WWE 2K22: 10 Possible Rey Mysterio 2K Showcase Matches

With a plethora of details still yet to be revealed, WWE 2K fans are eagerly awaiting further announcements about this year’s big release. WWE 2K22 was confirmed this past spring, with 2K and Visual Concepts promising a more open approach throughout the development process, following mass criticism after the debacle that was WWE 2K20. Where WWE 2K have been somewhat good on the promise, releasing titbits of information on their social media channels, there’s still a lot left to speculation, including this year’s 2K Showcase mode.

One of the two superstars confirmed for this year’s roster is Rey Mysterio. A legend of the squared circle, Mysterio is rightfully positioned to be a potential cover star of this year’s game, with Cesaro being the only other rendered character that we’ve seen so far. WWE 2K and Visual Concepts tend to feature their chosen star as part of the critically-acclaimed 2K Showcase mode, where players can relive and recreate some of the superstar’s most iconic career moments.

In the past, we’ve seen the likes of Daniel Bryan, John Cena and the stars of the Women’s Evolution taking centre stage in 2K Showcase, and the matches have been a lot of fun to play through. Although it’s yet to be confirmed whether or not ‘The Master of the 619’ will be this year’s focal point, we’re going to have a go at running down 10 potential matches to feature in a Rey Mysterio campaign.

Before I start however, I’d like to re-iterate that these matches are chosen based on the likelihood of wrestlers being included in the base game’s roster. There are of course hundreds of Mysterio matches to choose from, many of which that feature stars that have either parted ways with the company or are too controversial to be included as part of the game.

 

1. Rey Mysterio vs Kurt Angle – SummerSlam 2002

Perhaps the greatest SummerSlam debut of all time, Rey Mysterio’s first WWE pay-per-view match against Kurt Angle stands the test of time as an absolute classic. Mysterio and Angle had such fluency and chemistry in between the ropes that it’s no surprise that they went on to headline several SmackDown events and then, eventually, WrestleMania 22.

Now this entry could go either way, as there’s a strong chance that Kurt Angle won’t be included as part of the game’s roster after being released last year. However, Angle has yet to sign elsewhere, meaning his likeness and namesake are potentially still fair game to use in WWE 2K22.

Here’s hoping that this particular WWE match can make it in to the Showcase campaign, purely so it gets the credit it deserves as not only one of Rey’s best matches, but also one of the most underrated gems of all time.

 

2. Rey Mysterio & Edge vs Los Guerreros – SmackDown 18/5/02

As 2002 rolled on, Rey Mysterio found himself tussling with an old foe, Eddie Guerrero, as part of the new SmackDown Tag Team Championship division. Most would point to Rey and Edge’s matches against the duo of Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit, but for obvious reasons it’s very unlikely we’ll see that included in 2K’s line-up. Nevertheless, Rey’s time in the Tag title scene deserves the props it gets, especially when you then take a look at his matches against the uncle/nephew alliance of Eddie and Chavo.

Now that Chavo is signed with AEW, this puts a bit of a question mark over this potential inclusion, however with Edge and Eddie both being fully aligned with WWE, then the chances drastically improve, depending on how much WWE value Chavo’s credibility.

Either way, these matches were a fun series to catch on Thursday nights, so do yourself a favour and check them out if you’re up for some classic tag action.

 

3. Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero – WrestleMania 21

A rivalry that has been so ingrained in not only Rey Mysterio’s wrestling career but also the industry as a whole, Mysterio/Guererro should undoubtedly be given ample spotlight as part of a potential 2K Showcase mode. Without going too far back into the history of WCW, an easy place to start exploring this story would be at WrestleMania 21, when the then-WWE Tag Team Champions clashed in the show’s opening match.

It was a phenomenal call-back to both superstars’ days in the Cruiserweight division, reminding everyone just how great both Rey and Eddie can be when they share a ring together. This was just as Rey was breaking out as a potential singles champion, as well as culminating Eddie’s stellar 2004. Certainly a great match worth reliving in video game form.

Of course this wasn’t the first nor last time these two rivals met, which leads to our next entry.

 

4. Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero – SummerSlam 2005

Definitely an interesting match to include considering Dominik’s newfound involvement with the main roster.

Rey Mysterio and Uncle Eddie battled atop ladders, chairs and more to win the rights to be Dominik’s father — yes, this was an actual stipulation. The drama had reached an all time high and what followed was a match that didn’t deserve to be as good as it was, and that’s not a slight on either superstar involved.

This was the culmination of a six month storyline, and that’s not even counting the many matches they shared prior to 2005. Most of all, I’m hoping Dom Mysterio circa 2005 ends up being rendered and then featured as a playable superstar. I’d take that over Cole Quinn any day.

 

5. Rey Mysterio & Batista vs MNM – SmackDown 16/12/05

Moving onto a more sombre note, following Eddie’s tragic death in 2005, Rey Mysterio’s career was given a new lease of life with the newfound support and emotion of the crowd. Rey and fellow friend-turned-rival-turned-friend Batista teamed to dethrone the then-Tag champions MNM to capture the titles and provide the crowd with a truly heart-warming victory to end the year.

Obviously with Morrison back with the company and Joey Mercury once being a respected member of the backstage crew, it’s a fair judgement to say that we might see this one make it into the Showcase mode. Not only was it a fantastic tribute to the legend that was ‘Latino Heat’, but it was also a series of great matches too, albeit a little controversial at times.

For better or worse, a memorable moment of Rey’s early career.

 

6. Royal Rumble 2006

An easy inclusion in Rey’s career journey is the ultimate victory he scored at the 2006 Royal Rumble. Entering at #2 in Eddie’s iconic low-rider, Mysterio outlasted 29 of WWE’s best and brightest to finally break the glass ceiling and become the first Cruiserweight to compete for the World Championship at WrestleMania.

Now, the difficulty here is getting every other superstar that competed in that Rumble, and when looking back at who was featured, I doubt we’ll be seeing Simon Dean and Orlando Jordan confirmed for the game’s roster anytime soon, not that I’d be complaining about seeing the former of those. In the past, players were allowed to complete the closing 5-10 minutes of the Rumble match as Steve Austin during his Showcase mode, so maybe we’ll get to do the same with Rey-Rey.

It was an emotional time to be a wrestling fan, not only because of the heart-warming story of Rey fighting on Eddie’s behalf, but also to watch on as the smallest dude in the room was achieving the biggest of dreams.

 

7. Rey Mysterio vs Randy Orton – No Way Out 2006

Following on from Rey’s big Rumble win, Randy Orton took umbrage and began to feud with the destined WrestleMania main eventer on the road to No Way Out.

Watching this match back in particular, I’m reminded of just how great this feud was, a rare find on the PPV preceding WrestleMania, which is often home to nothing feuds and pointless segments. In this particular instance, you had a cracking main event between Kurt Angle and The Undertaker, but also this banger.

This match would of course lead to Randy Orton’s inclusion in the WrestleMania title match, but more on that in a moment. The story leading to this singles contest was good enough to be featured regardless of the outcome, making Rey Mysterio into the true hero that he always has been to WWE fans and Randy into the vile heel we all love to hate.

 

8. Rey Mysterio vs Kurt Angle vs Randy Orton – WrestleMania 22

Arguably Rey’s biggest WWE match of all time came at WrestleMania 22, when he defeated both Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to become the World Heavyweight Champion for the first time.

This was a beautiful result of the emotional storyline that started with Eddie’s untimely death, finishing with Rey embracing Eddie’s family to show how much it meant to him to be given the honour of winning the big one in his best friends name.

The match itself was also, naturally, a great one With all three elements hitting on all cylinders, this could be a really fun one to get stuck into as part of the 2K Showcase mode. Angle in particular was a pure highlight in this match, but again, depending on WWE’s views on Angle’s situation, it may be in jeopardy. I hope for all our sakes though that we get to re-witness this amazing triple threat.

 

9. Rey Mysterio vs Seth Rollins – Eye for an Eye Match

Let’s be quite honest here, it’s going to be slim pickings for WWE 2K and Visual Concepts to choose from after Rey’s big title win at WrestleMania. From 2006 onwards, most of his best rivalries were against wrestlers that are no longer signed with the company, I’m talking: CM Punk, Chris Jericho and much later on, Andrade, so with that we’ve got to start thinking more recently.

After Mysterio’s WWE comeback in 2018, Rey started ticking off a few dream matches wherever he could. Eventually, the Lucha legend found himself across the ring from ‘The Monday Night Messiah’ Seth Rollins in a feud that would dominate WWE TV for the best part of a year. This would see Rey’s son Dominik debut at SummerSlam to face Rollins as well as the awful romance story featuring Buddy Murphy and Mysterio’s daughter, Aaliyah.

What we did get as a product of this match though was the brutal ‘Eye for an Eye’ match, which is as weird and gruesome as it sounds. The object of the game was to gouge out the other’s eye, a callback to an injury Rey sustained at the hands of Seth Rollins. This might be a little controversial to include, depending on 2K’s stance on the whole bloody violence aspect of the wrestling, but nevertheless something worth considering.

 

10. Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio vs Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode – WrestleMania: Backlash

Returning to Mysterio’s WWE roots in the Tag division and his historic victory alongside his now-WWE superstar son, Dominik.

This may be long forgotten in due course, but I really enjoyed seeing the Mysterios capture the blue belts, not only for the fact that they’re the first father-son duo to do so in WWE, but also because it must have been an amazing moment for a proud Dad to see his son’s first title win first-hand.

Plus the match was good fun too, a classic pre-show contest that deserved to be bumped onto the main card over some of the other filler spots from that particular event. Give it a shot.

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