Rey Mysterio is arguably the best luchador in pro-wrestling history and almost certainly one of the most iconic masked men to ever set foot inside the ring to this day, but things might've been different were it not for Vince McMahon.
Related: Dominik Says Long-Term Plan Is To Take The Rey Mysterio Name
The Master of the 619 recently spoke to Graham GSM Matthews of Bleacher Report about when he joined WWE in 2002, saying that he wasn't wearing a mask at the time but that the WWE Chairman wasn't having any of it.
“It was actually WWE who brought that up, or in this case, Vince McMahon,” Mysterio said.
"I was doing my training a week prior to my debut and I was in OVW. I forgot who approached me at the time, but they said, ‘The company wants to know what type of ring attire you’re going to use for next week.’ I said, ‘What I’ve been using.’
"I was using the Scott Steiner, Big Poppa Pump chain around the head, like a gladiator chain, and a vest that went along with it. Baggy pants. They were like, ‘Where’s the mask?’ I said, ‘I haven’t been wrestling with the mask.’ ‘No, no, no. Vince wants to see you with the mask.’ (h/t Wrestlinginc)
Mysterio has previously told part of this story to Ryan Satin, but this is a more detailed version of what led to him bringing back the mask.
Prior to signing with WWE, Mysterio had unmasked during his run in WCW, moving away from the iconic look that we all know him for today.
What is Rey Mysterio Up To Now?
Rey Mysterio is currently enjoying his second stint with WWE after ending his 13-year first tenure with them in 2015.
He had a successful run teaming up with his own son Dominik where the pair became the first ever father and son tag-team champions in WWE by winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Rey Mysterio and Domink were most recently drafted to Monday Night RAW in the recent WWE Draft where Mysterio competed in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament, losing to Sami Zayn.
