Few would argue that Rey Mysterio is not WWE’s most popular and iconic luchador in the company’s history.
At 50 years old, however, his in-ring career is undoubtedly in its final stretch, and he is currently sidelined with a groin injury — one of many he has endured over the years.
WWE has tried, and failed, to position a successor in the past, with various luchadores never catching fire in the way Mysterio did. But with the company’s recent purchase of Mexican promotion AAA, WWE now has both access to a wider pool of luchadores and a clear incentive to finally establish a new top lucha star.
Here are six potential WWE replacements for Rey Mysterio.
6. Penta
Penta completed his long-speculated move from AEW to WWE in January.
Since arriving in the company, the charismatic 40-year-old has been widely embraced by WWE’s fanbase.
That should come as no surprise — the Mexican star possesses an uber-charisma that arguably went untapped during his AEW run.
Already, Penta is perhaps the most over masked luchador in WWE since Rey Mysterio — but could the company push him to the upper echelon of the card in the same way they once did with Mysterio?
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5. Dragon Lee
Dragon Lee was once touted not just as one of the best luchadores in pro wrestling, but as one of the best in-ring performers overall — for many, a can’t-miss star.
Sadly that has yet to fully materialise in WWE; while he arrived in the company with much fanfare in 2023, he has so far been underutilised in the company, with his in-ring style noticeably toned down.
Since WWE’s purchase of AAA however we have seen the supremely talented 30-year-old given more spotlight — appearing on July’s Worlds Collide show and in the four-way main event at AAA’s Triplemanía on 16 August — suggesting the company may finally have plans for him.
Talent-wise, Dragon Lee certainly has the tools to succeed Rey Mysterio as WWE’s top luchador — but the big question is whether the company already sees him as a mid-card act.
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4. El Hijo del Vikingo
Since WWE announced their plans to purchase AAA over WrestleMania 41 weekend, El Hijo del Vikingo has been presented as the promotion’s top star.
The 28-year-old has been featured on WWE programming while, at WWE’s behest, AAA put their top title — the AAA Mega Championship — back on him, a move that hasn’t gone down well with much of the Mexican fanbase, who have been booing the babyface ever since.
Over the past few years, Vikingo has arguably been pro wrestling’s most spectacular luchador, capable of pulling off moves never seen before in the ring, and WWE clearly has plans for him with an eventual main roster run.
There are obvious parallels between Vikingo and Rey Mysterio — both innovative, undersized luchadores who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in their eras — but can Vikingo also match Mysterio’s charisma?
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3. Psycho Clown
While El Hijo del Vikingo is being pushed by WWE as AAA’s top star, in Mexico the most popular and beloved figure on the roster remains Psycho Clown.
The 39-year-old luchador isn’t the spectacular high-flyer Vikingo is, but with his memorable mask, elongated tongue design, and fiery, flame-thrower touting entrances, he’s one of the most charismatic performers in all lucha libre.
Psycho Clown recently appeared on WWE main roster programming, teaming with Mr. Iguana against Los Garza on the August 1 edition of SmackDown, suggesting WWE does have plans for him.
However, the spotlight of that appearance seemed aimed more at the stuffed-animal-carrying Iguana than Psycho Clown, so despite his immense popularity in Mexico, it feels unlikely WWE sees him as Rey Mysterio’s successor.
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2. Mr. Iguana
One of the more surprising developments since WWE’s purchase of AAA has been the fanbase’s immediate embrace of Mr. Iguana.
Unlike AAA’s headline names like Psycho Clown, Alberto El Patrón, and Vikingo, Mr. Iguana has traditionally been an opening-card comedy act, with his stuffed lizard spots central to the routine.
Given how quickly WWE’s audience took to the 38-year-old, it’s clear the company has plans for him — underlined by the fact his image has already been featured on WWE’s official roster page.
A full-time move to WWE proper feels inevitable, but whether he is the man to replace Rey Mysterio is another question, as his comedy-based act could see him capped at a certain level.
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1. Mistico
Mistico was the first man WWE ever tried to position as Rey Mysterio’s successor.
In 2011, he was Mexico’s biggest luchador, leading CMLL through one of its hottest periods, but rechristened as Sin Cara in WWE, his run was a historic failure that left both sides burned.
In recent years, however, the 42-year-old has caught fire again in Mexico, sparking an even hotter run than in the 2000s and becoming not just the biggest star in Mexico but arguably in all of pro wrestling this year.
Given his immense popularity, it feels entirely possible WWE could once again make a play for the luchador and use him to replace Rey Mysterio.
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