Dominik Mysterio recently revealed how his father, Rey Mysterio, maintained the illusion of one of WWE’s most memorable storylines even off-screen. This revelation comes nearly two decades after the dramatic custody battle storyline involving Eddie Guerrero, which culminated in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam 2005. The feud, which captivated audiences, featured Guerrero claiming that Dominik was his biological son, leading to a highly personal rivalry.
In an interview on the Towers of Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Dominik shared an incident that highlighted Rey’s dedication to preserving the storyline’s authenticity. He recalled how, during the custody angle, fans were led to believe that he was being taken away by a social worker. To keep the ruse alive, Rey and his wife would hide him in the back seat of their car, covering him with clothes and bags to shield him from fans outside the arena.
“During the custody battle, when I was supposedly getting taken by the social worker and I’d go back home with my parents, they’d put me in the back seat in crevices and cover me with clothes and bags so people couldn’t see me,” Dominik explained. “That’s how I grew up, like old school. They wanted people to believe that I was being taken by a social worker.”
Rey Mysterio ultimately won custody of Dominik by defeating Guerrero in that emotional Ladder Match, a moment that remains etched in the memories of wrestling fans. Recently, on November 13, 2023, WWE commemorated the 20th anniversary of Eddie Guerrero’s passing. In a heartfelt tribute, Rey Mysterio published a letter honoring his late friend through The Players’ Tribune.
The wrestling landscape continues to evolve, and Dominik is now making headlines himself. On November 10, 2023, during an episode of Monday Night Raw, John Cena defeated Dominik Mysterio to capture the Intercontinental Championship, marking a significant milestone in Cena’s career as he completed his Grand Slam. This match was originally scheduled for the upcoming Survivor Series but was moved to allow Cena a memorable moment in his hometown of Boston.
Despite the setback of losing the title, Dominik remains committed to his heel persona, often taking bold steps to draw attention to himself. In the same podcast interview, he discussed the controversial decision to interrupt Cena during his celebration, asserting that he wanted to make the night about him.
“It wasn’t even more of like preparing. It was just making that moment about me, you know? I knew I was going to be in there with, obviously, John Cena and Triple H in Boston,” he said. “Everything was perfectly in place for John Cena, and it was his night. So when I went out there, I made sure that it was about me.”
Dominik Mysterio’s ambition was evident as he entered the ring to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Cena, determined to provoke the veteran wrestler. Despite a chaotic match that included an ambush before the opening bell and a referee bump, Dominik could not hold onto the title. Cena emerged victorious, claiming the only championship that had previously eluded him.
With just three appearances left in his year-long retirement tour, fans are eager to see how WWE will plan Cena’s remaining dates, including his final Raw on November 17, 2023, at Madison Square Garden. As the wrestling world continues to unfold, both Rey and Dominik Mysterio remain pivotal figures, each contributing to the rich tapestry of wrestling history in their own unique ways.
