Rey Mysterio Welcomes Celebrity Crossovers in Wrestling, Sees Value in Cross-Industry Appeal

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has shared his positive outlook on the increasing number of celebrities and athletes venturing into professional wrestling, viewing these crossovers as beneficial for both the industry and the participating stars.

"I really don’t mind it at all," Mysterio told OutKick Dropkick ahead of Triplemania Night 1 in Las Vegas. "We always had celebrities pop into our world and maybe they were fans prior, maybe they weren’t fans and they came over and they saw our craft, they respected it."

Mysterio emphasized that the physical demands of wrestling often come as a surprise to newcomers. "People back then, I believe, didn’t really respect wrestling and then they got into the ring, and they felt it, and they were like, ‘Whoa, this s--- is real. We thought it was fake.’ No, it’s not fake."

He further elaborated on the broader impact of these collaborations. "But overall, I think it’s always fun and cool to have collaborations from celebrities jumping on over to our craft as well as us to their craft, their sport, whatever it is that they’re doing. That makes things much more interesting. We engage with much more fans and I think that’s the goal of it all – to get as many eyes as possible."

WWE has seen a notable influx of celebrities and athletes in recent years, including Jason Kelce, Bad Bunny, Jelly Roll, Ryan Garcia, and Cam Skattebo. Even NFL quarterback Tom Brady has expressed openness to participating in WWE storylines.

This trend of cross-industry integration is not new. Early WWE events, such as WrestleMania 1, featured celebrities like Mr. T, Muhammad Ali, and Cyndi Lauper. NFL player Lawrence Taylor also participated in a wrestling match, and former Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael transitioned to an in-ring career. Actor David Arquette notably won a championship in World Championship Wrestling.

The crossover phenomenon also extends to wrestling personalities finding success in other entertainment fields. Hulk Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson achieved significant careers in film, while Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns, and Liv Morgan have explored acting opportunities in Hollywood.

Insane Clown Posse member Violent J also previously discussed his passion for wrestling, which led to his own in-ring career and the creation of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Mysterio's comments suggest a continued belief that such collaborations will remain a key strategy for expanding wrestling's reach and appeal.