Rey Mysterio Pens Emotional Players Tribune Letter To Eddie Guerrero, ‘I Wish You Were Around To See The Impact You’ve Had On Our Sport’

Rey Mysterio pours his heart out for Eddie Guerrero.

On Thursday, November 13, Mysterio published an emotional and powerful piece for The Players’ Tribune, celebrating Guerrero on the 20 year anniversary of his passing in 2005.

Early on in the piece, Mysterio talked about the early stages of his friendship with the ‘Latino Heat’ and how it developed inside of the squared circle.

“There was something unique about our friendship…… even going back to that night in Tijuana, before we had any friendship. It’s hard to put into words. But I think I’d say it like this: A lot of wrestlers, they work together in the ring, and then become friends outside the ring. Not us, though. We became friends in the ring — literally in the ring. Through the art of wrestling itself.”

Mysterio went on to recall how Guerrero advocated for him to win their historic match at Halloween Havoc in 1997.

“That was definitely the case when they told me I’d be wrestling you at Halloween Havoc for your Cruiserweight Title … with my MASK on the line … and I was going to LOSE. Man, I remember being so upset when I heard that. I was panicking!!! Like, I had just started to get over with the American fans — and with my mask being such a strong part of my identity. So to lose it so early in my career, I knew that could be a death sentence. But what choice did I have?? I was a 22-year-old kid. I had no power, I had no leverage, I had no pull with the office. Thankfully, though, I had you. I had my friend, my big brother. That whole day leading up to the match, my head was spinning. I couldn’t even think straight. But you just kept telling me, “Don’t worry, Rey!!!! Don’t worry!!!! Keep your head up, brother. We’re going to make this right.” And I’ll never know what those exact conversations were that went down behind closed doors. But I know you talked to the office, explained why it was a bad decision for me to lose, and convinced them to let you put me over. Honestly … I still get chills when I think of what you did for me that night. Not just sticking your neck out for me, but doing it at your own expense — and offering to lose your title, so I could keep my mask, and my identity, and the momentum in my career. It’s a gift I’ve never forgotten, and have tried to pay forward over the years as I’ve grown from New Kid into OG: the idea that success for Latinos in this business — in this life — doesn’t have to be zero-sum. We either get over as a community…… or we risk getting buried as one. For me, that lesson, it all started with you.”

Mysterio also touched on Guerrero’s impact on the sport of wrestling.

“Here’s one thing I’ll gladly speak too much on: I wish you were around to see the impact you’ve had on our sport. Oh my GOD, Eddie…. Like, where can I even begin??? I think the first thing that comes to mind — it’s just your style. Math isn’t really my strong suit, so this isn’t scientific. But purely off the dome, and from knowing what’s what? I’d say that when other wrestlers are asked in interviews who their favorite wrestler was growing up, or who “their guy” was that they really connected with, or tried to emulate most in the ring … or simply put, who’s their GOAT … your name comes up more than any other. “Your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler” — you know this phrase??? That’s YOU, WeeWeeto. You resonate in a way that can’t be measured. You f***ing matter. The second thing I always think about, as far as your impact, it’s how you helped guys like us — guys who, let’s just say, aren’t giants — get taken seriously as headlining talent. Honestly, maybe the best way to express how much you changed these perceptions, it’s to promise you there are young people reading this letter right now who didn’t know it was ever another way. That’s how fundamental it’s become, the idea that wrestlers at your size, or my size, or any non-traditional size, can main-event a show and be booked at a top level. Guys like AJ Styles, CM Punk, Jey Uso … these are great world champions, who’ve headlined some of the biggest shows ever. And I’m not sure it happens without you. And then the third thing I’ll mention, it’s the impact you had on Latinos in wrestling. I’m getting emotional just thinking about this one, it’s so personal to me. Because it’s like I said — when you and I were first coming up, luchadores simply weren’t treated as a class of wrestler who could draw in the U.S​​. But it’s also even deeper than that. Our fans I think were sometimes treated that same way. Like, they were viewed through this lens of, “I don’t know if I’m seeing money here.” We hated that so much. But then WCW and WWE, they put us on television, and gave us a chance to be in big spots. And by doing this, they also gave the Latino fans a chance … to see wrestlers who looked like them, and talked like them, and acted like them in big spots. And sometimes that’s all it takes, you know what I’m saying??? A chance. Those fans, the ones who supported us on our come-up — a lot of them fell in love with the sport for life. And then their kids fell in love with the sport for life. And now you’re really seeing it in full bloom.”

Speaking about the debut and growth of Dominik Mysterio, Rey joked that his son has turned into “Eddie Guerrero’s demon boy”.

“Now it’s 20 years later, and I wish so bad that you could be here to see Dom’s own wrestling career take flight. Honestly … it wasn’t the smoothest flying at first. He debuted in WWE about five years ago (or came back, if you count the custody match) — and “Rey Mysterio’s baby boy” was still very much the character he was playing. No mask (TOO handsome!!!), but other than that he was the same “clean-cut babyface” type I’ve been for most of my career. And he held his own!! Like, his first match ever was at SummerSlam in 2020, against Seth Rollins, one of the best guys on the roster. And I think Dom surprised people that night, and started to earn respect from there. But at the same time……. he wasn’t quite hitting that next level, you know what I’m saying?? And I can already picture you reading this, WeeWeeto, way up in those clouds, and you’re doing that pose where you’ve got your elbows in and your palms open — and you’re giving me that f***ing smirk-shrug, because you know what I’m about to say: Dominik wasn’t fully clicking as “Rey Mysterio’s baby boy”……… so he did what I’m 100% sure you would’ve told him to do. He turned heel, and basically became “Eddie Guerrero’s demon boy.” And that changed everything.”

Fans can check out Rey Mysterio’s entire piece for The Players Tribune by clicking here.