Dominik Mysterio, son of the legendary Rey Mysterio, has carved his own path in WWE, marked by significant physical changes and a compelling in-ring evolution. From his early appearances as a child in his father's storylines to becoming a WWE Intercontinental Champion and AAA Mega Champion, Dominik's journey involves not only wrestling prowess but also a commitment to fitness and a willingness to adapt his physique.
Early Life and Introduction to Wrestling
Dominik Gutiérrez was born on April 5, 1997. Long before Dominik grew into the 6-foot-2, 190-pound, tattooed young man he is today, he was a shy, bleach-blond third grader afraid to speak in front of his class, let alone in front of millions on live TV. Growing up around wrestling, Dominik was first introduced to the WWE audience at a young age, notably during a storyline involving his father and Eddie Guerrero in 2005. This storyline, where Guerrero claimed to be Dominik's biological father, culminated in a ladder match at SummerSlam with Dominik's custody at stake. Before it could happen, Rey and his wife, Angie, sat down with their son to ask if he'd be willing to play the part. Rey said it was Guerrero, known as "Uncle Eddie" by the family (though not a blood relative), who convinced Dominik to become an integral part of their feud. When Dominik agreed to take part, he traveled the country with his father every week to WWE shows, making towns. An agreement had to be reached with his parents and teachers to do classwork while on the road, but Dominik got to live every kid's dream. He enjoyed the long drives with his dad. He befriended Chris Benoit's son David as they played together backstage. He was getting paid to appear on TV with his dad, and when he wasn't busy with that, he joined ring announcer Tony Chimel's kids and made some extra cash picking up wrestlers' jackets after they made their entrances and bringing them back to the locker room. Dominik's on-screen debut came during a vignette filmed at a playground in California. The scene called for Dominik to ask "Uncle Eddie" to push him down a slide. Despite Guerrero's villainous on-screen persona, behind the scenes he guided a timid Dominik throughout the storyline. This early exposure laid the foundation for his eventual career in professional wrestling.
Training and Debut
Dominik initially pursued football in high school, showcasing his athleticism as a safety. However, his passion eventually shifted to wrestling, leading him to seek training under his father, Rey Mysterio, and other wrestling veterans like Konnan and independent wrestler B-Boy in San Diego. They walked Dominik through tumbling, hitting the ropes and bumping, which is wrestling terminology for falling on your back. "I always wanted to give it a shot and just jump in the ring and see how I felt," Dominik said. "As soon as I stepped in there, it was a different feeling. I loved it, man. I couldn't let it go at that point." "I spotted right away that he was picking it up pretty fast," Rey said. Dominik's training also included stints with Jay Lethal in Tampa, Florida, and Lance Storm in Calgary, Alberta. Storm noted how well Dominik moved, rolling and bumping with fluidity and coordination. "Almost every class, you can divide them into thirds," Storm said. "There's people who struggle that you don't think have much of a chance. There's the large group in the middle; they're doing OK. And then there's those that you go, 'OK, these guys have an aptitude; there's a chance they could do well in this job.' I definitely would put Dom in that third group. If anyone is looking for a referral or anything more than 'He's Rey's kid,' I would tell them he went through the same paces as everybody else. He never bitched and took his bumps and paid his dues."
He made his official WWE debut at SummerSlam 2020 against Seth Rollins. With three years of training under his belt, debuting at WWE's second-biggest event of the year was a lot to process. "I was speechless," said Dominik. "The fact that my first official match would be at SummerSlam against Seth Rollins, it's …" "It's mind-blowing," said Rey.
Physical Transformation and Weight Management in WWE
Like many professional wrestlers, Dominik Mysterio has undergone physical transformations throughout his career. WWE, like other wrestling promotions, places a significant emphasis on the physical appearance and conditioning of its performers.
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Throughout WWE's history, there have been instances where wrestlers were encouraged to lose weight or alter their physiques to meet the company's standards or the needs of a particular storyline. Vince McMahon has encouraged several Superstars to improve their lifestyles by losing weight, while one former NXT performer was even asked if he could stop weight training to avoid looking too similar to a character that he previously portrayed. Speaking on his Something to Wrestle With podcast, WWE director Bruce Prichard recalled that Big Show was sent to the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) developmental territory earlier in his career because he needed to lose weight and get in ring shape. Prichard said it was not uncommon for Big Show to have four burgers, 40 chicken nuggets and a milkshake in the same meal during that period of his WWE career.
Gangrel reflected on his 30 years in wrestling and recalled that he was told to lose weight during his time as an enhancement talent. Edge and Christian's former on-screen ally said WWE officials had a change of heart and they wanted him to have fangs again and shorter hair. The Blue Meanie reminisced about the time that he received a message on his answering machine from then-WWE Superstar Al Snow following an independent show in Pittsburgh in 1998. The veteran wrestler also told Sapp that he was encouraged to lose weight during his initial one-year run in WWE, so he drastically altered his diet and ended up dropping 160 lbs in a short space of time. "When I was with WWE they had asked me to lose weight. So, I went and lost 160 pounds. And I was seeing Headbanger Mosh’s brother John, who’s a nutritionist. I remember sending Leon [Vader] and Yokozuna to the Duke Weight Loss Clinic at Duke University in North Carolina. I got the first report and they had only been there a week and they had gained weight.
While specific details of Dominik Mysterio's weight loss diet and workout regimen are not publicly documented, it is reasonable to assume that he follows a structured plan to maintain his physique. This likely includes:
- Diet: A balanced diet focused on lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Wrestlers often need to consume a high amount of protein to support muscle growth and repair.
- Weight Training: Regular weightlifting to build and maintain muscle mass.
- Cardiovascular Exercise: Cardio workouts to improve endurance and burn calories.
- Professional Guidance: Consultation with nutritionists and trainers to optimize his diet and workout plans.
Career Highlights and Storylines
Dominik's career in WWE has been marked by several significant milestones:
- SmackDown Tag Team Championship: He won the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship with his father, becoming the first father-son team to achieve this feat.
- Joining The Judgment Day: Dominik turned on his father to join the villainous stable, The Judgment Day, showcasing a significant character change.
- Intercontinental Championship: On Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 on April 20, Dominik defeated Bálor, Penta and defending champion Bron Breakker in a fatal four-way match to win the Intercontinental Championship. He successfully defended the title against Penta the next night on Raw and at Backlash on May 20.
- AAA Mega Championship: Mysterio also appears in WWE's sister promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where he is in his first reign as AAA Mega Champion.
His storylines have often blurred the lines between reality and fiction, drawing on his personal history and family connections to create compelling narratives. In the summer of 2022, the Mysterios began feuding with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley) over their attempts to recruit Dominik into the group and betray his father. At SummerSlam on July 30, the Mysterios defeated Bálor and Priest following interference from the returning Edge. After losing an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match on the following episode of Raw, The Judgment Day attacked Dominik and Rey. Edge came out to save them, but accidentally speared Dominik. The following week, Dominik confronted Edge and shoved him. At Clash at the Castle on September 3, Dominik accompanied Rey and Edge for their match against Bálor and Priest, which they won. On the April 15 episode of Raw, Dominik suffered a legitimate elbow injury during a match with Andrade, and was believed to be out of in ring action for “about six to eight weeks”. During this time, he began a storyline with Liv Morgan, having accidentally helped her defeat Becky Lynch for the Women's World Championship at King and Queen of the Ring on May 25. Two nights later on Raw, after accidentally helping her retain the title against Lynch, Morgan kissed Dominik. During the following weeks, as part of her plan to take everything from Ripley, Morgan continuously flirted with Dominik in an attempt to win him over. On the July 8 episode of Raw, Dominik and Morgan defeated Rey and Zelina Vega when Dominik pinned his father.
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Overcoming Challenges and Future Prospects
Dominik's journey has not been without its challenges. Stepping out of his father's shadow and establishing himself as a credible performer required dedication and resilience. Dominik will wrestle his first match in front of even fewer fans -- zero in attendance, to be exact -- but millions will be watching from home. He may be in this … Rey certainly didn't expect Dominik to end up where he is at this moment. He said the initial plan for his son was to sign with WWE, get a developmental deal and start training at the Performance Center. With the PC training sessions temporarily shut down due to the WWE taking over the complex to produce its weekly shows, plans changed. After taking part in a storyline that involved Rey and Brock Lesnar in 2019, and getting to hit a dual version of Rey's famed 619, Dominik re-entered the weekly WWE fold when Rey began battling Seth Rollins. There were some histrionics, including over-the-top violence to Rey's eye, and eventually a brutal attack on Dominik with a kendo stick that left him bruised all over his torso. But that led to where everything stands today. The opportunity for Dominik to prove himself against the biggest star WWE has to offer was far too great to pass up. So what should fans expect from the first match of Dominik's career Sunday at SummerSlam? Well, even he isn't so sure.
His ability to adapt, learn, and connect with the audience has solidified his position as a rising star in WWE. As Dominik continues to evolve both physically and as a performer, his future in professional wrestling appears bright.
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