The wrestling world has been thrown into mourning as legendary luchador Rey Misterio Sr., born Miguel Ángel López Días, passed away at the age of 66.

His death was confirmed by his son, El Hijo de Rey Misterio (Miguel Aarón López Hernández), who took to Facebook on Friday, December 20, to share the heartbreaking news.

“Friends and family, I regret to inform you that my Father, Miguel Ángel López Días, Rey Misterio Sr., Passed away this morning…I will keep you informed. Thank you,” his post read in Spanish.

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However, the cause of death was not disclosed.

Adding to the tributes, the renowned Mexican wrestling company, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, issued a statement expressing their sorrow.

“We mourn the sensitive passing of Miguel Ángel López Días, known as Rey Misterio Sr. We send our deepest condolences to your loved ones and lift our prayers to heaven for your eternal rest,” the statement read, originally written in Spanish.

Rey Misterio Sr. was not just a name but a monumental figure in wrestling history. As the uncle of WWE superstar Rey Misterio and the great uncle to Dominik Misterio, who is also a WWE wrestler, his influence extended across generations. Dominik paid a heartfelt tribute by sharing pictures of his late great-uncle on Instagram, accompanied by a simple caption, “:black_heart:.”

The family is still reeling from another loss, as Misterio Sr.’s brother and Rey Misterio’s father, Roberto Gutierrez, passed away just a month earlier at the age of 76.

Misterio Sr.’s journey into wrestling was as inspiring as his career. He started out as a boxer before stepping into the wrestling ring in 1976, where he built a legacy that spanned decades.

Throughout his illustrious career, Misterio Sr. wrestled for major promotions like Tijuana Wrestling, World Wrestling Association (WWA), Pro Wrestling Revolution, and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. His big break on the international stage came in 1990 when he represented Mexico at World Championship Wrestling’s Starrcade in the “Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup,” alongside fellow wrestling icon Konnan.
The legendary wrestler held numerous titles, including the Revolution Tag Team Championship, which he won with his son, the IWC World Middleweight Championship, and the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship.

Beyond his achievements in the ring, Rey Misterio Sr. was a mentor who shaped the careers of wrestling stars such as Konnan, Psicosis, Damian 666, and Halloween.

He also played a pivotal role in training his nephew, Rey Misterio, who would go on to become one of WWE’s most celebrated performers.