He is "the human highlight reel", "the high flyer", "the ultimate underdog", he is Rey Mysterio. This is a look into his life in and out of the ring, as we hear from the man himself over the next 3 discs. Matt Striker interviews Rey on a variety of topics then we cut to a match, its similar to the format of the Shawn Michaels, My Journey DVD.
Disc 1
-Rey talks about his childhood, his uncle Rey Mysterio and how he learned to wrestle at a very early age. Also how he had early gimmicks known as The Green Lizard then The Hummingbird and how he had to earn he name Rey Mysterio Jr. I also liked how he talked about his friend Konnan and how he helped put Mexican lucha libre on the map.
-10/28/95, ECW Hardcore TV: w/Konnan vs. La Parka & Psicosis: Good lucha tag team match with 4 of the greatest mexican wrestlers in modern history. This does appear to be somewhat clipped though the action they do show is good. Nice springboard into a hurricarana on Psicosis on the outside. There's some good high flying action by both Rey and Konnan just too bad its clipped. Rey and Konnan win after La Parka and Psicosis can't get back into the ring. 6/10.
-3/9/96, ECW Extreme Bash, 2 out of 3 Falls Match: vs. Juventud Guerrera: This match features at the time two of the youngest wrestlers from Mexico and with the 2 out of 3 falls stipulation it just makes it more worth watching. We get some good back and forth action then Juvi hits a full nelson suplex to take the first fall. Rey comes back hitting a nice hurricarana on Juvi, sending him to the floor and later hits a sit out powerbomb to even this match at 1 fall apiece. Juvi hits a springboard moonsault on Rey over the guardrail. Later Rey hits his own dive over the guardrail and the action then spills to outside where Juvi powerbombs Rey onto a car, then Rey comes back with a hurricarana off the hood of the car. Rey counters a splash mountain bomb from the top into a hurricarana to win the third fall. 9/10. Good post match with Rey powerbombing Juvi through a table on the outside.
-The ECW fans are discussed as Rey says the experience was unlike anything he'd ever been around. Also he says the fans drove him to work harder and about how Juventud was one of his best feuds in his career.
-11/3/96, WCW Pro: vs. Juventud Guerrera: I completely forgot about WCW Pro, but I'm glad they put this match on here, but don't blink or you'll miss it. Its good action but very short. Rey wins with a hurricarana off the top rope. 5/10.
-1/11/97, WCW Saturday Night: vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.: This was when Chavo was younger and was actually allowed to wrestle unlike when he was in WWE. Its a decent match that showcases both men, though Chavo does slip while attempting a splash and Rey hits the springboard hurricarana for the win. 6/10.
-Eddie Guerrero is discussed and how Rey met him at an early age and how Eddie pushed him to his limits in their matches.
-9/8/97, WCW Monday Nitro: vs. Eddie Guerrero: These two were always magic in the ring and this match is no exception. Eddie works on Rey's back while Rey tries to come back hitting various head scissors and arm drags. Rey wins after hitting the springboard hurricarana for the win. 7/10.
-11/17/97, WCW Monday Nitro: vs. Chris Jericho: Besides Eddie I feel Rey's best matches were against Jericho as they just had that natural good guy/bad guy chemistry that worked so well. rey uses his quickness while Chris uses his strength advantage to wear down Mysterio, even hitting a gorilla press slam off the top rope. Rey comes back but his back has been worked over by Jericho so he can't put moves together. He does hit the springboard hurricarana out of nowhere for the win. 7/10.
-His first time meeting Jericho is talked about and how Chris thought at first that he was a little kid. Also how the designs of the masks have evolved over the years and what masks he admires.
-1/17/98, WCW Saturday Night: w/Super Calo & Hector Garza vs. Psychosis, La Parka & Silver King: Its 6 man lucha action and while short its a good match, I've always been a mark for La Parka as I've always found him entertaining. Garza seems to hurt his knee badly and Psychosis takes over on Calo, who comes back with a nice tilt a whirl backbreaker. We then get some good back and forth action from Parka and Rey then Rey hits a hurricarana on Parka for the win. 7/10.
-12/28/98, WCW Monday Nitro: w/Billy Kidman vs. Eddie Guerrero & Juventud Guerrera: This was during the infamous LWO storyline where Rey was forced to be a member of the group, obviously against his will, so there is some clear tension between all these men especially Eddie and Juvi. This is a good match, with some great back and forth action, Rey does get worked over a lot, epsecially taking a nasty snap powerbomb from Eddie. While there's good action it seems to be more about putting over a storyline than the match itself. Eddie hits the frog splash on Kidman for the win.8/10.
-The closing of WCW is talked about and how it was great for him to be able to see his daughter being born. Also how he was able to wrestle for CMLL in mexico and that wrestling at Arena Mexico was a dream of his. He also went to work for Carlos Colon in Puerto Rico and that it was a good moment in his career. He was asked if he felt he would become such a huge star in WWE like he has and he said no.
-10/24/02, Smackdown, #1 Contenders Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship: w/Edge vs. Eddie & Chavo Guerrero: This was before the Los Guerreros gimmick but it was obvious from growing up together that these two had great chemistry as a team and Edge and Rey weren't far behind. This is a very good match where both teams get a chance to shine through various double team moves. Eddie and Chavo cut off the ring and wear down Rey. Once Edge gets the tag things pick up, Eddie hits a splash over the top and puts Chavo on Edge, but the ref is distracted by Eddie and Rey hits a leg drop on Chavo and Edge makes the cover for the win. 8/10.
-7/27/03, Vengeance, WWE Tag Team Championship Match: w/ Kidman vs. The World's Greatest Tag Team (Champions): This was just a classic tag team match, the momentum changed throughout, Benjamin and Hass use their obvious amateur wrestling edge to try to ground the high flyers while Rey and Kidman do a great job using their quickness to throw their opponents off their game. Benjamin hits a huge clothesline from the top on Rey for the pinfall to retain their titles. 8/10.
-Rey calls the previous match the greatest tag team match he's ever been in and how he and Kidman worked very well together and were even the Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions when WCW closed down. Surprisingly Kurt Angle is discussed and how Kurt was a great guy backstage but when it came to being in the ring you had to perform at his level. Also how hip-hop influenced the names of his moves.
-10/28/04, Smackdown: vs. Kurt Angle: These two have always had good matches as both have different styles but they work so well together. Early on Angle domintaes Rey and just seems to be toying with him, then Rey stomps on his foot and the action picks up. Nice belly to belly overhead suplex by Angle throwing Rey over the top rope. Kurt wears down Rey on the mat with body scissors and a sleephold. Rey comes back with a swinging DDT and he turns up the quickness. Jindrak and Reigns comes down to beat up Rey, RVD fights them off. Eddie interferes and hits a frog splash on Angle, then puts Rey on Kurt for the win. 8/10.
-12/30/04, Smackdown, WWE Tag Team Championship Match: w/ RVD (Champions) vs. Booker T & Eddie Guerrero: Before the match begins we get footage of WWE's trip to Iraq and how Eddie and Booker were both affected. We get some early counter wrestling from Rey and Eddie before Booker gets the tag, but Booker gets a high dropkick to the face from Rey. The action stays pretty fast and furious between all four men and Eddie and booker cut the ring off and work Rey over then after RVD gets the tag he gets worked over. The antics of Eddie using the tag belt come back to bite him as the ref catches him and Rey hits a roll-up for the win to retain the tag titles. 10/10.
Disc 2
-His influences are brought up maily Eddie Guerrero, how he was always there whenever he needed advice and how much he misses him even to this day. Their Wrestlemania 21 match is brought up and how his mask started to give him problems and thats why the match may have not been the classic it could've been. Also how being in Wrestlemania is always special for him.
-4/3/05, Wrestlemania 21 Tag Team Champion vs. Tag Team Champion: vs. Eddie Guerrero: This was about Eddie proving he could still compete at a main event level and that he wanted to prove he could beat Rey Mysterio. The before-mentioned mask issues are obvious but it actually is a good match, good counter wrestling and quickness by both men. Eddie nails a powerbomb for 2 then Rey hits a hurricarana for the win. 7/10.
-12/16/05, Smackdown, WWE Tag Team Championship Match: w/Batista (World Champion) vs. MNM: This was all about Rey and Batista winning one for Eddie (who died a month earlier), and while MNM got their spots in, the animal and Rey were too much. Rey hits the 619 on Melina and Mercury, Batista hits the Batista bomb on Mercury for the win as they captured the tag titles. 7/10.
-Batista is brought up, how their lifestyles do mesh well and how they got along very well in and out of the ring and how his winning the Royal Rumble was one for Eddie. Winning the World Title was a dream come true and all the sadness from Eddie's death melted away, even though he was with him in spirit.
-2/19/06, No Way Out, For Rey's #1 Contender's Spot at Wrestlemania 22, vs. Randy Orton: Randy had hammered Eddie in promos for weeks to draw Rey into this match. Its actually quite a good match as Rey took it to Orton early on for all Randy had said, but after that it turned into a good back and forth contest. Orton goes for the RKO but Rey counters with a dropkick, goes for the 619 and misses, Randy rolls him up and uses the ropes for the win. 7/10.
-AAA in Mexico honored Rey by inducting him into their hall of fame and that Rey felt very humbled cause thats where he got his start in wrestling. How important his heritage is and that when WWE tours Mexico that the fans never forget what he means to them. He talks about working with Chavo in his first WWE match and how it went all the way to a Falls Count Anywhere match where Rey took time off to get knee surgery.
-9/26/07, Summerslam: vs. Chavo Guerrero: This was Rey's return after almost a year off thanks to Chavo destroying his knee. All I'll say is the best part about this match was the entrance by Rey but he looked so weird with that silver bodypaint. It isn't a bad match, the crowd popped big for Rey's moves but it just seemed off, probably do to Rey being out of the ring for so long. rey hits the 619 and the splash off the top rope for the win. 5/10.
-10/28/07, Cyber Sunday, Stretcher Match: vs. Finlay: I forgot all about this match and its certainly a unique stipulation for these two. Early on Finaly works over Rey just beating him down with his own set of European offense. Rey comes back hitting a low, low baseball slide to even the odds. Rey rams the stretcher into Finlay then hits a modified 619 and a splash on Finlay who was on the strecther. Rey ends up pushing the stretcher over the white line to win the match. 7/10.
-His rivalry with Kane in '08 is brought up including Rey putting his mask on the line in their match at No Mercy and the importance of the mask and its connection with the fans. How he met Mil Mascaras who didn't wear his mask, when they were gonna do an interview for a magazine. He said he it was awesome to just chat with him.
-10/5/08, No Mercy, If Rey Loses He Must Unmask: vs. Kane: Rey tries to chop down Kane, while "The Big Red Machine" uses his power to just beat Rey into submission. He slams, stomps and works on Rey's back and head for a good few minutes, using a backbreaker and a chinlock. Rey hits a moonsault and his knee hits Kane in the head and targets Kane's knee knocking him down to his size. Kane goes for the chokeslam its countered and Rey hits an odd looking DDT for 2. Rey goes for a dive to the outside but Kane smashes a chair into his face, the ref calls for the DQ. 7/10.
-5/17/09, Judgement Day, Intercontinental Championship Match: vs. Chris Jericho: Like I said earlier besides Eddie, Rey always had some of his best matches with Jericho and this is no different. The crowd is a usual defiant Chicago crowd, as many fans are cheering for Jericho. There's some early high flying offense from Mysterio, before Chris takes over slamming Rey into the barricade and hits a nice springboard dropkick to knock Rey off the ring apron. The action stays at a good pace as both men counter each others moves on numerous occasions. Rey hits a 619 and then the splash off the top rope to retain his title. Great, great match. 10/10.
-We hear about Rey's friends in the music scene, especially about P.O.D. and how he even went to schoold with one of the band members. Also how he contributed lyrics to his current theme song. What his tattoos mean, even having his kid's names on his body and how his faith is his driving force in life.
-9/4/09, Smackdown, Intercontinental Championship Match: vs. John Morrison: Well this is the definition of athleticism as these two display a lot of quickness, high flying moves and Rey has the unusual task of competiting against a man who is just as skilled as he is. Morrison works on Rey's arm, who comes back hitting a tilt a whirl head scissors with 2 revolutions, nice move. This is the first time they've wrestled each other but you'd never know it from how well they work together. Morrison hits Starship Pain to become the I.C. champion. This is one classic match, especially for TV. 10/10.
Disc 3
-Rey talks about when he does and doesn't wear the mask, also how fans are respectful of asking if its ok to take a picture when he doesn't have the mask on.
-12/18/09, Smackdown, #1 Contender's Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: vs. Batista: These 2 former best friends face off in what I feel is one of the better little man/big man matches on TV in a while. Batista works over Rey's back and midsection with a back breaker and a slam into the ring post then just pounds him into the mat with a few slams. After Rey counters with a dropkick, he hits a bulldog and keeps the animal on the mat but not for the 3 count. Batista hits a spear but Rey kicks out, Rey then counters a spinebuster and rolls up Batista for the win. 8/10.
-1/29/10, Smackdown: vs. Shawn Michaels: This is a true dream match as these men only face each other one other time on the Eddie Guerrero tribute show in '05. Even at the stages of their careers they were at, these two do quite well at keeping a good past pace and Shawn even has a strength advantage over his opponent, which was rare in most of his matches. Shawn chops away at Rey's chest, while later Rey works on Shawn's knee with kicks and he even pulls out a unique leg submission on the knee. Shawn even uses the figure four to hurt Rey's knee. Rey hits the 619, goes for a dive but gets hit with Sweet Chin Music. Batista interferes and causes a DQ, Triple H comes down and we have a mini brawl between the 2, then the Undertaker appears in the ring, and chokeslams both men. 8/10 for the match.
-His list of injuries his discussed and how he has had to adapt his style to work around them, especially his ACL injury in his left knee and how his bicep injury in '08 caused him to miss Wrestlemania 24. He says Dr. James Andrews is a great doctor and knows him very well, cause of his injuries.
-1/31/10, Royal Rumble, World Heavyweight Championship Match: vs. The Undertaker (Champion): Maybe its just me but I didn't feel this was a good match-up, I mean both guys tried but this one didn't gel that good for me, mainly cause you knew Taker would win and Rey had no chance. Early on though Rey kicks away at Taker and his braced knee ends up busting open Taker's nose, which does seem to fuel the Deadman's rage. Taker wins after hitting a high impact Last Ride. 5/10.
-2/5/10, Smackdown, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: vs. Dolph Ziggler: These two had faced off in the past so they were able to counter each others moves better than most opponents. Rey was still showing the injuries from his match with Taker 5 days before. Ziggler did do a good job grounding Rey and almost had him beat on a few occasions even hitting a powerslam out of nowhere for 2. Rey hits a reverse roll-up for the win. 7/10.
-We hear about how Rey loved his ladder match with Eddie which was Rey's first in WWE and how the Elimination Chamber of this year and how they are two of his favorites in his career. He also says he tries to make as much time for his family as he can and that he loves riding motorcycles.
-5/23/10, Over The Limit, If Rey Loses He Must Join The Straight Edge Society, If Punk Loses He'll Have His Head Shaved: vs. CM Punk: These two had a good rivalry leading up to this match, Rey hits a head scissors launching Punk into the barricade which busted him open, Punk comes back throwing Rey under the bottom rope into the barber's chair at ring side. The referee and a doctor tries working on Punk's cut, which all through it Punk looks pretty upset about the delay. Punk comes out attacking Rey, slamming him into the barricade and just beating on Mysterio, which did get the crowd back into the match. After some great counter wrestling, Rey uses a crucifix pin to pick up the win. 9/10. Afterwards a mystery member of the S.E.S. and Luke Gallows and Serena make their appearance. Then Kane come down and destroys Gallows, the mystery man and Punk. Rey handcuffs Punk to the ring ropes and nails a 619, cuffs his other hand then uses the razor on Punk's head which is kinda graphic.
-Rey talks about his fanbase and how young people are affected by his character. Over the years he's realized how important and humbling it is to have someone look up to him and what he says to any of the fans he goes forehead to forehead with on his way to the ring. Also he says he hopes his children grow up and remember what he's taught them.
-6/20/10, Fatal 4-Way, 4 Way World Heavyweight Championship Match: vs. Big Show, CM Punk vs. Jack Swagger (Champion): Each man gets a chance to shine here, there's a good face-off between Show and Rey even with Show palming Mysterio's head and pulling him up to the ring apron. Swagger does have a good showing here as well, but I don't think WWE's office or the fans really bought into him as world champion. At one point in the match Kane comes down with a casket, trying to search for the Undertaker's attacker, he targets CM Punk, but Luke Gallows comes down and he and Punk run to the back. Rey hits a splash onto Swagger and makes the cover to win his second World title. 7/10.
-We hear about how Rey felt when he won the World title not once but twice and how it was an amazing feeling. He also talks about how he feels more lucha stars will cross into WWE because of his success.
-10/8/10, Smackdown: vs. Alberto Del Rio: This is Rey's first match back after Del Rio injured Mysterio's arm over a month ago. Rey was a lot more aggressive than usual, putting more emphasis on kicks and dives that he uses to really hurt Del Rio. Its actually a very well done match that re-established Rey and still built up Del Rio as an upcoming star. Rey knocks Del Rio into his ring announcer, hits the 619 and the top rope splash for the win. 7/10.
-4/3/11, Wrestlemania 27: vs. Cody Rhodes: Due to Rey's injuries halting enough decent face-offs before this, the build-up for this match seemed a little under-whelming, but Cody sure brought his A-game to this match. The Captain America outfit by Rey continues his tradition of comic book/movie inspired attire, but adds little to the bout. Cody pulls off some nice moves like a delayed veritcal suplex, and a jumping kick in the corner to Mysertio. Rey also pulls off some good moves after he takes off Cody's protective mask. The finish comes when Cody uses Rey's knee brace to knock him out then hits his Crossroads neckbreaker for the win. 8/10.
-Rey talks about what is next, say he always have his eyes on the future even outside of wrestling once his career is over. He also talks about wrestlers he wishes he could get in the ring with including Tiger Mask and Dynamite Kid from the past, Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin and future stars maybe even his son if he wanted to step into the ring.
-This is well worth getting, the interview segments are very insightful and the match selection is different from most as there are more TV matches and less PPV bouts, which makes this a good set to purchase.
