Wrestling legend Rey Misterio Sr dies aged 66 just weeks after family tragedy

Wrestling icon Rey Misterio Sr. has died aged 66.

The masked luchador, who was the uncle of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, began wrestling in 1976 and officially retired in 2009, but his last match came in April 2023 when he teamed with Aero Star and Mr. Iguana in a victory 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 with the “Misterio” spelling of his name, they added: “We send our sincerest condolences to his loved ones and raise our prayers to heaven for his eternal rest.”

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Misterio – whose son wrestles under the name El Hijo de Rey Misterio – worked his first match in January 1976 while appearing 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 Great Britain’s Chris Adams and Norman Smiley in the first round before losing to The Steiner Brothers.

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, with the WWE legend taking on his uncle’s name.

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

Misterio Sr’s death comes just weeks after Rey Mysterio’s father Robert Gutierrez died at the age of 76.

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

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

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

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

‘I knew I had a number in mind. and I said I would not pass it,’ he exclusively told Metro in Philadelphia before this year’s WrestleMania. ‘But I really listen to how my body has reacted. And my body has responded fantastically and my motivation is still at its best.’

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