During his appearance on the Johnny I Pro Show, Bret “The Hitman” Hart gave one of the greatest compliments he has ever bestowed upon a fellow professional, calling Rey Mysterio potentially the greatest wrestler of all time. Hart expressed immense respect for the former World Champion’s athleticism, intelligence, and overall ring acumen, stating that Mysterio truly stands alone in his category.
Hart explained that his appreciation for Mysterio stems from a lifelong passion for masked wrestlers, dating back to his childhood when he idolized Mil Máscaras. However, he quickly differentiated Mysterio from other masked stars, placing him at the very top of the hierarchy of wrestling talent.
“Rey Mysterio was one of the greatest wrestlers, maybe the greatest wrestler of all time,” Hart said. “Nobody can lace Rey Mysterio’s shoes up. He was such a great wrestler and a great athlete and a great like he was just so good and such a smart wrestler and so amazing.”
Hart revealed that his admiration led to him desperately wanting a match with Mysterio, envisioning an encounter that would showcase a unique high-flying style rarely seen during his prime WWF run. Hart imagined a match similar to those he had with his brother Owen Hart or Tiger Mask, but amplified by Mysterio’s unique skillset.
“I would love to have wrestled Rey Mysterio,” Hart admitted. “I would have to think a little, I’d have to be a little younger than I am now. But, you know, like when, maybe when I was in my late 20s, I would love to have wrestled Rey Mysterio… I would love to have really gone overboard with Rey Mysterio and tried to really just have a match that I’ve never had before.”
The “Hitman” lamented that the match never materialized, primarily due to booking decisions made during his tenure in WCW. Hart explained that he constantly petitioned management, including Eric Bischoff, to be paired with Mysterio, but his requests were repeatedly denied in favor of less appealing matchups.
“I used to beg guys like Eric Bischoff, like, please put me with Rey Mysterio, or somebody put me with anybody,” Hart recalled. “And they would never put me with anybody that made any sense.” Hart believes the missed opportunity to have a high-flying spectacle with Mysterio remains one of the largest voids in his legendary career portfolio.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit the Johnny I Pro Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
