Dominik Mysterio embarked on a unique journey to become a WWE Superstar, with his in-ring debut against Seth Rollins in 2020 marking a significant starting point. Despite skipping the usual developmental system, Dominik trained under various wrestlers like Lance Storm, Konnan, and Jay Lethal before making it to the main roster.
His debut feud against Rollins culminated in a Street Fight at SummerSlam 2020, where he endured a brutal kendo stick assault alongside Buddy Murphy. This intense segment, which Dominik fondly refers to as the “Kendo Crucified,” earned him respect from his peers and solidified his place in the industry.
Reflecting on this experience on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Dominik expressed how the grueling match showcased his commitment and drew admiration from fellow wrestlers. His resilience and dedication during this period set the stage for his rise in the WWE.
“I like to call it the Kendo Crucified when I just got tied to the ropes and got beat absolutely. I think it was like 37 Kendo shots total that I ended up taking. I remember that night, I got a lot of like it seemed like a lot of respect from the guys in the back and almost like a, ‘Welcome to the business kid’ type of moment,” Dominik said. [From 11:23 – 11:51]
Despite the setback at SummerSlam, Dominik continued to push boundaries and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with. His dedication and hard work paid off in 2023, when he featured prominently across RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, even headlining all three shows in a single week.
In the same podcast interview on the No-Contest Wrestling, Dominik shared how his relentless grind in the ring garnered respect from his peers. With a total of 106 matches, he proved his mettle and earned recognition from the locker room for his unwavering commitment to his craft, a feat that solidified his place in the industry.
“Dude, the grind for that time was definitely real. I feel like that was another point in time where I was able to get a lot of respect from the boys in the back,” Dominik said. [From 20:06 – 20:21 from the video above]
Dominik Mysterio’s evolution as a WWE Superstar has been nothing short of remarkable, with accolades like being named the best wrestler under 30 by ESPN further solidifying his status in the industry.
Edited by Sanchari Bhattacharya
