Dominik Mysterio joined O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson on the “No-Contest Wrestling” podcast to discuss his unique journey in professional wrestling, his complex family dynamics, and his rise to stardom.
Mysterio candidly addressed his strained relationship with his father, WWE legend Rey Mysterio, referring to him as a “deadbeat dad.” He also touched on the broader dysfunction within his family, a theme that has played out in storylines on WWE television.
Reflecting on his memorable entrance at WrestleMania 39, where he arrived in a correctional transport vehicle accompanied by “guards,” Mysterio expressed initial disappointment at not having a traditional entrance. However, he quickly recognized the significance of the moment.
“It came about in such a crazy way because I didn’t know about it until, I want to say two weeks before Mania,” Mysterio recalled. “I remember I got to a Monday Night Raw, and boss, boss pulled me aside, Triple H, and he goes, ‘Hey, have you heard about the entrance we have planned for you at Mania?’ I was like, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. No one said anything to me.'”
He continued, “I remember the day of the show, once the video package and everything came out, my original thought was I was a bit bummed out because I was like, ‘Man, I wish I could have done like the big ramp, big Mania entrance,’ but then the more I sat and thought about it, and I was like, man, nah. Like, f**k that. This is special. I have a special entrance for myself that, like, because everyone goes down the ramp. Not everyone has a memorable entrance, and on my second WrestleMania, to have my own entrance with the paddy wagon and handcuffs, like the whole video package, honestly, it was a huge blessing to just be a part of that because I really feel like that entrance is gonna live forever.”
Mysterio also discussed learning to handle the intense negative reaction he receives from fans.
“Originally, I was unaware of the reaction I was going to receive. I knew it was going to be negative. I just didn’t know to what point. I didn’t know how far the fans were willing to boo me,” he admitted. “I feel like that’s why I started pushing those buttons, but even when I first started talking and trying to cut promos, and they were booing me, and I just couldn’t talk, it would get to me because I feel like I had things to say and I couldn’t get them out.”
He credited veteran wrestlers with helping him navigate these challenges. “I had people in the back helping me as far as, like, how to manage these things and how to work in the moment, and not worry so much about what I have to do or what I have to say. I think that’s what really helped me, just getting a lot of help in the back from a lot of the more veteran guys, because I know I’m a 20-year veteran, but like, a lot of the older, older guys, and I don’t want to give away my secrets here, but I think that really helped me out, just being able to level it out and not worry that I don’t always have to say anything because at the end of the day, someone else will say it for me.”
The former NXT North American Champion also shared his thoughts on Eddie Guerrero’s legacy, named three matches that could hook new fans on wrestling, and revealed his dream “bar fight crew.” Watch the full interview below.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit No Contest Wrestling Podcast with O’Shea Jackson with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
