It’s been nearly 18 years since WWE brought a premium live event to San Diego, and its return is putting a spotlight on the border region’s legacy in the sport.
The WWE Survivor Series: Wargames at Petco Park on Saturday is already trending to a sellout, with at least 32,314 tickets sold after the city’s tourism promotion arm paid $650,000 to bring the event here.
Mathias vs. Anthony Idol for the Heavyweight Championship in a no-holds-barred match. (Photo courtesy SoCal Pro Wrestling)The first Survivor Series event in a stadium is full of San Diego connections, highlighted by a homecoming for Chula Vista’s own Rey Mysterio, Jr., who started wrestling in Tijuana when he was 14, and helping bring the high-flying lucha libre style across the border to transform the industry in the process.
He isn’t listed on the official card, but WWE has confirmed that he will be at the event. It is a full circle moment for Rey, as his son Dominik will be a key piece to this historical evening on November 29.
A hometown Hall of Famer whose signature move is dubbed the “619,” Rey Mysterio Jr.’s legacy is carried on by his son, Dominik Mysterio, aka “Dirty Dom,” who is squaring off with one of the biggest names in wrestling history at Petco Park when he faces John Cena.
Earlier this month, Rey Mysterio Jr. wrestled alongside Cena in a tag team match during his final appearance on WWE Raw — the same night Cena defeated Dominik Mysterio for the International Championship.
Cena himself has significant ties to San Diego. He used to live in Mission Beach and became a common celebrity sighting around PB. And he once made a special trip to Petco Park to settle a $1 bet with a Padres rookie.
Mathias, an aspiring pro who wrestles for the San Marcos-based training and event promoter SoCal Pro Wrestling, said the Cena-Dominik Mysterio match pits two of the sports’ best athletes against each other for a rematch of a fantastic bout on Raw earlier this month.
Dynamite Pegasus makes his entrance at SoCal Pro’s Halloween Heat Event in Vista. (Photo courtesy SoCal Pro Wrestling)“It was some of the best storytelling there is, and they really show how American and lucha libre styles can mix,” he said.
The lucha libre style towers over the WWE’s return to the hometown of a lucha libre legend.
Dynamite Pegasus, a lucha libre wrestler with SoCal Pro Wrestling, said it’s hard to overstate the cultural effects Rey Mysterio Jr. had on the sport.
“I think for anyone that’s from San Diego, you can basically say that lucha libre and Rey Mysterio are synonymous with San Diego and Mexican culture,” he said. “Rey Mysterio being from San Diego really picked up the Hispanic heritage in the area.
“When I was a kid, everyone was trying to be Rey Mysterio. Everyone wanted to emulate the 619 when they were in school. You would be walking down the halls and some random kid would jump through the railing and try to swing his legs around.”
The Mighty Tortuga performs at Tortuga Bomb against Eddie Islas. (Photo courtesy SoCal Pro Wrestling)Mysterio’s iconic signature move, the “619” — yes, named after the area code for the southern and central parts of San Diego County — has been a cornerstone of his career, as has his small stature; he’s just 5 feet 6 inches tall.
“His size didn’t make a difference, he went toe to toe with anyone and everyone,” fellow lucha libre wrestler The Mighty Tortuga said.
SoCal Crazy, another lucha libre wrestler, wrestled with Rey Mysterio Jr. at the SoCal Pro Wrestling 10 Year Anniversary Event.
“The mere fact that I was able to experience that was… a once in a lifetime opportunity where you get to be in the ring with quite possibly the greatest luchadore that has ever existed,” he said. “That was a learning experience for me. I studied every moment, from the first time that I laid eyes on him that day, to the very last time I saw him that day.
“It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it and talking about it. It’s something I can say I was gifted by this great sport that lucha libre is.”
As for the other main events on Saturday night, Stephanie Vaquer will defend her championship belt vs. Nikki Bella in the Women’s World Championship.
The Men’s WarGames Match will feature CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso), along with Roman Reigns vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed), Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. In regards to the Women’s WarGames Match, Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair and AJ Lee will go head to head vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kari Sane) and Becky Lynch.
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