Rey Mysterio Says WCW Made The Wrong Call By Unmasking Him

“WCW was the only time I wrestled without a mask. I really wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t want to go through that phase. Back then, I really protected my face. You never saw me without a mask, and I would always move away from the group when we all traveled together, so they wouldn’t recognize me. 

“But, when I came to WWE, it’s like this a machine that wanted to promote and put my mask out there. That is something WCW never took advantage of. That’s why I came back with my mask [when I joined WWE].”

Mysterio would debut (with his mask) in WWE in 2002 and has remained one of WWE’s top merchandise sellers.

WWE’s former Head of Talent Relations Jim Ross has said that part of the decision to push Rey as World Champion in 2006 was due to his incredible merchandise sales.