Dominik Mysterio admits his WWE debut was a mistake at such a younger age: ‘This isn’t going to work’

Dominik Mysterio’s evolution must be studied forward of WWE SummerSlam. A beneficiary {of professional} wrestling nepotism, Dominik’s early run along with his father, Rey Mysterio, was closely panned by followers. It was an excessive amount of, too quickly, even by Dominik’s admission.

Dominik defends his intercontinental title in opposition to future WWE Corridor of Famer AJ Kinds on the fifth anniversary of his debut in a tag workforce match with Rey in opposition to Seth Rollins and Murphy. It is a highlight he deserves, an announcement his detractors would not imagine 5 years in the past. Dominik, 23 on the time, had two years of coaching beneath the tutelage of famend wrestler Jay Deadly. Such steerage can solely put together you a lot for WWE’s brilliant lights. The followers did not purchase it, and neither did Dominik.

“As quickly as I noticed myself on TV for the primary time, I assumed, ‘What are they considering?'” Dominik mentioned whereas discussing his collaboration with Chase Freedom. “I perceive it was the COVID period, they usually have been attempting issues.

“There isn’t any cause, rhyme or method why I ought to have been on the market in any approach, form or type wrestling with any of these guys. I assumed, ‘This isn’t going to work.'”

It took years for Mysterio to get the proper sort of boos. He turned a nook as soon as by betraying his father and aligning with Judgment Day. The cut up allowed Dominik to type his personal id — a petulant, ungrateful nepo-baby cosplaying as a hardened jail thug. Mysterio cannot pinpoint precisely when it occurred, however he knew he was onto one thing when crowds began drowning him out with jeers. WWE followers shifted from disliking the performer to despising the character.

“I have been studying on the job since I debuted,” Dominik mentioned. “All of that is new for me. Even a few of the strikes you see me do, I’ve by no means carried out them till the primary time on dwell tv. That is how I have been studying. That is how I have been taught. That is how issues go. So after I began getting that response, I used to be very shocked and did not know find out how to navigate it.”

The Judgment Day was invaluable to Dominik’s upward trajectory. Mysterio had a brand new on-screen household with a vested curiosity in his success. Three years in the past, Finn Balor — who Mysterio refers to as his wrestling step-dad — instructed CBS Sports activities he wished to make Dominik “snug,” acknowledging his alternative was “rushed in a cutthroat enterprise.” 

“I had lots of people assist me within the again to discover ways to react relying on what response I acquired, find out how to play with the group. That is if you began seeing me get extra snug enjoying with the group… I am nonetheless studying to today and figuring it out.” 

SummerSlam additionally marks 20 years for the reason that notorious “Custody of Dominik” ladder match between Rey and Eddie Guerrero, a surreal milestone for a now-grown Dominik, who’s commemorating the event with a marketing campaign for Chase Freedom.

“I bear in mind particularly asking my deadbeat dad, ‘Do you suppose I ought to develop a mullet?’ He mentioned, ‘I do not know, you may strive. It isn’t for all people.’ Certain sufficient, he was mistaken as soon as once more,” Dominik mentioned. “I ought to have slapped him with my Chase Freedom card.” 

As a part of the marketing campaign, Dominik confirmed off his highway gear, together with a Michelle Pfeiffer “Scarface” shirt.

“Being on the highway continuously with my rental automobiles, accommodations and meals, all of the money again I can get is actually tremendous, tremendous useful,” Mysterio mentioned. “I do not do that, so far as speaking about issues I take advantage of or like, so the very fact I am doing it with one thing I take advantage of on the every day is cool.” 

Dominik acquired considered one of WrestleMania 41’s loudest cheers when he captured his first most important roster singles title, a reward justifying his skilled development. The response was unfathomable from an viewers that had scolded him years earlier. Between his intercontinental title protection at SummerSlam and headlining AAA’s TripleMania later this month, the sky is the restrict for this as soon as maligned Mysterio.