Rey Mysterio recently responded to the release of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez from prison. Velasquez had been sentenced in March 2025 to five years after pleading no contest to charges connected to a 2022 shooting in California’s South Bay region. His sentence accounted for 1,283 days already served.
The legal case stemmed from an incident where Velasquez, 43, pursued Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son. During an 11-mile chase, Velasquez reportedly fired multiple shots at the vehicle carrying Goularte, injuring Goularte’s stepfather in the process.
On February 15, Velasquez was released on parole from California State Prison, having received credit for time served and good conduct. Following his release, Rey Mysterio shared photos on Instagram with Velasquez posing alongside WWE personalities, marking the former fighter’s return home.
“619iamlucha 4 h Welcome back home @officialcainvelasquez 💯Respeto 🙏🏼, ” Rey Mysterio wrote in the caption.
Velasquez’s WWE Journey: Training and Matches with Rey Mysterio
Cain Velasquez first appeared on WWE’s SmackDown in October 2019 with Rey Mysterio by his side. His debut involved confronting Brock Lesnar, a former UFC opponent, to seek retribution for Lesnar’s attacks on Mysterio and his son, Dominik.
The confrontation led to a WWE Championship match between Velasquez and Lesnar at Crown Jewel. Rey Mysterio personally trained Velasquez for his WWE in-ring debut in San Diego after the fighter signed a contract with the organization. Though Velasquez was defeated by Lesnar and further attacked post-match with a steel chair, Rey intervened to protect him.
WWE had planned to feature Velasquez more extensively, but an injury curtailed his wrestling career, eventually leading to his release from WWE in April 2020.
Implications of Velasquez’s Release and Future Prospects
The release of Cain Velasquez marks a significant moment for both the MMA fighter and the wrestling community. Rey Mysterio’s public support shows solidarity and may signal continued interactions between the two within WWE or related wrestling circles. How Velasquez’s past legal issues will influence his professional future remains uncertain, but his return has already sparked attention among fans and insiders.
The complex circumstances surrounding the shooting and Velasquez’s reaction to his son’s alleged abuse have generated tension and concern in the wrestling world and beyond. Expect discussions regarding athlete conduct, personal trauma response, and legal boundaries to continue as Velasquez navigates his path following release.
