Dominik Mysterio’s rise from a second-generation name to one of the most effective heels in recent years has been one of WWE programming’s biggest success stories. Recently, he caught the attention of a former world champion who praised Mysterio, calling him a “prime example” of growth.
Dominik Mysterio made his in-ring debut at SummerSlam 2020. He started as a babyface teaming with his father, Rey Mysterio, before reinventing himself as “Dirty Dom” after joining The Judgment Day. That shift completely changed his career.
The heel turn also unlocked Mysterio’s biggest strength. The crowd reaction he invokes. Today, he is one of the most loudly booed wrestlers in WWE. He can draw heat even before he speaks. What makes it stand out is that the reaction feels natural, not forced.
Besides character work, he also became one of WWE’s most reliable in-ring performers, wrestling over 100 matches in 2023.
Former WWE Champion Highlights Dominik Mysterio’s Development
Speaking with Compas On The Beat at Super Bowl Radio Row, Big E talked about how much Mysterio has changed since his early days. He pointed out that Mysterio looks far more confident and comfortable than when he first started traveling with the company.
“He is someone we talk often, on the panel, about guys who have really grown, and he is a prime example,” Big E said. “When he first came on the road, he came up with his dad; you could tell he was green, you could tell he wasn’t quite comfortable.”
He also used Mysterio’s journey to make a bigger point about fans and insiders being too quick to judge. “But, I think, too many times, it’s an example that we, too often, will throw away talent. We’ll say “he’s not ready”, “Eh, he doesn’t have it”, “I don’t know”, “he should go back down to NXT”, “fire him,” Big E continued.
He talked about the importance of allowing performers the space to grow, something he says helped him during his own career. In Dirty Dom’s case, Big E believes he took that opportunity and ran with it. “He’s someone that, when you see him, you believe every word that comes out of his mouth. The way he carries himself, his confidence. I can’t speak highly enough of his growth as a talent,” he said.
The former WWE Champion pointed out that Mysterio’s best years are still ahead of him. “He’s done an incredible job and he’s still so young. He’s not even 30 yet. He’s just going to get better and better, so shout out to him and all the work he’s done,” Big E concluded.
Dominik Mysterio is a two-time NXT North American Champion, a former AAA Mega Champion, and the current WWE Intercontinental Champion. Between 2023 and 2025, he amassed several monumental achievements. He was named PWI’s “Most Hated Wrestler of the Year” twice. Dominik Mysterio also headlined Raw, SmackDown, and NXT in the same week.
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