Rey Mysterio recently shared his perspective on his son Dominik’s path into professional wrestling and explained the significance behind Dominik’s neck tattoo. Since making his wrestling debut in 2020 alongside his father, Dominik has developed into a prominent figure in the industry, now competing as a villainous character and holding major titles such as the WWE Intercontinental Championship and AAA Mega Championship, which he defends at AAA Rey de Reyes.
The relationship between Rey and Dominik has changed drastically, evolving from father-son partners in the ring to adversaries following Dominik’s shift to the Judgment Day faction. During an appearance on the show What Do You Want To Talk About? hosted by Cody Rhodes, Rey addressed common questions about whether he influenced Dominik’s decision to wrestle and spoke openly about the meaning behind Dominik’s distinctive tattoo.
Understanding Dominik’s Growth and Wrestling Evolution
Rey offered insight into Dominik’s development since entering wrestling. He expressed a mix of admiration and surprise at how Dominik has shaped his own identity within the sport.
“I pretty much have seen more than I could imagine, with the growth of Dom and his evolution here in the sport. And how he’s grown, and how he’s become his individual self, and then the place that he’s carrying and taking the name to. Which I always, deep down inside, thought that he would be bigger and better than me in a different way. And I guess this is the way. Which is also funny ’cause my wife said that if he ever wrestled, that she always saw him as a bad guy. And here is, [laughs] here is the bad guy, that my wife — obviously spent way more time with him than I did, because I was always on the road. So I guess she saw a side of him that I am now seeing. [laughs] Obviously I didn’t know.”
– Rey Mysterio
How Dominik Came to Choose Wrestling as a Career
Rey clarified that Dominik’s decision to enter wrestling was not forced by him but rather a choice Dominik made himself after exploring other interests. He recounted Dominik’s gradual journey toward the ring.
“I get this question asked a lot, ‘Did you ever insist on Dom to follow in your footsteps?’ Yeah I mean, he loved it as a kid. And then eventually like every other kid, grew out of it and then wanted to play football and do this and do that. And it’s not until he got older, 19 years old, that he had nowhere else to go or what to do. And he said, ‘Well I wanna see if I could make it in wrestling.’ I don’t even think he knew what he wanted to do exactly. But it was there. He learned, he captured it, he focused, and that’s the end result, right now.”
– Rey Mysterio
Meaning Behind Dominik’s Neck Tattoo
Rey commented on the symbolism held in Dominik’s neck tattoo, which features the Aztec calendar and the mask of Rey’s uncle, a wrestler who inspired Rey himself to enter the sport.
“I think he overheard me saying that I was going to get a neck tattoo and he jumped right to it so that way he can say my dad copied me. My deadbeat dad. No, I love the fact that he’s paying homage to my uncle, the person that — I fell in love with the sport because of him. I grew up watching him, my life has always been wrestling because of my uncle and that was the very first mask that he designed and wore.”
So it’s special, and it has meaning to it. Which is what a tattoo should have, right?
– Rey Mysterio
The Impact of Dominik’s Path on the Wrestling World
Dominik’s rise from a novice wrestler to a major heel champion adds a complex narrative to the WWE landscape, especially considering his initial alliance and subsequent conflict with his father. His distinct identity, marked by his tattoo and uncompromising persona, signals a new chapter for the Mysterio legacy in wrestling. Fans will be watching closely to see how Dominik’s career unfolds, particularly at upcoming events like AAA Rey de Reyes, where he represents the legacy of both his family and the sport’s rich tradition.
