Rey of Life

February 26, 1999
by Chad Damiani


World Championship Wrestling not only contains some of the greatest athletes in the world, but also the most interesting, unique and intriguing characters in sports entertainment. Most wrestlers dream of competing in the ring, but many spent time doing everything from professional football to Olympic bobsledding. No two wrestlers have the same history, and each man found his way to the ring in a slightly different way. roughcut.com has decided to celebrate these stories by asking the question: What would be the screenplay of your life?

CD: What would be the screenplay of your life?
RMJ: It would be a story where a young boy wants to succeed in life and be somebody. The boy is a fanatic, watching his uncle wrestle since he was 5 years old and getting his first opportunity to train when he was just 8. The boy starts working matches by the age of 15 in Tijuana, Mexico. He trains and wrestles through high school and college and, eventually, he becomes a professional and starts wrestling with the big boys... some who are over twice his size.

CD: In real life, you have been having a lot of trouble with the new NWO Wolfpac, specifically Kevin Nash and Lex Luger. They've cost you your mask; and you've cost Nash a humbling, clean loss. In your movie, who would play Lex and Kevin?
RMJ: I'd say Lex would be [played by] Val Kilmer, and Kevin Nash would definitely have to be -- and I'm basing this on his personality type -- Al Pacino.

CD: Who would play you?
RMJ: Rey Mysterio, Jr. would probably be played by... hmmm, let me think. We don't want no sissy-type guy like Leonardo DiCaprio, and one of my favorite characters is Val Kilmer, but I just gave that one to Lex.

CD: What about Antonio Banderas?
RMJ: Yeah. He'd be cool enough. He has the whole Latin thing going for him.

CD: Finally, what's your film rated and why?
RMJ: It definitely has to be rated R. It just brings out more excitement. When I see a movie rated PG, you know, you're not going to get what you want. People will be acting, but won't be able to capture a real character. The actors would be limited on cussing, and [not] saying things you say in normal life. And I think younger viewers would still be able to watch it, because kids today are so advanced in their terminology and a real approach would also help teenagers relate to the story.