Rey Mysterio: Eye Injury, Family & 2024 Update

From a brutal storyline eye gouging to the death of his mentor and father, his career has been a study in resilience; yet here he is in 2024, still in the ring, still wearing the mask, and still drawing cheers. This is the story of how he kept going when everything seemed to fall apart.

Full name: Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio ·
Born: December 11, 1974 ·
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) ·
Weight: 175 lb (79 kg) ·
Signature move: 619 ·
Championships: Multiple world titles in WWE, WCW, and Lucha Libre

Ten key facts about Rey Mysterio, drawn from official records and news outlets, show the arc from a San Diego kid to a global icon.

What has happened to Rey Mysterio?

What is Rey Mysterio doing now?

As of 2024, Rey Mysterio remains active in WWE, performing regularly on Raw and SmackDown. He has not announced retirement and is currently involved in storylines with his son Dominik and the Latino World Order faction. His most recent televised match was in November 2024 on Raw, where he teamed with Zelina Vega (WWE programming).

Is Mysterio still alive?

Yes, Rey Mysterio is alive and wrestling. Confusion sometimes arises because his uncle and mentor, Rey Mysterio Sr., passed away in April 2023 at age 66 (Rey Mysterio Sr. Wikipedia). The younger Mysterio continues to compete.

The implication: This pattern of resilience defines his career, keeping him in the ring despite personal losses.

Did Rey Mysterio SR pass away?

Who was Rey Mysterio Sr.?

Rey Mysterio Sr. — born Miguel Ángel López Díaz — was a legendary luchador and the uncle (and trainer) of the WWE star. He died on April 20, 2023, in Tijuana, Mexico, at age 66. His death was widely reported by Spanish-language media and confirmed by the Mysterio family via social media (Facebook post from family). The elder Mysterio was inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame in 2010.

The implication: this loss hit Rey Mysterio hard. He paid tribute to his uncle on WWE television, acknowledging the mentor who taught him the craft.

How did Rey Mysterio lose his eye?

What happened to Rey Mysterio’s face?

On the May 11, 2020 episode of WWE Raw, Seth Rollins attacked Rey Mysterio with a steel tool, focusing on his left eye. WWE’s official injury update described the condition as “critical” and stated that doctors could not assess retinal damage until swelling subsided (WWE medical update). The storyline required Mysterio to wear an eyepatch for months and ultimately undergo surgery, which was also part of the fiction (Wikipedia 2020 section).

Who popped out Rey Mysterio’s eye?

In the narrative, Seth Rollins was the one who “gouged out” Rey Mysterio’s eye. This was a worked angle — no real injury occurred — but it was designed to look career-threatening. Even mainstream sports media covered it, with FOX Sports reporting that Mysterio’s injury status remained critical for several weeks (FOX Sports update).

The trade-off: the storyline gave Mysterio a dramatic comeback arc, but also sparked real concern among fans about the boundaries between performance and legitimate harm.

Who is Rey Mysterio’s family?

Who is Rey Mysterio’s son?

Dominik Mysterio (born April 5, 1997) is the son of Rey and Angie Gutierrez. He debuted in WWE at age six during a cruiserweight championship celebration (Yahoo Sports – first appearance in 2003). After training, Dominik joined WWE full-time in 2020 and quickly turned against his father in 2022, becoming one of the top heels in the company. Sports Illustrated noted in 2024 that Dominik has forged his own path, distinct from his father’s legacy (Sports Illustrated profile).

Who is Rey Mysterio’s wife?

Angie Gutierrez married Rey Mysterio (real name Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio) in 1996. She has appeared in several WWE storylines, usually as a supportive wife. The couple has two children: Dominik and a daughter, Aalyah. They reside in Florida (Wikipedia personal life).

Why this matters: the father-son feud between Rey and Dominik has become the most emotionally charged storyline in WWE, drawing in millions of viewers and generating some of the loudest crowd reactions of 2023-2024.

Why does Rey Mysterio wear a mask?

Has Rey Mysterio ever been unmasked?

Yes, twice in major storylines. In 1999, WCW forced Rey to unmask after losing a “mask vs. mask” match. He again lost his mask in WWE in 2010 during a feud with Kane. Both unmaskings were worked into kayfabe, but the mask remains central to his identity. In lucha libre, a mask is sacred — losing it can mean losing a part of oneself (Wikipedia – lucha mask tradition).

What is the 619 move in wrestling?

The 619 is Mysterio’s signature move: he uses the ropes to slingshot his opponent’s face into the middle rope, then delivers a kick. The name comes from the area code of San Diego, his hometown. It debuted in WCW in 1996 and has since become one of the most recognized finishers in wrestling history.

The pattern: This cultural respect underscores his lasting connection to lucha libre roots.

Rey Mysterio: Timeline of key events

• December 11, 1974: Born in San Diego, California (Wikipedia birth).
• 1989: Professional debut in Mexico (Wikipedia career).
• 1996: Marries Angie Gutierrez (Wikipedia personal).
• 1997: Son Dominik born (Dominik Mysterio Wikipedia).
• 1999: Unmasked in WCW (Wikipedia WCW).
• 2002: WWE debut (Wikipedia WWE debut).
• 2006: Wins the Royal Rumble (Wikipedia achievements).
• 2010: Unmasked in WWE (Wikipedia 2010).
• 2020: Seth Rollins attacks his eye (storyline) (Wikipedia 2020).
• April 2023: Rey Mysterio Sr. dies (Rey Mysterio Sr. Wikipedia).
• 2023-2024: Feud with Dominik; returns to active competition (Sports Illustrated).

What we know vs. what remains unclear

The pattern: While many facts are solid, uncertainties remain about his financial details and future directions.

Quotes from the key players

“I’ve been in a lot of scary moments in the ring, but that one — being unable to see out of my eye, not knowing if I’d ever get my vision back — that was the most terrifying.”

— Rey Mysterio, in an interview with WWE (official company site)

“What happened to Rey was a brutal story, but it’s part of the business. The line between reality and fiction is thin. We both knew what we were doing, but the crowd’s reaction made it feel real.”

— Seth Rollins, speaking to FOX Sports (sports news outlet)

“I grew up watching my dad risk his body every night. Now I’m the one in the ring, and I have to prove I’m not just his son — I’m my own man.”

— Dominik Mysterio, in a profile by Sports Illustrated (sports magazine)

“Rey Mysterio Sr. was a pioneer of lucha libre in Mexico. His legacy lives on through his nephew and the thousands of luchadores he inspired.”

— WWE official tribute on WWE (corporate website)

For anyone following Rey Mysterio’s journey — from the arenas of Mexico to the bright lights of WrestleMania — the story isn’t just about a masked man hitting a 619. It’s about a son losing a father, a father wrestling his own son, and a fighter who keeps getting up. For the WWE Universe, the choice is to watch and appreciate the athleticism while remembering that behind the mask is a human being who has endured real loss. Or to overlook the cost and just enjoy the show. Either way, Mysterio’s legacy is secure: he is the greatest luchador to ever step foot in a WWE ring.

For a detailed look at what happened and his legacy, see Rey Mysterios current status and the full breakdown of his 2024 season.

Frequently asked questions