The Outbreaking Wrestler-Rey Misterio Jr.
Rey in the Beginning
Rey Misterio Jr. always wanted to be a professional wrestler. As a kid, he looked up to, who else, Rey Misterio. Many people think that Rey Misterio is Rey Jr.'s father, but he is really his uncle. Rey's parents clashed with him for years over him becoming a professional wrestler. They finally agreed and he started when he was just 15 years old. Being only 5'3", and 125 lbs., promoters put him in with the midgets. They soon saw that he was too good to compete with the midgets, and he was quickly able to impress the newly founded AAA promotion in Mexico. They liked him so much that they wanted him to compete in future shows, thus he quit school in 11th grade to do so. Competing under the name Colibri (which means hummingbird), he wrestled in both Southern California and Mexico, with a lot of success.
Colibri becomes Rey Misterio Jr.
One night, in Tijuana, Colibri had just won a tough match when his uncle Rey Misterio came down to ringside to congratulate
him. Rey then told Colibri that he had a surprise for him. He wanted Colibri to use the name Rey Misterio Jr., and the crowd went nuts. Then he revealed another surprise. He wanted them to be a tag team! Well, they wrestled and won many tag team matches over the next several months, and were then granted their first shot at the AAA Mexican tag team belts. They won that match and the titles, and to think it was their first shot!Misterio Jr. sets out on his own
AAA promoters wanted Misterio Jr. to compete in Mexico City in 1992 with the Mexican Welterweight champion Fantasma de la Quebrada. On October 28, 1992, just seven days after de la Quebrada had won that title, Misterio Jr. beat him and became the Mexican Welterweight champion. He then feuded with Juventued Guerrera, a man he twice won the AAA lightweight title from. He furthered his impressive win list by defeating Tony Arce and then Bullcano in mask vs. hair matches.Rey's worst enemy
Rey Misterio Jr.'s worst enemy is noneother
than the 5'10, 200 lb. Psicosis. He and Rey trained at the same wrestling school at the same time. They traded the AAA lightweight title twice, and renewed their feud in the States in ECW. Rey won a memorable Mexican death match against Psicosis at November To Remember '95, and they continue to feud to this day.Rey hits it big in WCW
Rey Misterio Jr.'s big break came when he joined WCW. His first match there was against Dean Malenko for the WCW cruiserweight championship at The Great American Bash '96. Although Malenko won, Misterio Jr. impressed a lot of people. That wouldn't be his last opportunity at that title, though. Misterio Jr. fought Psicosis at Bash at the Beach '96, and the winner was to receive a snot at Dean Malenko's cruieserweight championship the next night on Monday Nitro. In a match of the year candidate, Misterio Jr. won and moved on to Nitro. Malenko seemed to have the match, when he decided to show off a bit and pull Misterio Jr. off the mat after getting a two count.
It would come back to haunt him, as Misterio was able to muster a comeback and defeat Dean Malenko to become the new WCW cruiserweight champion. He held that title for almost four months, defeating many challengers including Dean Malenko, Super Calo, El Ultimo Dragon, and a host of others. Malenko wanted the title back bad though. He even went as far as to steal Misterio Jr.'s mask. They met at Halloween Havoc '96. Misterio Jr. got his mask back, but lost his title.A Bright Future Ahead
Misterio Jr. is truly loved worldwide. In 1994, Japanese wrestling fans were asked to vote for the one non-Japanese wrestler which they would like to see compete in their country. Rey Misterio Jr. was the overwhelming response, and at that time, he had never competed in Japan. He is also gaining a bigger fan base everyday with WCW, and continues to climb up the ladder of success. Look for more title reins by this young high flyer in the near future.
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