacked The Undertaker and left him in a vegetative state. In the confusion, Rey hit Swagger with a 619: 1…2…3

A flat match with a very annoying finish. As I wrote, the story of the match was fine, but it did not lead to much exciting stuff.

Match Rating: **1/2

 

Rey said that the signings of Alberto del Rio and Sin Cara will hopefully lead to more luchadors getting signed. Quite the opposite happened!

 

WWE Smackdown
October 8, 2010

Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto del Rio (w/ Ricardo Rodriguez)

Rey dominated ADR for a good while. ADR finally cut him off and then targeted Rey’s left arm. Rey managed to hit a sunset flip powerbomb for a great nearfall.  ADR worked him over some more until Rey managed to hit a diving ‘rana. Ricardo blocked one 619 attempt, but Rey was able to connect on his second attempt. Top-rope splash: 1…2…3

Alberto did not look all that comfortable in this match, and it made the action a bit awkward at times. The match was also hindered by Rey dominating so much of it. I’m sure these two had better matches together that could have been on this set instead.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

WWE Wrestlemania
April 3, 2011

Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes

Heel Michael Cole was on commentary for this match. That only worked when he was trolling NXT for being the worst show in the world.

Cody got control of the match almost immediately, and he worked Rey over for a while. Rey made a comeback. Cody managed to cut him off with a wheelbarrow German! Cody event took off Rey’s knee brace, but that kind of woke Rey up. He hit a moonsault for a flat nearfall. Rey took Cody’s mask off, and Rey hit a 619 to the exposed face. They did an awkward block of the top rope splash. Rey kicked Cody on the face and put on his face mask. Rey headbutted Cody with the mask and then hit a springboard headbutt for a nearfall. That inspired some Cody chants for some reason. Rey went for a tope, but Cody hit him with the knee brace. Cross Rhodes: 1…2…3

This would be a good example of telling a dumb story (that fans did not care about) well. If telling stories well is good enough reason to like a match, you should like this. The story of Cody wanting a face mask was just not a good story to me, and it hampered the feud and the match.

Match Rating: **1/2

 

Rey talked about new challenges. He wants to be in movies. He wish he could have worked with Satoru Sayama, Dynamite Kid, and Steve Austin. He’d also like a match with Triple H and his own son.

 

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

It is always a treat to watch a compilation of Rey Mysterio matches. He is one of the greatest wrestlers ever. Despite often being plagued by terrible booking and then nagging injuries in his later career, he has managed to put together one of the best resumes in terms of good matches that I have ever seen. The only knock on this set is the interview between Rey and Matt Striker. As you would expect, Striker is poison to this portion of the DVD. He just has a way about him that makes you never want to hear him speak ever again. Rey has never been much of a talker, and he did not articulate anything that most fans would not already know nor tell the story of his career in an especially compelling way. Regardless, the matches alone make this set worth watching. Great stuff.