by Phil Speer
Rey Mysterio is from San Diego, California.
If you haven’t heard, you’re in the minority. The fans at the San Diego Sports
Arena at Tuesday’s SmackDown! taping certainly knew, as the high-flying Superstar
received a deafening ovation as he went to the ring, and an even louder one
when he defeated Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in the Triple Threat main event.
And promoters were extremely happy with the “walk-up,” as 1,100 people bought
tickets at the Sports Arena Box Office on the day of the show. They attributed
that largely to Mysterio, who was profiled by several media outlets in the
days preceding SmackDown!
Moments after Mysterio’s match, he spoke to WWE.com as the Superstars came
by to congratulate him on his night. Mysterio was clearly ecstatic.
WWE.com: How are you feeling right now?
Mysterio: It feels awesome to walk out there and get a great reaction
like I did tonight. I was expecting a lot of fans, but, man, it was incredible.
WWE.com: Is beating Kurt Angle and Chris
Benoit one of the biggest wins of your career?
Mysterio: I would have to say it is, especially being in San Diego.
I’ve wrestled here before, with WCW, but that was nothing compared to the
reaction I got today.
WWE.com: How many times have you performed
in San Diego?
Mysterio: I’ve probably performed four times with WCW. And my first
very show was actually here at the Sports Arena with AAA.
WWE.com: Were you even introduced as being
from San Diego when you were in WCW?
Mysterio: They did, but they didn’t make a big scene about it. When
I’d walk out to the ring, it would just be like [unenthusiastic voice], “From
San Diego, California, Rey Mysterio.” Nothing like it is now.
WWE.com: What have these last few days been
like for you? You were in the San Diego Union-Tribune; you were in the Spanish-language
paper down here.
Mysterio: That’s where we get back to the question that you asked
before – about announcing me from San Diego, California. Knowing that I’m
from here, I never did promotion for WCW like I did for WWE. This is part
of my job. I love going out to radio interviews, TV, etc., etc. Just to let
the people know that I’m from here, I’m representing my hometown. Not many
people can do that.
WWE.com: They had a huge walk up crowd today.
That must be because of you.
Mysterio: If it is, that’s a great feeling inside. It just goes to
show that I’m in the biggest company that could ever be. They know how to
utilize the image of Rey Mysterio, who is from San Diego, California.
WWE.com: So who’s here tonight? You must
have a lot of friends and family.
Mysterio: Yes. I’ve got a lot of friends. I’ve got a lot of family.
I probably have a lot of friends who I haven’t seen in years from high school
who have probably seen me on TV, and I haven’t been in touch with them because
I’ve been doing my thing. And they probably saw me here tonight. If I went
to school with them, that’s real cool that they took the time to come out
here tonight to show some respect for who I am.
WWE.com: Beyond just tonight, what do you
have to say about your first few months in WWE?
Mysterio: They’ve been amazing. Even before I started, just the way
they blew up the image of Rey Mysterio coming for four weeks – throwing promotions
on TV. People didn’t really know who it was until like the second week of
promotion. It’s been wonderful – a lot of respect, one big family. I could
keep on going and going. It’s great.
WWE.com: We’ve just announced that WrestleMania
XIX is coming to Seattle. What are you thoughts as we head in to your first
WrestleMania?
Mysterio: It’s going to be wonderful. I would love to know who I’m
going to face. We’ve got so much time ahead of us to find out. But God, that’s
one big step in my career.
WWE.com: Do you want to be WWE Champion?
Mysterio: Yes I do. That’s probably one of my focuses. I guess right
now, my main focus is to let the people know who I am. I haven’t been on
TV for about a year and a half, until I started here. I want the people to
get used to who I was in WCW, and now that I’m with WWE, I’ve got a lot more
to give – a lot more for me, a lot more for the fans. I’ve got a lot to give
to them. So, yes, without a doubt, I want to climb that ladder so high, until
I can’t go no more.
WWE.com: Anything you want to add?
Mysterio: I do want to say thank you to all my fans who have been
following me ever since I started my career. I actually had fans who walked
up to me that are like, “You know what Rey? I’ve been following you since
AAA.” And that’s 13 years back, which is real cool. For 13 years they’ve
been following me. And now they’re so happy that I’m in the biggest company
in the world, and that I’m representing the luchadores, Mexican wrestling,
my hometown, small people. They see there’s a lot of future for Rey Mysterio,
and especially here. I guess a lot of fans were expecting me to come here.
Some people didn’t think I’d be here this soon. Now I’m here, and now they’re
so happy. Same as me.