For over 30 years, Rey Mysterio has built a career as one of the most revered names in the wrestling industry, and his creative, colorful masks, and their many variations, have acquired an iconic legacy in their own right.
Mysterio has racked up an extensive list of honors and accolades -- a list that will now include his status as the cover athlete for WWE 2K22.
"Representing the culture of lucha libre as the cover Superstar for WWE 2K22 is a moment of great pride for me," Mysterio said via press release. "I'm looking forward to sharing the stories behind the big moments of my career with a dedicated community of players and connecting with WWE fans in a whole new way as they play through my 2K Showcase."
After forgoing a WWE 2K release in 2021, the 2022 edition of the game -- which releases on PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well as PC on March 11 -- features a completely redesigned gameplay engine. A variety of game modes include the aforementioned 2K Showcase, which shines a spotlight on some of the biggest moments and matches of Mysterio's career in WWE and beyond.
Mysterio, 47, began his WWE journey in 2002, after an extensive career in Mexico, Japan and North American promotions WCW and ECW. He was 28 years old when he signed with WWE, and now wrestles with his 24-year-old son Dominik, with whom he has become a tag team champion.
"I think every moment, every accolade that I have throughout my career has had a different meaning," Mysterio said during a press event to reveal the WWE 2K22 cover. "Just being able to share the ring with my son [for the first time] was a very special moment. And not only that, but we became tag team Champions -- the first father and son in WWE history. It's been an incredible ride. I've enjoyed every moment that I've had in the ring, you know, from my beginning, in '89, up until now, 2022."
Status as the WWE 2K22 cover athlete follows a career in which Mysterio consistently exceeded expectations. Despite being 5-foot-6 in a world of giants, Mysterio's lucha libre acrobatics and unbelievable charisma made him a fan favorite and a three-time world champion, among a long list of other accomplishments.
And as older WWE fans relive their favorite moments of Mysterio's career, and younger fans get a better sense of his legacy, he hopes to add a few more clips to his wrestling highlight reel before all is said and done.
"Now that things have just flourished, and manifested, I'm putting this out in the world -- I want to have a WrestleMania moment with my son before I end up hanging up the mask."