He is one of the most well-respected lucha libre trainers of Mexico and in the history of the sport. Rey Misterio has trained several prominent wrestlers, such as Rey Mysterio Jr., Psicosis(Nicho el Millonario), Konnan, Damian 666, Halloween, Misterioso,Extreme Tiger,and Eiji Ezaki(Hayabusa). Currently, he is guiding the prolific career of his son Hijo de Rey Misterio, although some would say he is using his influence too much and the fans are growing to resent the new Rey Misterio Jr. clone.
The original Rey Misterio (Miguel Ángel López Días) passed away on Friday morning, according to one of his sons – the one who wrestles as Rey Misterio Heredero. There’s not much information on his death yet. AAA mentioned his passing. Misterio had been wheelchair-bound for many years following a horse-riding accident. He had at least two sons who became luchadors, though his nephew Rey Mysterio Jr. is the most famous wrestler in the family. Misterio Sr.’s death is being treated similar to a big sports star, because of that relationship. His last name is spelled “Diaz” in a lot of places, but his son spelled it “Días”.
The Misterio family tree is confusing because he also sold the rights to allow various wrestlers over the years, and some were portrayed as legitimate sons until the point they stopped using the names. Misterioso comes from this tree – he was originally Rey Misterio II. Rey Horus is the most successful of the fake sons, to the point where few remember he was Hijo de Rey Misterio in the early 2000s. Rey Misterio Sr. was in the news in the last few weeks for taking away the rights to use the name of one of his ‘sons’.
Even without his nephew becoming a world-famous star, Rey Misterio would be an all-time Tijuana legend. Records aren’t great in the 80s and earlier, but Misterio seems to have won over a dozen masks in Auditorio de Tijuana before finally losing his to Fishman in 1988. He remained an important figure through the 90s and 00s. Misterio Sr. trained his nephew, Psicosis (both of them), Halloween, Damian 666, Konnan and many others; he’s a key figure in the success of Tijuana in the 80s through the 00s, as well as that scene’s influence on the rest of lucha libre. Hayabusa would’ve trained with him when he came through Mexico. His friendship with Konnan probably was a factor in his brief CMLL and AAA runs, where he also wrestled as the masked Bull Rider. Misterio Sr. did not have a large career outside of the Tijuana area but helped a lot of wrestlers who did. Misterio Sr. served as the Tijuana lucha libre commissioner for time. I was once told he has extensive business interests outside of wrestling as well.
Rey Mysterio Jr. has lost both his father and his uncle in a short period of time. It’s a rough month.
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