If you’ve spent any time watching professional wrestling over the last thirty years, you know the name Rey Mysterio. But for many fans, there is a lingering, often confused question: how did Rey Mysterio Sr die? There’s a reason people keep asking this. It’s because the history of Lucha Libre is messy, filled with family dynasties, shared ring names, and a fair amount of internet misinformation. Honestly, if you go searching for the passing of the original Rey Mysterio, you might find yourself falling down a rabbit hole of tribute videos and "In Memoriam" posts that don't quite align with the reality of the situation.
Let's clear the air immediately.
Miguel Ángel López Díaz, the man who first donned the mask as Rey Misterio, is not dead. It sounds weird, right? In an industry where so many legends pass away far too young due to the physical toll of the ring, the patriarch of the Mysterio family is actually still with us. He’s retired. He’s living his life. But the confusion surrounding his "death" is a fascinating case study in how wrestling legacy and the internet’s obsession with tragedy can create a false narrative that takes on a life of its own.
The Man Behind the Original Mask
To understand why people are so convinced he passed away, you have to understand who Rey Misterio Sr. actually is. Born in 1958, Miguel Ángel López Díaz wasn't just some guy in a mask; he was a foundational pillar of the Tijuana wrestling scene. He started training in the mid-70s and eventually became a massive star in the EAW and other Mexican promotions.
He wasn't the high-flyer his nephew became.
Sr. was a powerhouse. He was bigger, tougher, and more of a "base" for the smaller guys to jump off of. He founded a wrestling school that basically turned Tijuana into a global scouting ground for talent. Without him, we don't get Konnan, we don't get Psicosis, and we certainly don't get the WWE Hall of Famer we see on TV today.
Why the confusion exists
So, why do people keep asking how did Rey Mysterio Sr die? It mostly stems from a tragic event in 2015. On March 20 of that year, a legendary luchador named Hijo del Perro Aguayo died in the ring during a match in Tijuana. It was a freak accident. He took a dropkick to the shoulder/neck area, landed awkwardly on the ropes, and suffered a cervical spine fracture.
📖 Related: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
The man he was wrestling that night? Rey Mysterio Jr.
Because the footage of that night went viral and was so incredibly traumatic, the names "Rey Mysterio" and "Death" became linked in search algorithms for years. People who weren't hardcore fans saw the headlines, saw the Mysterio family name, and their brains did that thing where they fill in the blanks incorrectly. They assumed a Mysterio had died.
Then you have the confusion of names. In Lucha Libre, names are passed down like titles. You have Rey Misterio (the uncle), Rey Misterio Jr. (the WWE legend), and now Dominik Mysterio. There was also a "Rey Misterio II" and a "Hijo de Rey Misterio." When one of the lesser-known wrestlers using a version of the name steps away or faces a health scare, the internet turns it into a funeral for the original.
The Actual Health Battles of Miguel Ángel López Díaz
Just because he hasn't passed away doesn't mean it’s been all sunshine and rainbows for the senior Mysterio. Pro wrestling is a brutal business. It eats its elders.
Over the last decade, there have been several scares that likely contributed to the "how did he die" searches. Miguel has dealt with significant health issues related to the years of abuse his body took in the ring.
- Respiratory Issues: There were reports a few years back about him being hospitalized with severe pneumonia and lung complications. In the wrestling world, when a veteran goes into the ICU, the rumor mill starts churning out obituaries before the doctor even leaves the room.
- Mobility Struggles: Like many wrestlers from the 70s and 80s, his knees and back are basically shot. He has appeared at fan conventions in a wheelchair or using heavy assistance, which often shocks fans who remember him as a physical specimen.
It’s a bit of a "Mandela Effect" situation. People see a photo of an aging, frail legend, and their mind automatically archives them as deceased.
👉 See also: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The Legacy of the "King of Mystery"
The name Rey Misterio literally translates to "King of Mystery." It’s fitting. The original Rey kept his face hidden for the vast majority of his career, upholding the Lucha de Apuestas tradition with a fervor that is rare today.
He lost his mask to Fishman in 1987. That’s a huge deal in Mexico. Usually, when a luchador loses their mask, their career starts to wind down. But Sr. was so respected that he just kept going as a "rudo" (a heel), using his veteran status to get the next generation over.
If you really want to know the "fate" of Rey Mysterio Sr., look at his students.
He didn't just teach his nephew how to do a 619. He taught him the psychology of the mask. He taught him how to tell a story. When we talk about the "death" of a wrestler's career, Sr. actually had one of the most graceful exits possible. He transitioned into a trainer and a promoter. He didn't hang on until he was a shell of himself in the ring; he moved into the background to let the Mysterio name become a global brand.
Distinguishing Between the Mysterio Lineage
To keep your facts straight, you've gotta keep the family tree in mind. It's easy to get lost.
- Rey Misterio (Sr.): The uncle. The pioneer. The guy people mistakenly think is dead. Born in 1958. Still alive.
- Rey Mysterio (Jr.): The one in WWE. The nephew of Sr. Most famous wrestler in the family.
- Hijo de Rey Misterio: This gets tricky. This is usually the son of Rey Misterio Sr. (the cousin of the WWE Rey). He has wrestled under various names and has had his own set of injuries that occasionally spark rumors.
- Dominik Mysterio: Rey Jr.'s son. The current WWE star.
When a "Rey Mysterio" is mentioned in a news report about a health crisis, it is almost never the one you see on Monday Night Raw. It’s usually a family member in Mexico or a local independent wrestler using the name without a formal trademark.
✨ Don't miss: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
The Impact of the Rumor Mill on the Family
Can you imagine being Rey Mysterio Jr. and having to answer questions about your uncle's death when he’s sitting at home in Tijuana? It happens more than you'd think.
The wrestling community is tight-knit, but it’s also prone to "death hoaxes." We’ve seen it with Hulk Hogan, we’ve seen it with Ric Flair, and we see it constantly with the Lucha legends. For the Mysterio family, these rumors are often hurtful because Miguel Ángel López Díaz is such a revered figure.
He is the man who paved the way for the "Cruiserweight Revolution" in WCW. Without his school, Eric Bischoff never has a roster of high-flyers to change the face of Monday Night wrestling.
What to Remember About Rey Mysterio Sr.
Instead of searching for a cause of death that doesn't exist, we should probably be looking at what the man is doing now. He occasionally pops up at Lucha Libre events in Mexico, usually being honored for his lifetime achievements. He’s a man who survived the "Meat Grinder" of 1980s Mexican wrestling—a time of stiff rings, no medical oversight, and incredibly long travel days.
The fact that he is still with us is actually a miracle.
Many of his contemporaries, guys like El Hijo del Santo or Blue Panther, have also struggled with the transition to "elder statesman" status, but the Mysterio patriarch has largely stayed out of the negative spotlight. He isn't a "where are they now" tragedy. He's a success story.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you want to stay accurately informed about the health and status of Lucha Libre legends, avoid the "breaking news" tabs on YouTube or clickbait Facebook pages. They thrive on premature death announcements.
- Check Verified Sources: Always look for news from reputable Lucha Libre journalists like Dave Meltzer (Wrestling Observer) or LuchaBlog (the gold standard for Mexican wrestling news).
- Understand the "Hijo" Naming Convention: In Mexico, "Hijo de" (Son of) and "Rey Misterio II" are different people. If you see a headline about a Rey Misterio passing, check the suffixes.
- Respect the Mask: Remember that for many of these men, the "death" of the character (unmasking) is often treated with the same weight as a physical passing.
- Follow Official Socials: Rey Mysterio Jr. and Dominik often post family photos during holidays. These are the best ways to see that the patriarch of the family is doing just fine.
The next time someone asks you how did Rey Mysterio Sr die, you can tell them the truth: he didn't. He's a retired legend, a teacher, and a man who gets to watch his family dominate the wrestling world from the comfort of his home. That's a much better story than the one the rumors try to tell.