83 Weeks - Rey Mysterio [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio was born on December 11th, 1974 in Chula Vista, California

Rey made his debut in wrestling in Mexico on April 30, 1989, when he was 14 years old. He was trained by his uncle Rey Misterio Sr. and wrestled early on in Mexico 

Longtime fans might remember that Rey Mysterio Sr was in the Pat O'Conner memorial tag team tournament at Starrcade 1990, teaming with Konnan and representing the country of Mexico

Rey started his career as "La Lagartija Verde (The Green Lizard)" and "Colibrí (Humming bird) and eventually, his uncle gave him the name of Rey Mysterio Jr, which is what he'd wrestle as in WCW and when he came to the WWE in 2002, he dropped the Jr from his name.

Rey was very unique at the time, not only for his moves, but his size. He was only about 5'3” (some say 5'6”) and at the time around 130 lbs or so. Mexico had small wrestlers but he was even smaller than most.

When did you first hear about and see Rey Mysterio Jr?

Had you ever seen moves before that Rey was doing when you first saw him?

He wrestled his first few years in Mexico, even feuding with future ECW & WCW rival, Juventud Guerrera.

In 1995, Rey signed with ECW; Extreme Championship Wrestling. He made his debut at the Gangstas Paradise event, taking on Psicosis. They'd start a feud there as well as Rey and Juventud, when he came to ECW in 1996.

Paul Heyman who owned ECW, made Rey, Psicosis and Juventud apart of his weekly TV, introducing his audience to the lucha Libra style of wrestling, which a lot of American fans weren't very familiar with at the time. There was no internet, so really the only ones who had seen them prior were the hardcore VHS videotape traders.

Do you recall when you first heard they were in ECW, or were you a closet ECW fan and often watched the shows?

When did you decide that you wanted to take Paul's idea and make these guys and lucha libre a big part of WCW and Nitro?

How did you get in contact with Rey, and do you remember your intital talks and negotiations with him?

Did Rey have any trouble with leaving ECW since they were the first American promotion to give him a chance?

Rey came to WCW and made his debut at the Great American Bash 1996 pay per view, challening Dean Malenko for the CruiserWeight title.

Pretty unique at the time for someone to make their debut in a company on a pay per view, and challenge for a title. Was that your idea to do that?

Dean Malenko retained the cruiserweight title pinning Rey Misterio Jr. in 17:50. This was the best wrestling match on the show and an excellent technical match. It wasn't the right match to do in that it was a great Malenko style mat wrestling match. Misterio Jr. showed he was versatile enough as a worker that he be put in a position where he's not doing Mexican style and still have an excellent match. However, it was Misterio Jr.'s debut and he's got far more potential to get over and they should have to his stylistic strengths. Someone whose potential niche if he gets over like Misterio Jr. as being more of an attraction star (like a reverse Andre the Giant) and a kids and ethnic hero can't do any jobs until they are over or fans won't believe in them, even as little as jobs mean nowadays. 

No matter how much charisma Chavez had, if he had lost his first two big matches on American PPV, a 145-pound guy whose main appeal was to Mexicans would have never become for a time the biggest box office draw in boxing. Anyway, his "Tiger Mask" potential is already done to casual fans because they saw him in his debut against what fans perceive as a mid-level guy and he lost twice. After this match and even more after Nitro leaves one with the impression he's a kid with a few cute moves but no threat to anyone important. Malenko did a great job working on Misterio's left arm with various slams and submissions. 

However, by 10:00 in, fans were getting tired of it even though it was all solid and well executed. They picked up for Misterio's big moves, including a springboard somersault to the floor, a springboard dropkick and a Frankensteiner off the top before Malenko got the pin using a power bomb with his legs on the ropes. Most in WCW that had never seen him before and were skeptical of him seeing how small he was when he showed up wound up raving about this match. However, he showed less charisma than I've seen of him in any match in a long time. **** 

What was yours and the general reaction from everyone to this match?

Did anyone have a problem with Rey's size when he came in?

They had a rematch the next night on Nitro with Malenko again winning. 

Good idea to bring a guy in and have him lost his first 2 matches at a ppv and the next night on TV?

Rey was also still wrestling in Mexico when he first came to WCW. How did you guys set that up?

A few weeks later, at the Bash at the Beach ppv Rey wrestled  Juventud in a #1 contenders match for the Cruiserweight title

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Psicosis in 15:18. They started with some great mat wrestling. Psicosis did an awesome over-the-top tope, and partially crashed his head into the post. He came back in and used a guillotine legdrop off the top. Misterio Jr. used a spinning Frankensteiner off the apron to the floor. He's done this move a zillion times and his head always comes inches from the floor and never hits, but this time he cracked his head on the floor. 

What was amazing about this match is that both were banged up doing their moves, yet continued doing outrageous spots and hit every spot 100% and even though you saw them crash, their work showed no indication that the crashes affected their performance in the slightest. Psicosis did perhaps the greatest hotshot in the history of wrestling. He dropped Misterio Jr. throat first on the top, and then did a senton from the top rope to the floor, which appeared to shake himself up. Misterio Jr. used a springboard huracanrana for a near fall, a springboard dropkick from the apron to the ring. 

He came off the top turnbuckle with another spinning Frankensteiner on Psicosis on the apron. In the ring he used an Arabian moonsault followed by a springboard dropkick to the back which sent Psicosis sliding across the mat to the floor. Misterio Jr. then did a twisting Asai moonsault and crashed his knee on the guard rail on the flight over. He went for another springboard huracanrana, but Psicosis turned it into a power bomb. Psicosis went for a Splash Mountain off the top rope ("Die Hard" in Japan) but on the way down, Misterio Jr. turned it into a Frankensteiner for the fall. ****3/4 

The next night on Nitro, Rey beat Dean Malenko to win the Crusierweight title.

Rey was also the Mexican Welterweight champion at this time but lost it to Psicosis a few days after this

On July 20th, at the Tokyo Sumo Hall for the Wrestle Association R (WAR) promotion, Rey beat Juventud Guerrera for the WWA Welterweight title

On the July 29th Nitro, one of the most famous scenes from the Monday Night War happened when Nash and Hall attacked several WCW wrestlers backstage at Disney during Nitro and Rey came out of a trailer and attempted a cross body at Nash, who caught him and threw him head first into the trailer 

Did Rey get hurt, not only from being thrown into the trailer, but he fell straight down to the cement. 

Whose idea was that?

When he was getting medical attention, they took his mask off but he covered his face as they did it

We saw Eddie Guerrero there with Rey as he was being attended to. They were actually billed to wrestle each other that night before that happened. What was their relationship like at this time?

That takes us to the Hog Wild pay per view, on August 10th, 1996

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Ultimo Dragon in 11:35 to retain the WCW cruiserweight title. Dragon was billed as Ultimate Dragon. Sonny Onoo came out with Dragon to signify him as the heel. The fans chanted "USA" during the match which makes perfect sense. The ring being on the high platform hurt this match more than any of the others because it made a lot of the normal Misterio Jr. moves even more dangerous. 

Dragon did a great job as a heel considering he's rarely ever played the role. The two traded nice moves including Dragon using a running Liger bomb early. After Dragon missed a handspring elbow into the corner, Misterio Jr. hit a springboard dropkick. Misterio Jr. then followed with a springboard plancha all the way to the floor which was about four feet lower than usual. Dragon also did a plancha although his was a far more safer as he landed on the platform. 

After Dragon scored a serious of near falls, Misterio Jr. tried a Frankensteiner off the top, missed, then ran up to the second rope and did it again and scored the pin. ***3/4 

They had a rematch the next night on Nitro with Rey also winning that 

A few days later on August 15th, a Clash of the Champions was held, live on TBS

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Dean Malenko to retain the cruiserweight title in 12:07. Malenko replaced Psicosis who is still out of action with a dislocated elbow. This wasn't as good as some of their previous matches but easily the class match of the show. Misterio Jr. did all kinds of flying spots early including a baseball slide into a spinning head scissors on the floor and a quebrada inside the ring. Malenko did a gut wrench into a hot shot like move and a brainbuster. After a commercial break they came back and the two did an incredible series of reversals. Misterio Jr. did a running flip plancha over the top and a moonsault block off the guard rail which was a little sloppy. 

He got near falls with a springboard dropkick and a springboard huracanrana. When Misterio Jr. went to the top, Malenko climbed up and gave him a stomach block or gut buster while standing on the middle rope and got the pin, but Misterio Jr.'s leg was under the ropes. Referee Randy Anderson re-started the match and Misterio Jr. hit a rana immediately for the pin. ***3/4 

On August 17th, for AAA in Mexico, Konnan & Misterio Jr. won the IWAS tag titles beating Guerrera & Jerry Estrada when Misterio Jr. did a moonsault block off the top onto Guerrera, who was being held up on Konnan's shoulders, for the pin. 

Meltzer reported after the match, Guerrera was complaining about losing both his welterweight title (in Japan on 7/20 to Misterio Jr.) and his tag team title and it ended up with Konnan and Antonio Pena talking to Guerrera saying that they thought he was going to join his father in PROMELL. 

Was there any problems between them in WCW at this time? As Juvi also lost to Rey in WCW

They actually wrestled as a team on house shows in WCW at this same time against Konnan and Super Calo

That takes us to the Fall Brawl pay per view

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Super Calo in 15:47 to retain the WCW cruiserweight title. Even though Calo put on an incredible performance, since nobody knew who he was, they didn't react to anything except an occasional big for a big move. So the match was dead early since the early part was designed to give Calo credibility and offense. He did some incredible moves including a dropkick off the top rope to the floor, a plancha into a rolling head-butt on the floor (Super Astro spot) and an incredible head scissors into a cradle coming off the top rope. 

Then Misterio Jr. came alive with a full flip bodyblock, which seemed to do a number on his elbow. He did a springboard into the ring but was met with a perfectly timed Calo dropkick. He did a springboard into a Frankensteiner on the floor, and another springboard somersault splash. The match ended with one of the best finishing moves ever, Misterio Jr. back flipping off the top rope into the other ring, then springboarding off the top rope in one ring onto the top rope in the other ring into a picture perfect huracanrana for the pin. **** 

Speaking of Rey and Juventud, Rey beat him again the next ngiht on Nitro

In October, Rey and several other wrestlers left AAA. It was a big story there at the time and covered in newspapers and by the Mexican AP

Meltzer reported - It all came to a head when Pena took the Tijuana promotion away from Konnan, and then tried to patch Rey Misterio up with AAA and came up with an angle for Misterio to debut saving his nephew on the 10/18 show (which never transpired because of bad blood between Damian and Misterio stemming from Misterio going to the local newspapers and giving away the result of the Psicosis vs. Ultraman mask match and saying how Ultraman/Damian was paid off to throw the match which wound up with his wife and kids taking major heat all over town). 

Do you recall hearing about this at the time?

Rey was still the WWA Welterweight champion in Mexico at this time. You guys would mention that Konan was the mexican heavyweight champion during his matches in WCW at this time but you never mentioned Rey's WWA Welterweight title reign, why not?

That takes us to the Halloween Havoc pay per view on October 17th and another match between Rey and Dean Malenko.

Malenko pinned Misterio Jr. in 18:32 to capture the cruiserweight title. This was easily the show stealer. Misterio Jr. did a running tope over the top rope with a flip, and then grabbed the mask that Malenko had stolen and changed masks in the ring. Malenko worked on Misterio's legs for the body of the match, including using a quebradora (spinning backbreaker) and a Northern Lights suplex with a hammerlock combination. Both were on the top rope exchanging blows and both took a bump to the floor. Misterio Jr. used a springboard somersault bodyblock and got a near fall with an Oklahoma side roll. Misterio Jr. used a twisting bodyblock quebrada (springboarding off the middle rope outside the ring) outside the ring, followed it up with a picture perfect Frankensteiner in the ring for a near fall. As Misterio Jr. went for his springboard huracanrana, Malenko dropped him into a power bomb for a great near fall. After some more near falls, Malenko got the pin using a doctor bomb off the middle ropes. ****1/4 

Why did you decide to put the title back on Dean, esp with all the new talent from Mexico that you'd brought in?

That takes us to the World War 3 pay per view on November 24th.

Ultimo Dragon pinned Rey Misterio Jr. in 13:48 to retain the J Crown, which is the IWGP junior heavyweight title; the NWA junior heavyweight and welterweight titles; the UWA light heavyweight title; the WAR International junior heavyweight title; the WWF light heavyweight title; the Great Britain junior heavyweight title and WWA junior light heavyweight titles. None of the belts have been mentioned by name in the U.S., simply that Dragon has eight belts that he won in Japan. This was move after move with nearly flawless execution, particularly by Dragon. It was pretty clear Dragon called the match since it was done in his style and he dominated most of the way using one move after another to gain near falls. Among the moves he used were a springboard dropkick, a german suplex, a torture rack followed by a quick drop, a power bomb, a power bomb into a hot shot (or stun gun), a giant swing, a fisherman buster, a brainbuster, a tombstone piledriver, a tombstone piledriver on the floor, a plancha into a full body splash on the floor, a rana on the top rope reversed into a huracanrana climaxing with a running Liger bomb, all of which Misterio Jr. kicked out of.

Misterio Jr. came back with a double springboard into an Arabian moonsault, a springboard dropkick to the back, a tope con hilo (Silver King dive), a springboard sunset flip and a handspring into a rana turned into a huracanrana. The finishing sequence saw Dragon use a dragon suplex for a near fall, Misterio Jr. come back with a Toyota roll for a near fall, and then when Misterio Jr. went for his springboard huracanrana, Dragon caught him in mid-air, and slingshotted him off the top rope and dropped him into a power bomb for the pin. ****1/2 

Who decided who won this match? You guys or NJPW?

Next night on Nitro, Rey beat Psicosis

Meltzer reported in December - Rey Misterio Jr., Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera have all signed contracts with WCW while Super Calo, La Parka, Villano IV, Halloween and Damian have all signed letter of intent to sign. Eric Bischoff made a big play to get everyone signed immediately once he realized WWF and AAA were in bed together, since most of the aforementioned wrestlers (all but Halloween and Damian) had contracts with AAA. 

On December 13th for WAR, Ultimo Dragon again beat Rey to retain the J-Crown. This was Rey's first loss in Japan

That took us to Starrcade, it took place on December 29th

Jushin Liger pinned Rey Misterio Jr.  in 14:16 of the first ever meeting between the top high flier in wrestling of the late 80s against the top high flier of the mid-90s. Both Tony Schiavone and Mike Tenay did a great job of not only getting the historical aspect of this meeting over, but to tell the story of Liger's role in the evolution of flying wrestling and his recent brain tumor, treating him as something more than the stereotypical foreign heel role. The size difference between the two was amazing, particularly considering Liger by reputation is a tiny wrestler, although he looked to weigh at least 220. Misterio Jr. needs to work with men close to his own size or the visual credibility aspect takes the match down a peg. Both worked hard and what they did was excellent, but there was something missing with Liger being mainly a mat wrestler these days due to injuries (and one of the best in the world at it) and Misterio Jr. mainly being a flier. It was acknowledged this was their first meeting except for working about 30 seconds in an eight-man tag match over the summer. 

Liger dominated with power moves including Chris Benoit style power bombs. Misterio Jr. is the best wrestler I've ever seen for the ability to actually have missed a move and be so agile as to recover in the middle of a miss and turn it into a hit. Liger suplexed Misterio Jr. over the top to the floor and hit a killer power bomb on the floor. He used the Romero special in the ring. Misterio Jr. came back with a great german suplex and a springboard dropkick. He tried a second springboard move but Liger caught him in a perfectly timed dropkick. Liger used a released german suplex and followed with a dragon screw (and boy did the announcing go to Hell when Tenay called that move). Liger used a somersault koppo kick. Misterio Jr. finally did an Asai moonsault, but off the top rope rather than the middle rope, and a springboard legdrop. After a series of near falls, Misterio Jr. went for a springboard into a Frankensteiner off the top, but Liger landed on his feet and hit another koppo kick and a Liger bomb for the pin. ***3/4 

This was a dream match. Talk about how this match came to be

The next night on Nitro, Rey and Malenko went to a 10 minute draw

On January 8th in a match against Chavo Guerrero, Rey blew out his knee. A few weeks later, Meltzer reported

Update on Rey Misterio Jr. He went back to the doctor this past week after resting his knee and the doctor told him he needs major surgery which would keep him out four to six months. He's instead back working wearing a heavy knee brace because he's 22 and that's how 22-year-olds think. It's too bad because in the past a wrestler may have had no choice, but he's working for a company that would have paid for the surgery and paid him his contract amount while he was out, unlike prior generations where for economic reasons wrestlers wouldn't have been able to sit out that kind of time. Anyway, the long-term inevitability is now starting. 

However, Rey kept working during this time

That takes us to the Superbrawl pay per view

Rocky Iaukea retained the WCW TV title pinning Rey Misterio Jr in 8:56. The Iaukea gimmick of having the jobber pull the miracle upset and win the title, which traditionally works great, fell flat here. Nobody cared about Iaukea and this was in a building where Island wrestlers have traditionally gotten over regardless of ability. Misterio Jr. got a big pop but the fans saw this as nothing but an extended length television squash match and didn't react. It was actually really good even with Misterio Jr.'s back and knee problems. Iaukea did a great plancha off the top to the floor. Misterio Jr. did his usual assortment of great moves, highlighted by a running forward roll tope into a senton on the floor. He also did a double springboard into a moonsault block.

Finish saw Steve Regal come out and pull Misterio Jr. off the apron smashing his face on the mat. Iaukea didn't see it and scored the pin. Bad finish (and that wasn't how it was supposed to go down either) to an otherwise really good match. After the match Iaukea tried to give Misterio Jr. the belt realizing he hadn't won the match cleanly, but Misterio Jr. gave the belt back. ***1/4 

Who booked this

On February 21st in Tijuana, El Hijo del Santo beat Rey for the WWA Welterweight title

That takes us to the Uncensored pay per view. It took place on March 23rd, 1997

Prince Iaukea retained the WCW TV title pinning Rey Misterio Jr.. By this point in the show, the crowd was waiting for the main event so they had no patience for these guys. Not to make excuses because, as mentioned previously, the Iaukea underdog gimmick is totally dead and nobody cares, and they seem to have come close to succeeding in killing Misterio Jr. by having him do too many jobs for a gimmick performer and ruining his illusion by putting him in too often with the heavyweights. 

There was nothing wrong with the match as far as work. They didn't tell a story, mainly did spots that didn't miss and lots of high-flying moves, but the crowd at this point wouldn't have accepted a slow-builder anyway. Mike Tenay announced ahead of time that there was a 15:00 time limit, which pretty much gave away where they were going. Misterio Jr. did a running flip tope. Prince did a slingshot power bomb and a springboard plancha, but it didn't matter what they did. Prince tried a crossbody off the guard rail but Misterio Jr. moved and he crashed on the floor. As they were going back-and-forth for near falls, the crowd began chanting "boring" and in a sense the intensity fell apart although it wasn't as if they were missing spots or physically the match fell apart. 

At the 11:57 mark, the bell rang, signifying a 15:00 draw. Misterio Jr. asked for more time and Iaukea agreed. There was some cheering and some booing when they announced the re-start. After a few quick spots, the boring chants came back. Misterio Jr. went for his springboard huracanrana, but Iaukea reversed it into a cradle pin at 1:44. The finish made Misterio Jr. look real bad in that he cried for more time and still couldn't beat a guy that everyone still considers a jobber. *1/2 

Weren't you worried how bad losing to this guy twice was going to make Rey look?

The next night on Nitro, Rey pinned Psicosis

Meltzer reported in April - The National Enquirer did run the piece this week regarding Misterio Jr. and Jennifer Anniston, but there's absolutely nothing to that one. It was just an attempt, which succeeded, to get Misterio Jr. some pub since WCW wants to push him big-time. If that's the idea, one would think they'd figure out how to book him effectively like not use him against guys who expose his lack of size or have him lose on five straight PPVs. 

That takes us to the Spring Stampede ppv on April 6th

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Ultimo Dragon in 14:55. An excellent match, better than their Hogg Wild PPV match but not as good as their World War III match. Sonny Onno wasn't at ringside for this match. They toned down the high-flying greatly but showed that they're good enough with the matwork now that they can do that and still have a great match. Dragon pretty much carried the early portion with his kicks and unique maneuvers, including a sequence of a power bomb, immediate lift into what appeared to be a second power bomb but instead dropped Misterio Jr. backwards on the ropes like a hot shot. Dragon had Misterio Jr. beat after a running Liger bomb and a tombstone piledriver, but lifted him up before the count. Dragon continued with a face first suplex, a deathlock chinlock combination, La Tapatia (Romero special upside down surfboard) and more kicks. Misterio Jr.'s first big move was a Silver King tope con hilo, followed with a springboard somersault block and a springboard legdrop. 

As Misterio Jr. was on the top rope, Dragon dropkicked him, and as Misterio Jr. took the bump over, he hit his head on the post. Dragon used a Pescado dive. Misterio Jr. went for a quebrada in the ring but Dragon hit him with a dropkick. Dragon used a seven rep Giant swing and then the two traded great near falls quickly. Dragon used his rana into a huracanrana off the top rope finisher, but Misterio Jr. got his foot on the ropes. As Dragon tried both a Tiger suplex and a dragon suplex, Misterio Jr. put on the breaks, and after a series of reversals, Misterio Jr. got the pin with a new version of a springboard huracanrana. Several levels above anything else on the card. ****1/4 

Rey Misterio Jr.'s wife gave birth to the couple's first child at 6:30 p.m. on 4/5, an eight pound, nine ounce baby boy named Dominic. It was a big joke in the locker room because Rey's boy was bigger than Kevin Nash's boy. 

On May 16th for the first time in many years, Rey teamed with Rey Mysterio, Sr in Tijuana. They took on El Hijo del Santo & Misterioso. The Reys lost by DQ

That takes us to the Slamboree pay per view, on May 18th

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Yuji Yasuraoka in 14:58 with a springboard huracanrana. Misterio Jr. did a great job carrying a fairly green wrestler from the WAR promotion here to a good match. They worked Japanese style so the fans didn't understand a lot of the matwork and submissions. While Mike Tenay did a great job of getting the strategy of Yasuraoka working on Misterio's arm over and tried to explain the style, Tony Schiavone nearly killed them dead in their tracks by saying that Misterio Jr. would never submit. 

For one, when an announcer tells the fans that a wrestler will never submit, it turns every wrestling hold inherently into a resthold and creates an environment where wrestlers without main event personas can only do high spots to get the crowd interested. Even dumber is that Misterio Jr. submitted twice in recent weeks to basically shoulderlocks (Syxx' buzzkiller) on Nitro. Misterio Jr. teased he was going to do a big dive but ref Mark Curtis got in the way. Then he did a running flip dive over Curtis onto Yasuraoka which was tremendous. 

He did a springboard but was caught by a low kick by Yasuraoka, who then punished him with a wakigatamae (Fujiwara armbar). When Mike Tenay mentioned that Yasuraoka was the tag team partner of Lance Storm in Japan, Bobby Heenan displaying his knowledge of the current wrestling scene saying that sounded like a weatherman from Omaha. Yasuraoka continued to work the arm with an armbreaker and did a rope climb into a double sledge off the top rope to the floor. Misterio Jr. came back with a split-legged moonsault for a near fall and a power bomb. He missed a splash off the top and Yasuraoka used his double arm DDT finisher for a near fall. He tried it a second time, but Misterio Jr. reversed it into a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. The two blew a reverse whip spot before Misterio Jr. caught Yasuraoka coming off the ropes with a dropkick and used his springboard huracanrana finisher. ***1/4 

On the June 16th Nitro, Syxx kept the cruiserweight title by beating Rey. After the match, Nash powerbombed Rey

On the June 30th Nitro -Nash beat Misterio in 1:48 and kept power bombing him until Konnan came out. Konnan then ripped up Misterio  knee which will explain him being out of action for two months. Misterio  went out on a stretcher

Not long before this, Rey's doctor told him to take 2 months off to rest his knee, so he could avoid surgery. Is that why this was done?

On the July 22nd Nitro,  Misterio came out on crutches and Konnan came out and kicked away both crutches. As Konnan went after him, Parka, Psicosis and both Villanos backed him up. Earlier in the show they set the stage for this by saying how Konnan got all the Mexicans into WCW

On the August 4th Nitro, Meltzer reported -  Konnan beat Psicosis in 1:48 with the Tequila Sunrise. Misterio Jr. came out limping. Konnan kicked the crutch away and threatened him again. Misterio Jr. then used his other crutch to KO Konnan and danced around showing his knee was fine. In actuality, his knee isn't fine and there is some heat about him having to come back as soon as this week as the company promised him two months off and cut it to five weeks, plus because of Nitros and a Mexico City trip 

That takes us to the Road Wild pay per view

Konnan pinned Rey Misterio Jr. in 10:56. Originally this was to be a long match, but Misterio Jr. explained that his knee wasn't up to it so it was cut way back. From the standpoint of working a cohesive storyline and most missing moves while telling it, this was the best match on the show. It was mainly Misterio Jr. doing a few basic flying moves which Konnan sold, then selling his knee. This was actually the type of match Konnan works best in, because it was mainly him using submissions and he's got a wide arsenal of unique ones. Konnan tore up Misterio Jr's mask. 

Misterio Jr. came back a few times but always ended up "hurting" his knee. The most spectacular move was a double springboard into an Arabian moonsault, but Misterio Jr. sold the knee upon landing. Finally he made yet another comeback, and tried to climb the ropes while selling the knee. When he came off, Konnan caught him in mid-air with the 187 DDT and used a move called the Tequila Sunrise, but actually it was closer to a cloverleaf for the tap out. *** 

Meltzer reported in September - the Tijuana commission attempted to suspend Rey Misterio Jr. for six months for no-showing on the 8/29 show. Misterio Jr. went to the commission and explained he was injured and had never agreed to do the show and was still advertised. What ended up happening was on the 9/5 show, headlined by Santo vs. Felino that drew 2,100 fans, that he went before the crowd and explained the situation and would make up the date wrestling in Tijuana shortly 

On the September 22nd Nitro, Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Silver King with the springboard huracanrana in 3:25 in a very good short match. After the match Misterio Jr. did a running somersault dive onto Eddie Guerrero at ringside, which would start their feud 

The next week on Nitro, Rey beat El Caliente, who was Eddie Guerrero under the mask, in 5:26 with a double springboard huracanrana in another good match. The fans chanted "Eddie sux" and when the fans picked up on who it was, the announcers acknowledged it as well. Rey unmasked him afterwards 

On the October 13th Nitro, Dean Malenko beat Rey in 4:51 with the cloverleaf after Guerrero pulled off Misterio Jr.'s mask and he submitted rather than have his face exposed 

Meltzer reported - Rey Misterio Jr. is said to be very unhappy about losing his mask at Havoc. Although that is the plan the last we've heard, it may be something that could change as late as the last minute. Misterio Jr. signed an agent to negotiate with WCW for him who asked for his current contract (I've heard it as being both $200,000 and $240,000 depending on the source) to be upped to $350,000. 

That takes us to Halloween Havoc. It took place on October 26th

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Eddie Guerrero in 13:51 to retain his mask and win the WCW cruiserweight title. Not sure exactly what went down in the closing minutes to get the finish changed. Misterio Jr. was adamant and vocal about not losing his mask for the very reasons that were brought up in the video piece that was actually put together with the express idea of building up to his losing his mask. At one point a few days before the match, Eric Bischoff personally called Misterio Jr. up and told him that if he didn't lose the match that it would considered a contract breach and he'd be both fired and even threatened him with a lawsuit, and you can imagine considering how popular Misterio Jr. is with nearly everyone in the company, how that went over. 

No doubt both sides agreed to a compromise at the end. Based on sketchy details from a variety of sources, Guerrero was still going over one hour before the show went on the air, but over the next half hour to 45 minutes, Misterio Jr. and Bischoff met, probably with Misterio Jr.'s agent Michael Scott as well, and they apparently came up with a face saving compromise.

 Apparently Misterio Jr. agreed to lose the match but at that point Bischoff agreed to change the finish. In the days preceding the event, there was a lot of speculation that Bischoff would change the finish provided Misterio Jr. agree to lose the mask at some point in the near future, but I'm not sure if that's what ended up being agreed to in the meeting. This was as good as modern pro wrestling can get with innovative moves, flawless execution and incredible psychology, drama and very good announcing all wrapped up into one package. 

The only thing that would keep me from listing this as the match of the year is that it wasn't long enough to be ranked ahead of some of the best 20+ minute matches. Guerrero rammed Misterio Jr.'s head into the steps. Misterio Jr. tried a handspring into his rana into a huracanrana stop, but Guerrero reversed the spot in the middle into a back suplex. Guerrero used a great spinning backbreaker (quebradora in Lucha terms) and followed with the old 70s Billy Robinson style backbreaker. In one for the all-time highlight reel, Misterio Jr. was balancing on the top rope and turned the move into a twisting DDT. 

Guerrero used a camel clutch (which was the move invented by his father, the original El Santo's former most famous tag team partner in the 40s and later his biggest rival, used to this day as the big finisher by both El Santo and currently his son) while ripping at Misterio Jr.'s mask. He also used his father's later submission maneuver, the Gori especial but Misterio Jr. escaped with an arm drag. Guerrero hung him upside down in the corner and hit a dropkick. On the second charge, Misterio Jr. moved and Guerrero crotched himself on the post. Misterio Jr. hit a plancha over the post and scored a great near fall with a huracanrana. Misterio Jr. then did a running flip dive onto Guerrero, ending the move with a huracanrana on the floor all in one move. 

Not only does this move take off the charts dexterity and guts to perform, but incredible neck strength by Guerrero to be a base while Misterio Jr. reverses directions in the middle of the move. Misterio Jr. tried a split legged moonsault but Guerrero got his knees up. Guerrero used an incredible power bomb for a near fall. Guerrero missed his frog splash. Misterio Jr. went for his springboard huracanrana finisher but Guerrero caught him with a backbreaker. Finish saw Guerrero go for the Die hard (splash mountain) off the top rope, but Misterio Jr. turn it into the huracanrana for the pin. ****3/4 

This has become a legendary match. What did you think of it at the time?

What led to the planned finish being changed and Rey keeping his mask and winning the title?

Why did you want to unmask him

Meltzer reported - All of the Mexican wrestlers signed two-year contracts this week, and were all drug tested (given the nature and climate of the industry this week you can probably read into that) with the exception of Misterio Jr., who is still negotiating a new price. Not sure exactly what the deal is regarding them working in Mexico. They are all definitely not allowed to work indie dates in the U.S. It appears WCW doesn't want Konnan or Misterio Jr. to work Mexico at all, but that may not be finalized and they may be interested in working maybe two television tapings per month just to keep their names on top in the market. My belief is the others are all able to continue working in Mexico provided WCW gets first priority on the dates and that WCW gets a commission on their Mexican bookings. 

On the November 10th Nitro, Rey lost the title back to Eddie

On the November 17th Nitro, Rey pinned Chris Jericho in 6:31 with an incredible finish. Rey jumped onto the top rope and springboard reversing his position into the huracanrana. 

You see things like that often now, but not at that time in 1997

That takes us to the World War 3 ppv

Eddie Guerrero retained the WCW cruiserweight title pinning Rey Misterio Jr.  in 12:42. The first big spot was Guerrero hitting a wheelbarrow german suplex dropping Misterio Jr. on his head. Mike Tenay brought up and there was a poster in the crowd about this being the three-year anniversary of the death of Guerrero's former tag team partner Art Barr. 

At one point the two created a very intricate set of spots ending with Guerrero superplexing Misterio Jr. off the top rope. Guerrero went for a frog splash, Misterio Jr. moved and Guerrero rolled with the fall landing on his feet and Misterio Jr. leaped up with a huracanrana for a near fall. Misterio Jr. used Guerrero as a base for all kinds of great spinning head scissors maneuvers. At another point Guerrero tried the sunset flip power bomb over the top rope off the apron onto the floor, but Misterio Jr. turned it into a huracanrana on the floor which was a dangerous spot since Guerrero nearly hit his head on the floor rolling over.

Misterio Jr. then did a running twisting mid-air dive over the top. He got a near fall with a springboard moonsault. Misterio Jr. tried another huracanrana but it was dropped into a power bomb. Guerrero got a near fall with a pin coming off a Gori especial, then used another Gori especial and Misterio Jr. turned it into his own near fall with a Toyota roll. The match got sluggish for a few seconds around 11:00 when Misterio Jr. missed a move and both hesitated noticeably. Misterio Jr. came back with a springboard leg drop for a near fall and got a great near fall after an incredible springboard somersault huracanrana. The finish saw Guerrero do a modified stun gun type maneuver and get the pin after a frog splash. **** 

On December 19th for AAA in Tijana, Rey beat Misterioso in a mask vs mask match in 25:39

On the January 15th, 1998 Thunder, Rey. pinned  Juventud Guerrera to win the cruiserweight title in 9:47 when Guerrera went for the 450 splash, but  Rey. moved, Guerrera landed on his feet, but Rey then hit the huracanrana. 

That takes us to the Souled Out ppv on January 24th

Chris Jericho won the WCW cruiserweight title from Rey Misterio Jr.min 8:22. Since this was Misterio Jr.'s final match before knee surgery, they had to do the storyline working the knee, which kept Misterio Jr.'s high flying to a minimum. Still, this was the third very good match in a row. As with every Misterio Jr. match, you get an inventive new spot. In this one, Jericho was on the apron and Misterio Jr. went for a huracanrana, 

Jericho blocked it and dropped him backwards on the top rope like a hot shot. Jericho also used a double arm suplex dropped into a backbreaker on the floor. Jericho leaped off the steps to clock Misterio Jr. on the floor. Misterio Jr. then hit one hot dangerous spot, a springboard somersault splash to the floor, ending with his selling his bad left knee even more. As he went for his springboard huracanrana, Jericho knocked the ropes causing Misterio Jr. to fall off again "injuring" his bad knee. 

For the finish, Misterio Jr. went for a springboard Frankensteiner off the top rope, but Jericho blocked it in mid-move and ended up with the boston crab, or Lion tamer, for the finish. After the match, Jericho destroyed Misterio Jr.'s knee taking his brace off and hitting him with the brace, and then putting it next to the ring steps and smashing the knee with a heavy television box. Misterio Jr. was carried out of the ring. This match was a storyline since Misterio Jr. was scheduled for reconstructive surgery on his left knee on 1/28 in Atlanta. 

He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus on 1/6 in Rome, GA and aggravated it worse warming up for Nitro on 1/12 in Jacksonville, but still had the great match winning the title on 1/15 in Lakeland with Juventud Guerrera. For a normal person would mean he'll be out of action six to eight months (which means maybe four months in this case, six months if he's smart). ***1/4 

How did Rey feel about having to get the surgery

On the January 22nd Thunder from Huntsville, Rey beat Eddie Guerrero in 3:19 via DQ when Jericho attacked Rey. Guerrero was mad because Jericho cost him the title match, but joined in with Jericho in beating up Rey

Rey ended up getting surgery on January 28th, in Atlanta

Rey made his return at the Bash at the Beach ppv on July 12th, 1998

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Chris Jericho in 6:00 to win the WCW cruiserweight title. The pre-match antics with Jericho and Jo Jo Dillon were hilarious. Dillon basically said that since Jericho was there and it was a PPV that they had a local guy who wanted a title shot and Jericho said that you've got some independent jibroni for me. Dillon said that he hadn't even wrestled in about six months. Jericho then said to bring the jobber on out. Then Misterio Jr's music played. Actually this scenario got a pretty big pop, partially because they announced Misterio Jr. as being from San Diego and he got probably a better reaction than expected. 

The match was real good due to Jericho, but it didn't have enough time and Misterio Jr. didn't do anything to dispel any question marks about his return. He was noticeably larger, which unfortunately in his case serves no purpose. No matter how big he gets, he's still going to be small. The only thing he can do is be great, because at his size being good isn't enough. A bigger guy can sacrifice some agility for size but any agility Misterio Jr. is sacrificing for any reason is a mistake. I worry that he's trying to wrestle by other people's standards when by those standards set for other people he could never be in the business in the first place.

The only standards he can make it on are the ones he invented by being out of this world as a performer. Jericho mainly worked over Misterio Jr's bad knee. As a storyline, they really didn't play up much the idea it was Jericho who injured him in the first place or played it up as a grudge match, I guess not to interfere with the higher priority Malenko grudge match storyline. The highlight was when they brawled near a stage set up to look like a beach and Misterio Jr. leaped off the lifeguard stand with a huracanrana into a sandbox, and he was lucky it was sand because he didn't get all the way over on the move. 

Jericho did a powerslam while both were standing on the top rope. Jericho did some hard chair shots to the knee, but Misterio Jr. came back with chair shots and a dropkick to the knee. At one point Jericho nearly got the Lion tamer but Misterio Jr. made the ropes. Dean Malenko then showed up. At this point Jericho went into the Lion Tamer again, but Misterio Jr. reversed it into a cradle for the pin. Jericho then tried to run away with Malenko chasing him, but as he went through the curtain, Arn Anderson blocked the way, allowing Malenko to catch him and beat him up backstage. On television the next night the title was given back to Jericho with the claim that since a suspended wrestler (Malenko) was at the arena and may have in some form contributed to the win, that the result of the match becomes null and void. At least it makes logical sense, which is more than 95% of the WCW angles do, although if you really want to make sense, then any title change due to outside interference (like, everyone of them in every promotion in the U.S. should also be null and void if you try and take that rule to its logical conclusion) **3/4 

The next night on Nitro, J.J. Dillon, Chris Jericho, Rey and Dean Malenko came out for the conference which led to Jericho getting the cruiserweight title back and Misterio Jr. and Malenko agreeing to wrestle later in the show for the No. 1 contendership. 

Later in the night, Rey pinned Dean after Jericho hit Dean with the cruiserweight belt

On the July 17th Thunder, Rey & Juventud went to a NC when Bret Hart came out and attacked both and put Rey in a figure four on the ringpost

Bret has said he was a  fan of Rey's. Was there ever talk of putting them in an angle together?

Meltzer reported in November of 98 - A deal was struck over the weekend in Las Vegas between Paco Alonso, the head of EMLL (or CMLL as it's now largely referred to) and Eric Bischoff and Sonny Onoo. We're not sure of all the details but from what we understand, there will be a WCW vs. EMLL feud at Arena Mexico, likely with Onoo as the lead heel manager for the WCW team of Mexicans led by Konnan and La Parka, which would mean that Parka, Psicosis and Rey Misterio Jr., none of whom have ever worked Arena Mexico, will likely appear there which should pop business huge. Part of the deal as well is that WCW is paying Alonso to oversee its talent in Mexico. There has been a controversy of sorts ever since WCW began using the Mexican talent of WCW not wanting them to work in Mexico. Originally WCW owned their rights in the U.S., and would get hot when they'd work for Mexican or indie promoters in California. Since then WCW's contracts with the guys, which range from about $80,000 to $180,000 (Konnan and Misterio Jr. are earning significantly more) give them all world wide rights. However, many of the wrestlers have continued to work Mexico. Because there are so many shows in so many places in Mexico, it's a total impossibility to monitor whether the guys are violating their contracts unless they work the publicized shows in Mexico City or Monterrey or in a border city like Tijuana (and there are numerous small shows in Tijuana that never get publicized). Alonso is in charge of monitoring the situation but even for him, there are so many small shows around the country and the communications system is nothing like the U.S. and it's an impossibility 

The LWO was formed around this time, led by Eddie Guerrero. Talk about how that came to be and they started to recruit Rey on TV with him denying them

Meltzer wrote - Misterio Jr. vs. Guerrera was supposed to take place on Nitro on 11/2 with Misterio Jr. winning to set up getting his shot at Kidman's title on the PPV. The match didn't take place because Guerrera was warming up by jumping up and down and in jumping, cracked the top of his head open against a pipe and couldn't work.  

On the November 19th Nitro, Eddie Guerrero beat Rey in 4:55 after Juvi screwed up trying to get at Eddie and instead legdropped Rey, causing Eddie to pin him. Because he lost, Rey had to join the LWO. 

On the November 23rd Nitro, Kidman did an interview and called out Rey and offered him a title shot later in the show. Eddie Guerrero then came out and told Rey that he was under a binding contract to stay in the LWO. 

Later in the show, Kidman beat Reyin a title match in 9:46 with the shooting star press when Eddie Guerrero and Juventud Guerrera did a run-in giving Rey the Juvi driver.

Meltzer reported in December - Bischoff is making these next few weeks crunch time. The basic threat is that if wrestlers don't re-sign now, they will no longer be pushed on television. Jericho's dropping of the TV title to Konnan and not getting interview time despite being generally considered the most talented interview in the company over the past few months, and Guerrero's loss to Billy Kidman on the 11/30 Nitro shows were both directly resultant from neither having signed the new deals presented to them over the past few weeks. 

There were complaints of a double standard since WCW didn't do the same thing to Scott Steiner, who had also had talks with Titan, until he waited until less than two weeks before his contract expired before re-signing, although Steiner's intimidating presence backstage makes burying him almost feel like something potentially hazardous. Misterio Jr. was basically given an ultimatum that if he doesn't sign his new deal (while his new contract would be a substantial raise over his current figure in the low $200,000 per year range, it is much lower than what the others have been offered, partially due to the belief he has less leverage of going to WWF and being offered either any kind of comparable money or a real chance at stardom which could potentially bring him comparable money than the others) imminently, the deal with the sizeable raise would be pulled off the table. For all the reasons listed, he appears to be the least likely of the names to leave. 

On the December 3rd Thunder – Rey beat Guerrera in a match to determine who got the cruiserweight title shot when the LWO interfered and Kidman made the save. During the post-match brawl, a huge fan got past security and was about to blindside Guerrero but he tripped over the ropes. Guerrero kicked him in the face as hard as he could, leaving a footprint on his head and the rest of the Mexicans swarmed him and he was taken away. 

That takes us to Starrcade. It took place on December 27th, 1998

Billy Kidman retained the WCW cruiserweight title beating Rey Misterio Jr.  and Juventud Guerrera in 14:55. About as good a match as would be possible in triangle form. The match started with Misterio Jr. and Kidman working together, but that didn't last long as they started going at it. The two clearly had designed a match with one innovative spot after another, and there were very few spots of hesitation. The match was hampered only by the stupid rules, which basically require a save on near falls which in some cases look stupid, such as when Kidman did a move where he dropped Rey onto Guerrera for a near fall, then had to break up the pin himself, and the finish which took it down from a match of the year. 

There was a spot where Guerrera did a springboard Frankensteiner onto Misterio Jr. who was on Kidman's shoulders. Because of weight and balance, I've seen the best workers in the business screw up that spot and these guys nailed it. Misterio Jr. did a plancha on Kidman after Guerrera flipped him out of the ring, and Guerrera followed with a springboard plancha on both. Misterio Jr. did a Frankensteiner from the apron over the top on Guerrera sending both men to the floor. Misterio Jr. also did this picture perfect Asai-moonsault off the top rope on both men. He came back in and did a springboard spinning head scissors. Guerrera did a Juvi driver on Misterio Jr. but Kidman saved. 

After both opponents took a bump to the floor, Kidman used a shooting star press from the top rope to the floor on both men. If both hadn't have stepped forward to catch him, he'd have landed on his head on the floor and he'd probably still be there now. It was an incredible stunt to try considering Kidman came into the match all banged up. At this point Eddie Guerrero came out. He distracted the ref and when Kidman had Guerrera pinned, he clotheslined him putting Guerrera on top. Misterio Jr. ran in and dropkicked Guerrera which put Kidman on top of the pile for the pin. ****1/2 

The next night on Nitro, Eddie & Juventud beat Rey & Kidman in 16:22 when Rey and Kidman crashed into each other and Kidman took a big bump to the floor.  Eddie frog splashed Kidman for the win.

On the January 11th, 1999 Nitro, Show opened with a Flair interview. He put J.J. Dillon back in power. He said Hogan would defend the title at SuperBrawl. He called out the LWO and put them over as the most talented wrestlers in the company and asked them to join WCW and give him their shirts. They all did except Rey, who walked out.

Later in the show, Rey NC Kaz Hayashi. They did a spectacular 1:53 when Luger came out and attacked Hayashi. He told Rey. to take the shirt off. When he refused, Luger attacked him. Rey actually got a comeback and the place went nuts for it, but Luger cut him off and beat him up. Konnan ran in for the save and the whole Wolfpac came out.  They all turned on him, complete with Hall shooting him up with a taser. 

That takes us to the Souled Out ppv on January 17th

Billy Kidman won the four corners match over Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis and Rey Misterio Jr. in 14:24. As usual, these guys were the show stealers. Poor Tony Schiavone announced early in the show that Kidman and Misterio Jr. had won the coin-flip and would start. Then, when Guerrera's music was second, he said that Guerrera must have won the coin flip and he and Kidman would start. Then Misterio Jr. started with Kidman. The fans started chanting "USA." Schiavone then explained, and I'm not making this up, how the rules of this match make no sense and there is no logic in every tagging out under these rules. 

Of course he's right, but that begs the next question, why book rules that make no sense? When Rey and Kidman wanted to tag out, Psicosis and Guerrera acted like they didn't want to get in the ring, when the whole logic was they should want to be in and nobody should ever tag because you're giving someone else the chance to win. So since nothing made sense, they just had a great match, although it was a shade down from the Starrcade match. Guerrera did a spinning headscissors on Kidman, who landed wrong on Guerrera's knee and he was limping a little. Psicosis flipped Misterio Jr. over the top and he crashed on Kidman. Psicosis and Guerrera argued about who would do an Asai moonsault on the floor, giving Kidman and Misterio Jr. time to give them stereo power bombs off the apron to the floor. Misterio Jr. & Psicosis did a springboard doomsday device double-team move on Guerrera. Misterio Jr. leaped over ref Charles Robinson's back with a running flip dive onto Kidman. It appeared Kidman banged his already injured shoulder on this spot. Guerrera did this crazy Air Juvi dive on everyone. Kidman and Misterio Jr. were laid out on the floor and Psicosis did this running dive over the top into a senton on the floor. After a bunch of reversals and near falls, Misterio Jr. did a springboard to the floor into a Frankensteiner on Psicosis while in the ring Kidman used the shooting star press on Guerrera. **** 

Nitro January 8 – Rey pinned Blitkrieg

That takes us to the SuperBrawl ppv on February 21st 1999

Kevin Nash & Scott Hall beat Rey Misterio Jr. & Konnan in 11:00. Hall replaced Lex Luger, who couldn't go because of the surgery to repair his torn left bicep, although he and Elizabeth were at ringside. Hall sold all of Misterio Jr.'s flying moves until catching him with a fallaway slam. He was thrown around like a dart until he made the hot tag. That hot tag didn't last long, as you could imagine. Misterio Jr. tagged in, while Luger tripped Konnan and threw him into the steps to take him out of the picture. Misterio Jr. hit a top rope quebrada on Nash and Nash was selling it like he was dead. Elizabeth distracted the ref, so Hall used the Outsiders edge on Misterio Jr. and put Nash on top for the pin. Misterio Jr. unmasked after the match. Crowd didn't react to the unmasking like it was any big deal, although Schiavone did try to play it up as if was history in the making. Misterio Jr. was a great one man show here. ***1/4 

Talk about how you convinced Rey this was right for him

Did other mexican wrestlers talk to you about how they felt about this?

Rey has said - I was strongly against it! I don't think WCW understood what the mask meant to me, to my fans and to my family. It was a very bad move on their behalf. The fans wanted Rey Mysterio with the mask and losing it hurt me a lot. It was also frustrating that it didn't come as the climax to a feud with another masked wrestler, but in a throwaway match. The same thing happened to Juventud and Psicosis and psychologically wise it was a bad move by Eric Bischoff. I think the fans understand that I was in a position where I had no option. I either had to lose my mask or lose my job 

Is that true?

Was Rey worried about how this might effect his career in Mexico?

The next night on Nitro, Rey pinned Kevin Nash in 2:40. Nash had him up for the power bomb and Rey punched him in the head a few times and landed on top for the pin. 

On February 25th in Tijuana, Rey lost a mask vs mask match to Psicosis. The finish saw Rey Sr hit Rey with a chair, leading to the Psicosis pin

On the March 1st Nitro, Rey beat Bam Bam Bigelow after a low blow and hurricanrana.

Rey was starting to do a giant killer gimmick here, which is the exact same thing Spike Dudley was doing in ECW. Ironically, the angle started for Spike after he beat Bam Bam in ECW

Coincidence?

To continue the Giant killer angle, the next week, Rey pinned Scott Norton after a low blow

That takes us to the Uncensored ppv

Kevin Nash pinned Rey Misterio Jr. in 6:19. This was originally listed as being the semifinal match on the card as late as the afternoon. I don't know why it was moved up so early in the show and it really doesn't matter although Misterio Jr. was pretty jazzed about being in the semi of a major PPV show. Nash threw Rey around and he took big bumps. The fans popped real big early for Misterio's comebacks, but the more offense he had, the more booing you could hear and the stronger the crowd switched to Nash. Just seeing the two standing there begged for a tale of the tape type size comparison, but nobody wants to do that for fear of making Misterio Jr. look ridiculous. 

Geez, if that's the case, why book him with these huge guys to begin with. Typical WCW to shoot an angle to exploit a point that they are then afraid to address. Anyway, Misterio Jr. did the low blow for a near fall spot, which I guess was to show that Nash was tougher than Scott Norton who got pinned with the same sequence. Lex Luger then tripped Misterio Jr., leading to Nash using a high kick and a jackknife power bomb for the pin. Not that the giant killer gimmick has been destroyed after one month which was the plan all along, I'm trying to figure out what the purpose of it was to begin with. *1/2 

The next night on Nitro, Rey beat Kidman for the Cruiserweight title

On the March 22nd Nitro, Rey challenged Ric Flair for the World title. This was Rey's first match with Ric and first shot at the WCW World title.

Rey won by DQ. Rey. had Flair pinned when Anderson pulled ref Charles Robinson out of the ring. Arn then told Robinson to raise Flair's hand, and he did. After the match Rey kicked Flair into the swimming pool as the show went off the air. 

On the March 28th Nitro, Rey & Billy Kidman won the tag titles from Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko in 12:25 when Raven & Saturn came out and Raven DDT'd Malenko and Rey pinned him. 

This made Rey a double champion, as he was also the Cruiserweight champion, which set up their match at Spring Stampede

That takes us to Spring Stampede. It took place on April 11th.

Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Billy Kidman in 15:32 to retain the WCW cruiserweight title. You know what the most amazing thing about these guys is? Kidman came out literally swimming in baby oil, and they did a match doing all that high tech stuff and they never slip and slide off. This match was disappointing for two reasons. The first was that the crowd wasn't into it. The second is beat Misterio Jr. nearly knocked himself out doing a spinning head scissors off the guard rail onto the floor when his head accidentally cracked into the ring steps at the 3:30 mark. 

He actually got up and did the rest of the match and the two didn't even miss any spots and did their high degree of difficulty moves, but Misterio Jr. sort of lost his fire because his head was ringing. The match consisted of one great well executed spot after another but the lack of heat and transitions hurt it. Kidman may have hurt his knee. They both did dives, with Misterio Jr. doing a Silver King tope con hilo. At the finish, Kidman used a Pedigree and went on top. Misterio Jr. got up and went up with him but Kidman did a sunset flip power bomb spot off the top for a near fall. Kidman went up again, but Misterio Jr. got up and shook and ropes and crotched him, then delivered the Frankensteiner off the top for the pin. *** 

On the April 12th Nitro, Rey vs. Juventud Guerrera had no ending in 5:43 of a very good match when Benoit & Malenko beat up both guys. Raven & Saturn ended up saving Rey, but Rey shoved Saturn and they beat him up as well. Kidman never came out to save him. Later in the show Rey asked Kidman why he didn't help him and Kidman said he had just arrived because WCW had him doing an autograph session but then Schiavone, not paying attention, said that Kidman was there and they didn't know why he didn't come out.

On the April 19th Nitro, Rey lost the cruiserweight title to Psicosis in a 4 way match that also included Juventud and Blitzkrieg

However, the next week on Nitro, Rey won it back from Psicosis

That takes us to the Slamboree ppv on May 9th

Raven& Perry Saturn won a three-way over Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman and Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit to win the WCW tag titles in 17:28. This was easily the best match on the show. There were a lot of real good moves and most of the interaction between the Kidman & Misterio Jr. team (which seemed to get all the big pops) and the Horseman team were excellent. Saturn seemed bothered by his bad back and did some good moves. Raven's timing was off a lot. The three-way also made the match unwieldy a lot, particularly since it went so long. 

Saturn at one point suplexed Kidman over the top to the floor. Malenko & Benoit did a double-team dropkick by Malenko into a german suplex by Benoit spot. Misterio Jr. did a super moonsault block being flipped high in the air, landing on the top rope and moonsaulting back in (that one has a high degree of difficulty as I've seen Misterio Jr. miss that spot a few times in the past). Everyone did their winning moves with saves. Kidman basically threw Misterio Jr. into a frankensteiner off the top on Benoit. When he tried the move another time on Saturn, he was caught and dropped with a power bomb off the top. Arn Anderson interfered and hit Saturn with a spinebuster and Malenko put Saturn in the cloverleaf. Kanyon came out with a Sting mask on and scooped Kidman's leg as he was on top going for a shooting star press on Raven. Raven used a DDT while Kidman was sitting on the top rope for the pin while they did the photo finish with Malenko having the submission on, but Raven got the three count before the Saturn tap to win the titles. ***1/4

At this time, Rey joined the No Limit Soliders group. With Master P, Konan, Brad Armstrong & Swole. 

Talk about how that group came to be.

Next, we're on to the Great American Bash ppv. It took place on June 13th

Konnan  & Rey Misterio Jr. beat Curt Hennig & Bobby Duncum Jr. in 10:44. Master P and his entourage came out to ringside for this. It's not even as if they try and disguise that an angle is coming and make it look the slightest bit not contrived with that angle at the beginning of the show, and the guys only coming out for this one match rather than being special guests who just happened to be there enjoying the show. Hennig's entrance music should head up most of the Worst of lists but it's bound to become an all-time cult favorite and Hennig is going to become a cult babyface for his role in this feud if the powers that be don't see the future and cut him off ahead of time. 

Konnan & Misterio Jr. came out with gas masks on. Hennig must really be into this feud because his work is the best it's been in a long time. Master P hit Hennig early. Misterio Jr. did some hot moves early until being caught and worked on for most of the match. This was an old style match where they continually got heat on Misterio Jr., and the ref kept missing his tags to Konnan, so the heat built well. At least Master P was acting like he was into the match which added to the heat. Konnan finally hot tagged in, but Barry Windham came out of the crowd and KO'd him. Swoll, Master P's bodyguard who wants to be a pro wrestler (which is where this connection really stems from) who once played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, then knocked Duncum Jr. down with a forearm and Misterio Jr. pinned him. 

Security that got all of P's entourage out of there for interfering in the match, while allowing Hennig, Windham and Duncum to destroy Konnan & Misterio Jr. in the ring after the match including hog-tying Misterio Jr. The angle wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything that anyone remembered five minutes after it was over. **1/4 

That takes us to the Bash at the Beach ppv on July 11th

Konnan & Rey Misterio Jr. & Swole & B.A. won an elimination match over Curt Hennig & Barry Windham & Kendall Windham & Bobby Duncum Jr. in 15:00. Both teams got 50-50 reactions. The song is getting Hennig's ring entrance over big and making him a pretty big star. There were people in the crowd singing the song during the entrance but it isn't like everyone is doing it yet. It really killed the No Limit Soldiers, because Konnan, even playing home town boy and announced from Miami (which is actually where he grew up) instead of Mexico City, got way less of a reaction to his ring entrance than usual. This was probably the second best match on the show and it was still a mess in many ways. Huge Teddy Reade was given the name 4x4. 

The eliminations and the booking were a mess, although from the booking it appears they were designing the match to put the Cowboys over as the faces since they were the ones with the disadvantage and thus put in the face underdog position. Swole pinned Duncum Jr. first in 6:26 after Misterio Jr. delivered a legdrop from the apron back in. This was not the planned finish but things got really messed up between Duncum and Swole and he just told Swole to pin him. No matter what name he goes by and what gimmick he uses, B.A. is still a great wrestler in the ring and has no charisma. He and Hennig did some good wrestling ending when Hennig pinned him in 9:07 after the fisherman suplex. Konnan pinned Kendall Windham in 10:52 with a cradle after Misterio Jr. hit him with a springboard dropkick. 

The next elimination was really weird. The idea appeared to be Konnan and Barry to both be counted out. Windham was outside the ring. Konnan was appearing to tire. Chase Tatum then aggressively jumped on Windham and was pounding him to the back. Konnan seemingly just walked to the back for absolutely no reason and was counted out. He never even returned for the finish winners celebration, which may indicate punishment and fallout over the USA Today quotes. This left Hennig alone against Misterio Jr. & Swole. Before it got going, Barry Windham ran back out and was chased away by Tatum. It ended with Misterio Jr. jumping off Swole's shoulders with a splash onto Hennig for the pin at 15:00. *1/2 

Meltzer reported in early August - Master P is officially gone. Konnan and Misterio Jr. have been pulled out of the No Limit Soldiers which will now become a jobber group. There is some attempt to pull Brad Armstrong out of the Soldiers and group him with Misterio Jr., Konnan and Eddie Guerrero (the original plan was for Guerrero to quickly turn on Misterio Jr. but since they were so hot together as a team in Moline, perhaps that won't happen as quickly) 

Do you know if Rey liked doing that hooty hoo thing

Chris Jericho's final WCW match was 7/21 in Peoria, IL in a tag match teaming with Eddie against Kidman & Rey. Eddie pinned Chris with the frog splash

Rey then formed a group with Eddie Guerrero, Konan and Kidman called the Filthy Animals.

On the August 19th Thunder Lenny Lane won the cruiser belt from Rey. in 7:04. Rey ended up cracking heads with Lodi and Lenny schoolboyed him to win the title.

Why was that decision made? Kind of came out of no where

Meltzer reported in September - Misterio Jr. isn't in the doghouse that Konnan and Kidman are in because he never specifically asked for his release like they did. He was going to leave if they left, but he never outright asked 

Memories of that?

You left WCW on September 9th, 1999.  Did you keep in touch with Rey after you left?

While you were gone, Rey won the tag team titles with Kidman beating Harlem Heat on October 18th, however Rey got hurt in the match and was out until January of 2000.

When you came back to WCW in April 2000, did you have any plans for Rey?

On the May 8th Nitro, Stasiak beat Captain Rection in 1:07 with a fisherman suplex when Hennig caused Rection to lose. Nash came out to power bomb Stasiak after the match. Kidman, Konnan and Rey. all did a run-in. They got five seconds of heat before Hogan made the save, to set up a match later in the show. 

Hogan & Nash went to a no contest with Kidman & Konnan & Rey & Awesome in 2:28. 

Rey was still wrestling with a bad knee at this time

Meltzer reported at the end of June - Misterio Jr. is said to be at about 70 percent right now. He can't risk trying anything spectacular. He returned about five weeks early because he was asked to do what he could do and because of the half-pay situation if he couldn't wrestle. The performers who appear on television weekly but aren't participating in wrestling matches still can have their pay cut in half if they are injured for a lengthy period of time 

On the August 14th, 2000 Nitro, Rey and Juventud Guerrera beat Great Muta & Vampiro to win the tag team titles

They were stripped of the title after Ernest Miller pinned Disco Inferno with the stipulation that if he pinned Disco, Mysterio and Guerrera would be stripped of the title. 

Juventud was arrested during this time and taken off of TV, so Rey & Kidman reformed their tag team

That takes us to Halloween Havoc 2000. It took place on October 29th, in Vegas

Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire retained the WCW tag titles in a three-way over Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman and Disqo & Alex Wright in 10:06. Easily the standout match on the show due to the performances of Misterio Jr., Kidman and Wright, the latter of whom is the most underappreciated good worker in the company. To Stevie Ray's credit, while at times he did a terrible job of getting the product over in a positive sense (then again, who could with the product that was being presented), he certainly pushed the fact Wright can go strongly. Crowd wasn't into it and Jindrak & O'Haire both looked lost in spots, O'Haire more than Jindrak, particularly when it was their time to sell, but they do great athletic moves for people of their size. 

O'Haire and Wright even did a stacked up superplex spot on Kidman. O'Haire & Jindrak also did the double hip-toss into the ring spot on Kidman which is one tremendous looking spot. Kidman and Misterio Jr. all did dives out of the ring with Misterio Jr. doing a springboard Thesz press to the floor, which I believe was the exact move his doctor told him to eliminate from his repertoire. Kidman & Misterio Jr. hit their trademark moves, the Kid Crusher by Kidman, a huracanrana off the top and bronco buster by Misterio Jr. until Jindrak threw Misterio Jr. over the top onto Wright. In the ring, Disqo used the stunner on Jindrak (the announcers couldn't decide if it was a chart buster or a last dance) but O'Haire came back and pinned Disqo after the Seanton bomb. 

After the match, Wright destroyed Misterio Jr. and Kidman with chair shots. Konnan, who was at ringside doing commentary, ran in, only to get destroyed and left looking like a fool once again. Sgt. Awall made the save. ***1/2 

Rey just worked random TV matches after this, and that takes us to the Mayhem ppv. It took place on November 27th  in Milwaukee

Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman won a strange match over Alex Wright & Kronik in 7:46. Very little heat. Kronik didn't sell much for Misterio Jr. & Kidman, but didn't embarrass them as badly as they did on Thunder. Konnan was supposed to be in this match, but didn't arrive in time for the show since his mother suffered a stroke the previous afternoon. This would have only made it sillier as the face team at the end would have a three-on-one advantage. This was handled very clumsily on television, as rather than tell the truth, they acted as if Konnan was going to arrive (which was probably the truth as they knew it at the time as he flew out and was expected to make it) but that he'd been partying too much the night before. 

It just tells the fans that if the wrestlers don't care enough to show up for the matches you pay $30 to see, why should you care enough to pay money to see them. The truth would have been understandable to everyone, except with the company's credibility problem, maybe they figured nobody would believe the story, and given all the things wrestlers tell management, maybe they didn't believe the story either. Kronik was supposed to walk out at 7:30, but instead left at the 6:11 mark. Nobody complained about it. Kidman pinned Wright after Misterio Jr. came off the top with a legdrop to the groin. *1/4 

The next night on Nitro, Rey beat Jeff Jarrett by DQ. Meltzer said Rey was booked to win by pinfall but it was changed but he dind't know by who\

That takes us to Starrcade. It took plce on December 17th, from Washington

Jeff Jarrett & Ron & Don Harris beat Konnan & Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman in what was billed as a combination street fight and bunkhouse match in 12:32. Actually, based on the rules, the two are the exact same thing. It was an excuse to set up a bunch of gimmicked props like a portable bar, brooms, etc. to be used as weapons. Think about this. Is their anything sillier than putting Misterio Jr. and Kidman in a New Jack style match? After having already seen Crowbar vs. Funk do a weapons match, there was nothing these guys could do and the crowd was bored most of the way except when they shattered the bar putting Jarrett through it. Harris Twins did a good job in believably selling for guys so much smaller than they are.

 They spent a few minutes getting heat on Kidman as Misterio Jr. was thrown into a dumpster and Konnan was tending to him. This traditional three-on-one-heat led to a big pop for Konnan's comeback. They cut him off almost immediately with an H-bomb, as in the Harris Twins move and not the former drug of choice in the profession. Misterio Jr. made a comeback using a broomstick. Funny seeing people sell for the dreaded broom bristles. They H bombed him through a table. Kidman was on top for the shooting star when one of the Twins broke a bottle over his head and Jarrett pinned him after the stroke. *1/2 

The next ngiht on Nitro, Lance Storm beat Rey by submission 

At the beginning of 2001, Rey got back into the Cruiserweight title scene, challening Chavo Guerrero for the title at the Superbrawl Revenge ppv

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Rey Misterio Jr. to retain the cruiserweight title in 15:54. Aside from a couple of spots where Misterio Jr. slipped on the ropes, this was an excellent match. Fast-paced, lots of good moves and surprisingly good heat. Misterio Jr. got a lot of near falls and did a hot flip dive out of the ring. Finish saw Guerrero Jr. crack him with a hard chair shot to the head and deliver a brainbuster for the pin. ***1/2 

Around this time, the crusierweight tag team titles were created and a tournament was held for the titles. Rey and Kidman reformed their team and entered the tournament.

In round 1, Rey & Kidman beat Johnny Swinger and Jason Lee

In the semi finals Rey & Kidman beat 3 count

The finals took place at the Greed pay per view. Rey & Kidman vs Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper

Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo because the first WCW cruiserweight tag team champions beating Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman in 13:46. Match had big time heat as all four really looked good. Misterio Jr. and Kidman both did dives off the ramp, with Kidman landing hard with his shoulder hitting the guard rail. Misterio Jr. did the senton off the top rolling into a tope spot that Santo made famous in Mexico. Romeo did a plancha and Kidman hit a shooting star plancha which they've named the Kidmakaze. Lots of good near falls, ending with Misterio Jr. doing a quebrada into the ring, but Romeo catching him and giving him the last kiss, a version of a tombstone piledriver or a Northern lights bomb. Misterio Jr. and Kidman probably looked the best they has in a long time and Romeo showed potential to be a cruiserweight superstar down the line with his work and charisma. **** 

Greed was the final WCW pay per view, and WWF would buy WCW not long after this.

On the final Nitro on March 26th, 2001, Rey & Kidman beat Skipper & Romeo to win the Crusierweight tag team titles and they would be the last WCW Crusierweight tag team champions.

Rey didn't immediately go to the WWF. He worked in Mexico and Puerto Rico, and finally signed with the WWF in June of 2002.

A few days before this show was taped, Rey beat AJ Styles (who ironically was also in that Crusierweight tag team title tournament that we just talked about in WCW in 2001)  for the US title. 

Are you surprised that Rey is still heavily involved in WWE and just won the US title at age 44?

Rey finished his WCW career as a 5 time Crusierweight champion. A 3 time World Tag Team champion and a 1 time Crusierweight tag team champion.

What do you think is Rey's legacy in wrestling?

Do you think he'll be in the Hall of Fame?