Wrestling icon Rey Mysterio sat down for an exclusive interview to discuss his legendary career, the impact of NXT, his video game appearances, and his thoughts on his son, Dominik Mysterio’s rise in WWE.

The lucha libre superstar doesn’t shy away from the moniker of “legend.” Mysterio said the term is a sign of respect for his 35+ years in the industry, as is the imitation often seen from other wrestlers on the WWE roster. In February, NXT superstar Stephanie Vaquer performed Mysterio’s trademark “619” maneuver on Jacy Jayne. Mysterio said the tribute is part of a real-life bond and respect the two performers share.

“Saturday after the [Royal] Rumble, we were all hanging out, and [Vaquer] was one of the female superstars that was part of our group socially that night, and every time she sees me, she always calls me ‘legend,’” Mysterio recounted. “It’s it’s out of respect. It’s out of paying homage. And she’s an incredible wrestler. I very much enjoy her work.”

Vaquer’s rise through the NXT system represents a new and welcome era in professional wrestling, in which up-and-coming superstars can hone their skills in the development league before taking their talents to Raw or SmackDown. It’s a system that Mysterio wished existed in his early days in WCW.

“My first tryout match with WCW was a pay-per-view,” Mysterio said, adding that the company’s management had never seen him perform before he faced off against Dean Malenko in the opening match of 1996’s Great American Bash. “I had no idea what a non-live television match was.”

It was just the start of an epic career that has earned the superstar a WWE Hall of Fame induction and 31+ video game appearances for Mysterio, starting with WCW/NWO World Tour on the Nintendo 64. It’s that game and WCW/NWO Revenge that fans still tell Mysterio sits above the rest as an all-time great.

“A lot of fans played that game, and still to this day, they think that’s one of the best games that’s been out there,” Mysterio said.

For Mysterio, WWE is a family affair. From his relationship with his son “Dirty” Dominick Mysterio to his relationship with professional wrestling fans across several generations, Mysterio said WrestleMania 41, taking place in April in Las Vegas, is the perfect place for families to get together and enjoy their shared love of sports entertainment.

“It’s a bond that goes generations before… grandfather with the dad, he sat down and watched this. Now, the dad with the son and the grandfather,” Mysterio said. “It’s a generational thing.”

WWE World, the weeklong fan event at the Las Vegas Convention Center, unites those generations in their fandom of professional wrestling, offering superstar autograph sessions and photo ops, a superstore, and memorabilia displays. Mysterio said the spectacle of WrestleMania continues to grow annually.

“You realize how [much] bigger and bigger and bigger year after year this event becomes,” Mysterio said. “The fact that we have… wrestling every day for that whole week makes it special.”

And despite his villainous ways, it’s abundantly clear that Mysterio is incredibly proud of his son, “Dirty” Dom. The legend even labeled an interaction the two shared at a Las Vegas WWE event in 2023 as one of the most memorable moments the two have shared since birth.

“Seeing his progress and the evolution of Dominick, from day one… he has his own identity now,” Mysterio said. “I’m so proud of him.”

The landmark WrestleMania week that will take over Las Vegas in April will feature not just the two-night mega event but also WWE Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Stand and Deliver at T-Mobile Arena in the days surrounding WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium.

For his part, Mysterio believes that it is the perfect time for the “showcase of the immortals” to return to the sports and entertainment capital of the world for the first time since 1993.

“In 41 years… we’ve been to LA twice. We’ve been to a lot of places two or three times,” Mysterio said. “You would think that we would have been back [to Las Vegas] sooner, but I think it’s the right time.”

Tickets to WWE World are on sale now, while Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Stand and Deliver combination tickets go on pre-sale on February 12 at 10 a.m. and on general sale on February 14 at 10 a.m. on AXS. Tickets to each individual event will be on sale in the future.