Rey Misterio Sr., a legendary luchador and uncle of famed WWE superstar Rey Mysterio, died on December 20th. He was 69 years old.

The news was confirmed by his son in a Facebook post on Friday morning.

After his initial training as a boxer, Miguel Ángel López Díaz – the future Misterio Sr. – was informed by his trainers that his body had grown larger and he could no longer punch in the most effective way. They introduced him to wrestling. He made his professional debut on January 6, 1976 after his brother took him to training to become a wrestler.

Although he was never a true headliner, he competed in many promotions and held titles such as the IWC AAA World Middleweight Championship twice, the America’s Championship in Tijuana Wrestling, and was the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion.

“It’s always been confusing for people about Rey Misterio Sr., El Hijo del Rey Misterio and Rey Mysterio,” Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletterin February 2011: “Rey Misterio Sr. is auditioning for a new wrestler: El Hijo del Rey Misterio. Apparently his son has given up the business. “El Hijo del Rey Misterio” drew large crowds in the United States because he had similar tattoos and contacts to WWE’s Rey Mysterio. That’s why people thought he was the famous guy on posters in the Mexican-American community,” Meltzer wrote. “But he was never the wrestler people expected him to be with that name. “Rey Misterio wants the name and gimmick to stick after he retires due to debilitating back injuries.”

In addition to training his son and nephew, Misterio Sr. also helped train other names such as Konnan and Misterioso (Roberto Castillo).

In 2007, Misterio Sr. was the star of the film Wrestlemanian. The film’s director, Jesse Baget, told SlamWrestling that Mil Mascaras was his first choice for the slasher flick, but Mascaras didn’t want to be a part of it. Instead, Misterio Sr. brought something unique to the role, Baget said.

“Having him in tights and a mask was a wink,” Baget said. “And he’s not your typical wrestler with the toned six-pack.”

Misterio Sr. was inducted into the Tijuana Sports Hall of Fame in its 2006 class.

Funeral details have yet to be announced.

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