Wrestling legend Rey Misterio Sr dies aged 66 just weeks after family tragedy-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Rey Misterio Sr is an iconic name in lucha libre(Picture: WWE)

Wrestling icon Rey Misterio Sr has died aged 66.

The masked luchador, who was the uncle of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, started wrestling in 1976 and officially retired in 2009, but his last match came in April 2023 as he teamed with Aero Star and Mr. Iguana in a win over Hereje, Hijo de Pirata Morgan and Nightmare Azteca.

Mexican company Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide announced the tragic news on their social media accounts.

‘We regret the sensitive death of Miguel Ángel López Días, known as Rey Mysterio Sr,’ they wrote in a post translated from Spanish.

Alongside a note using the ‘Misterio’ spelling of his name, they added: ‘We send our most sincere condolences to his loved ones and raise our prayers to heaven for his eternal rest.’

A cause of death has not been revealed.

He wrestled under an iconic mask, with his nephew adopting a similar design

Misterio – whose son wrestles under the name El Hijo de Rey Misterio – worked his first match in January 1976, while he appeared for the likes of WCW, including an appearance at the 1990 Starrcade pay-per-view.

On the show, he teamed up with Konnan to represent Mexico in the Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup.

The duo overcame the UK’s Chris Adams and Norman Smiley in the first round, before losing to The Steiner Brothers.

His nephew, initially known as Rey Mysterio Jr, is one of WWE’s most recognisable stars (Picture: WWE)

In 1987, he started his own gym, where he had a hand in training the likes of Konnan, Psicosis, Damian 666 and his nephew Rey Mysterio.

Both generations of Misterio – using that spelling – came together for a run as WWA Tag Team Champions in 1995, while the WWE legend took on his uncle’s name.

He initially worked as Rey Mysterio Jr in both WCW and ECW, but when he joined WWE in 2002 he became known simply as Rey Mysterio.

Misterio Sr’s death comes just weeks after Rey Mysterio’s father Robert Gutierrez died aged 76.

He wrote: ‘Father: thank you for giving me the life I have. You did more than set the example of how to love & maintain a strong marriage and father 4 boys, you were the example and passed every single time until your death with flying colors.

‘Excellent husband, loving father, beautiful grandfather, incredible son & brother, and amazing father in law.’

Rey Mysterio’s father died last month (Picture: @619iamlucha/Instagram)

Mysterio, 50, is still a major part of WWE, while his on-screen rivalry with son Dominik Mysterio has continued the family’s legacy.

Rey initially announced his plans to retire once he turned 50, but after undergoing knee surgery a year ago, he found a new lease of life in the ring.

‘I knew I had a number in mind. and I said I didn’t want to go past that,’ he exclusively told Metro in Philadelphia before this year’s WrestleMania. ‘But I’m truly listening to how my body has been reacting. And my body has been reacting great, and my motivation is still on point.’

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