Why Rey Misterio Jr. Must Fly Solo
From Pro Wrestling Illustrated October 1999
by Dan Murphy
Rey Misterio Jr. doesn't play well
with others. Now that particular character fault doesn't normally hamper
the career advancement of the typical pro wrestler. But then again, Misterio
isn't even close to being a typical pro wrestler.
Misterio is one of those rare wrestlers who is equally popular with the fans
and his peers alike. For the most part, even his rivals readily give him
their respect.
"You really have to like Rey, even when you're trying your hardest to put
him on his back," said Billy Kidman, who has both teamed with and feuded
with the Luchadore. "I know a lot of the heavyweights won't admit it, but
when Rey wrestles, there's always a crowd of guys lining up to see the match
on the monitors backstage. We all want to see the next big move he's going
to hit."
The road to respect for Misterio has been a long and bumpy one. He's even
had to pull off that road for repairs a few times. At 5'3" and 140 pounds
after a big dinner, Misterio learned early that he had to give his all in
each and every match to not only win, but to survive. That meant sticking
with his fast-paced, high-risk aerial attack despite nagging injuries, and
remaining alert at all times, knowing full well that virtually any opponent
could overpower him if he was lured into following that man's game plan.
Misterio not only proved he could compete with the world's finest wrestlers,
but that he could excel among them as well.
Except he has developed a bad habit--he makes too many friends. And when
he does, his game suffers for it.
Remember the Latino World Order? Eddy Guerrero considered it quite a coup
when Misterio finally, if reluctantly, joined his cartel. It didn't take
long for Misterio to warm to the idea of the LWO, and by the time President
Ric Flair dissolved the LWO, the stable's fall. If not for Guerrero's serious
car accident, Misterio might still be wearing the LWO's red, white, and green
today.
Instead, he's gone gangsta and formed an alliance with Konnan, another former
enemy, and rapper Master P. But before arriving at this phase of his career,
Misterio and Kidman teamed to win the WCW tag team title. At the same time,
the two were regularly talking each other to the limit in pitched battles
for the cruiserweight title. Not surprisingly, Kidman and Misterio had a
very brief reign as tag champions.
At press time, Misterio still held the cruiserweight title he won from Psicosis
on April 26 in Fargo, North Dakota. He and Konnan were also teaming against
the likes of Barry Windham and Bobby Duncum Jr., and winning more often than
not. Misterio also collected a string of singles wins over superheavyweights
like Bam Bam Bigelow, Scott Norton, and Kevin Nash. Problem is, Misterio
has lost focus.
"What is Rey trying to prove anyway?" asked Juventud Guerrera, his long-time
rival. "Will he and Konnan go after the tag team title? Will Rey go for a
heavyweight belt? All I want to know is what I have to do to get a shot at
that cruiserweight title these days. It's no secret Rey is spreading himself
too thin now. I'm confident that I could regain that title if I just got
the chance."
Guerrera is probably right. Konnan and Misterio have become very close friends,
and it's all well and good that they're having fun teaming together, hanging
out together, and trying to launch Konnan's hip-hop career. Misterio, though,
has always been known for his intensity--it's what made him one of the most
successful wrestlers in WCW and arguably the most exciting cruiserweight
of all-time. And without that intensity, without that singular, all-consuming
drive to excel and that obsession with perfection, Misterio becomes beatable.
Misterio hit a brief slump while in the LWO.
He was wise enough to reject Nash's offer to join the Wolfpac and went on
one of the most high-profile winning streaks of his life. But after just
a few months chilling with "K-Dogg," Misterio is removed from title matches
and having his hands full with the likes of Bobby Duncum Jr. And let's face
it--Duncum is no Misterio.
For Misterio's own good, he must go back to wrestling on his own. We're not
saying he and Konnan need to break up and feud. We're merely nothing that
Misterio is at his best when he's on his own. And at his best, there's no
telling what titles Misterio could capture.
When a 140-pound wrestler faces off against heavyweights at anything less
than his best, he fails. Plus, Misterio's complex agenda has put the cruiserweight
title, one of the most closely and hotly contested belts in WCW, in jeopardy.
A serious singles run could be just what Konnan needs as well. Konnan went
from serving the NWO to serving the Wolfpac to aligning with Misterio. As
a former WCW U.S. and TV champion, Konnan shouldn't be content fighting a
rap vs. country feud against Barry Windham, Curt Hennig, and Bobby Duncum.
Especially with "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner holding the U.S. title.
If Misterio wants to fly, he's going to have to fly solo. Otherwise, he's
going down fast ... and hard. And he might bring Konnan crashing down with
him.