Rey Mysterio retiring: WWE legend’s top 10 moments as he prepares to retire with special send-off ceremony
REY MYSTERIO is widely regarded as the best 'little man' the WWE has ever had.
The 45-year-old has been part of the wrestling promotion for nearly two decades, after joining all the way back in 2002.
The greatest cruiserweight in pro-wrestling history is now set to call time on his illustrious career with a special ceremony on Monday Night RAW.
Some fans believe the announcement is part of a storyline involving The Master of the 619 - real name Oscar Gutierrez - ala Mark Henry.
Others claim the retirement is strictly WWE based with Mysterio's contract to expire this year and he may be set for pastures new.
But one way or another, Rey has more than made his mark inside the squared circle. Here SunSport runs through his best WWE moments...
RUMBLE RETURN
Fitting that the first entrant in the list is the most recent one.
Mysterio left WWE back in 2015 under a cloud following a succession of injuries but he revitalised his career working for Lucha Underground and other independent wrestling promotions.
The Mexican-American then received a huge ovation as he made his return to the company in the 2018 Royal Rumble after a three-year absence.
Mysterio entered at number 27 and eliminated Adam Cole before he was sent over the ropes by Finn Balor.
TRIBUTE TO EDDIE
The night after his close friend Eddie Guerrero unexpectedly passed away, Rey Mysterio chose to still compete in memory of Latino Heat.
His opponent would be a first-time meeting with Shawn Michaels with both Superstars donning black armbands emblazoned with a white "EG."
Following an engaging back and forth between the two WWE greats, Mysterio hit HBK with a surprise 619 and earned the win with a springboard splash.
But the match will be best remembered for Rey helping Michaels to his feet after the bell and the two embracing in front of the emotional RAW crowd.
SHAVING CM PUNK'S HAIR
Before he was the voice of the voiceless, CM Punk had taken over WWE with his Straight Edge Society stable.
The former UFC star was desperate to recruit Mysterio to his faction and the two became involved in one of the most underrated feuds of the decade.
Coming into the Over The Limit PPV, the two were tied at one win a-piece following matches at WrestleMania 26, and then Extreme Rules.
Their third clash came with the stipulation that Mysterio would join the Straight Edge Society if he lost, while Punk would surrender his hair if he was defeated.
Rey ultimately received an unlikely assist from Kane as he dropped the Best in the World with a seated crucifix for the win and then sheared his greasy locks.
CRUISERWEIGHT KING
Mysterio made his name at WCW in 1995 where he popularised the lucha libre fighting style before jumping ship to WWE in 2002 after the company folded.
After just a year with Vince McMahon's company, the Ultimate Underdog claimed his first singles championship.
Mysterio defeated Matt Hardy to win the first of his three Cruiserweight titles in front of his wife Angie, son Dominick and daughter Aalyah.
CHAVO QUITS
WWE controversially used the passing of Eddie Guerrero to ignite a feud between his nephew Chavo and family friend Mysterio.
Despite the poor taste surrounding the storyline, both Superstars became the only two to have more than one 'I Quit' match against the same opponent.
First, Mysterio and Chavo put on one of the greatest matches in SmackDown history with their clash in 2006, with Guerrero emerging victorious.
But Rey avenged the loss almost a year later in another 'I Quit' match on the blue brand.
DREAM SABU MATCH
WWE fans reacted negatively to ECW’s One Night Stand 2006 that was best remembered for the heated WWE Title Match between John Cena and Rob Van Dam.
But the PPV did have an absolute gem of a match between Rey Mysterio and unpredictable Arabian icon Sabu for the World Heavyweight title.
The Master of the 619, wrestling in old school ECW tights, put on a hell of a stunt show with the self-proclaimed homicidal, suicidal, genocidal death-defying Maniac.
Although the finish of the match is still hotly debated as WWE called a no-contest at the Hammerstein Ballroom after Sabu put Mysterio through a table with a triple jump DDT.
RETIRING JBL
Hall of Famer and Grand Slam Champion John Bradshaw Layfield's illustrious in-ring career came to a stunning end at WrestleMania 25.
Despite becoming the longest reigning WWE champion in SmackDown history, the future RAW commentator surrendered his Intercontentinal gold to Rey Mysterio in embarrassing fashion.
In a 21-second squash match, JBL was hit by a quick-fire drop-kick and 619 before grabbing the microphone to scream the words "I Quit."
WINNING CUSTODY OF DOMINICK
In true WWE style, Mysterio was involved in a storyline with Eddie Guerrero where Latino Heat claimed to be the biological father of Rey's real-life son Dominick.
The two settled the case in a Ladder match at SummerSlam 2005 with the briefcase containing the custody papers.
The emotionally-charged affair saw Dominick enter the match to aide his father Rey, while Vickie Guerrero ultimately cost her husband the match by pushing Eddie off the ladder.
Mysterio has since revealed that this match is his favorite match that he ever had in WWE.
RUMBLE WINNER
The biggest underdog in WWE history defied the company's attitudes to wrestlers his size by winning the 2006 Royal Rumble.
On a night he dedicated to his late friend Eddie, Mysterio entered the 30-man, over-the-top battle royal in the No. 2 position.
The Masked One held on for more than an hour to set the record for the longest time in a Rumble Match as he eliminated six other Superstars.
The last two were Triple H and Randy Orton, who Mysterio turfed over the ropes to earn himself a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at WrestleMania 22.
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN
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A 15-year-old Rey Mysterio once dreamt of capturing the World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania when he began learning his trade in a church basement.
And that vision became a reality in 2006 when The Ultimate Underdog defeated Randy Orton and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Mysterio has had many far superior technical matches during his glittering WWE career, but no single moment outweighs the companies' best 'little man' reaching the top of the mountain.