The Brutal Physical Toll of a High-Flying Sports Entertainment Career
At 51 years old, Rey Mysterio continues to defy father time and amaze WWE fans worldwide. The masked icon recently delivered another spectacular performance against Penta during a RAW event at Paris's Accor Arena, proving he still has plenty of fuel left in the tank despite a grueling career.
Speaking on The Late Run podcast, the former world champion detailed the horrific physical toll of his high-flying style. Mysterio revealed a shocking medical history on his left knee alone, which includes 14 ACL tears alongside multiple meniscus and PCL ruptures suffered over decades inside the squared circle.
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The veteran attributed these severe injuries to his signature aerial maneuvers, such as the Frankensteiner and Hurricanrana. Mysterio explained that landing repeatedly with his knees bending inward gradually stretched and tore his ligaments, a dangerous cycle worsened by his youthful stubbornness to keep competing through the pain.
The physical burnout almost forced Mysterio into retirement five years ago when he admitted to losing his passion for the sport. However, his son Dominik Mysterio deciding to enter the wrestling industry completely revitalized his spirit, reigniting a competitive flame that continues to burn brightly today.