Rey Mysterio is officially done with WWE. It's about time.
Let me be clear — I think Mysterio was one of the greatest performers in the past 20 years.
The last 20 years, though, doesn't justify the past three.
Mysterio spent the better part of the past three years injured or appearing sporadically with no real purpose. It was hurting his legacy.
On WWE's “Don't try this at home” campaigns, we would hear Mysterio talking about the danger in the ring with his more than five surgeries on his left knee.
Mysterio became a punchline.
Again, this doesn't erase the good in his career, but it also doesn't erase the ridiculousness of the past few.
He's been virtually irrelevant to WWE's plans due to his health. He's also a hypocritical variable.
For years, WWE should have had a lightweight or cruiserweight division that spawned a popular style and following in the 1990s with the high-flying trademarks.
WWE doesn't like that concept anymore because it limits the performers. Once a guy is labeled a Cruiserweight, he can no longer be anything else.
Mysterio defied that logic and was the smallest guy with the biggest heart. Great story, but it got old after a while.
Reality is, this is for the best.
Mysterio doesn't want to be with WWE anymore, and WWE doesn't want him anymore for booking purposes. He was a big draw to kids with the masks. But that can be replaced.
The process of Mysterio moving on and exploring the options that await him is the best business decision. WWE has been operating without him for months, so there's not much there.
Mysterio was probably the most successful WCW guy to convert to a WWE guy.
Today, he wouldn't make it past NXT given who that brand is aimed at.
Justin LaBar is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7949 or jlabar@tribweb.com.
