Rey Mysterio Calls Lucha Underground The ‘Evolution Of Wrestling’, Talks His Spot On The Roster, Honoring Eddie Guerrero

Rey Mysterio recently spoke with Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated Extra Mustard‘s “Week In Wrestling”, promoting the current season of Lucha Underground. You can read some highlights below: 

Rey Mysterio describes Lucha Underground, tells people to watch now instead of joining in future seasons:

“Lucha Underground is the evolution of wrestling. It’s high style, high flying, fast-paced hybrid style wrestling, and we’re actually paying homage to lucha libre for the first time. The feel that it has with character development and backstage vignettes is very cinematic. If you thought you’d seen it all in wrestling, check again.”

“People said to me, ‘Watch Sons [of Anarchy], you’re going to love it.’ I started watching while season four was on, so I had to go back to the beginning. I probably saw the first four seasons in one day–that’s how hooked I was. Speaking from experience, Lucha Underground is going to have you feeling the same way. Lucha Underground is what’s really happening right now. It’s something refreshing, something new, and it’s almost like a cult following right now. Catch on now before it’s too late.”

The benefit of Lucha Underground’s schedule compared to full-time with WWE:

“The schedule works perfect for me. I can pick and choose right now the amount of days I get to work throughout the year. Keep in mind that one season of Lucha Underground is forty episodes–but I’m not necessarily wrestling on all forty of those episodes, so we’re talking even less days. And that, to me, is a blessing.

“As you get older, your body doesn’t hold up as much. My body isn’t even as good as it was in my 30’s, and I felt like I was in my prime then, but I can still go and still entertain the fans like I want to.”

Mysterio talks about knowing where to fit in among the Lucha Underground roster who were with the company before him: 

“I’m happy to be a part of the show and part of the roster and, in a way, be a mentor. I understand the attraction that I bring to the table, which is great, and I love to take baby steps. Even though I’ve been through so much in career, from AAA to WWE, I like to respect and give everyone their place. I wasn’t part of the first season–I came in towards the end of the second. There were guys in line before me, and I respect that. They deserve opportunities, as well. In time, I’ll definitely know where I should position myself in Lucha Underground.”

Mysterio talks about continuing to honor Eddie Guerrero:

“Always, I always feel that. That’s why I have a tattoo of a cross and a tombstone with his initials. That speaks to how important Eddie was and how much he influenced me. He was a very important part of my life. His memory has never faded, and it shouldn’t fade.”