10 Times WWE Failed To Replace A Major Star
6. Rey Mysterio With Sin Cara
Rey Mysterio failed as World Heavyweight Champion, but he remains one of the most influential luchadores in wrestling history.
His exciting style, great matches, consistency, and marketability made him a huge star for WWE, and at his best, Mysterio was one of the most beloved performers in the business. Rey wasn’t always in the main event, but his popularity only really waned towards the end of the run, and he was a vital presence in maintaining WWE’s hispanic audience.
Mysterio always struggled with injury problems, however, and WWE knew they were going to have to replace him, sooner or later. Sin Cara was supposed to be the answer, and the former Mistico officially signed for the company in January 2011. Thought to be Mexico’s biggest star at the time, WWE expected Sin Cara to slot seamlessly into Rey’s role in the long run - but that’s not how it panned out.
The first Sin Cara, Luis Urive, was an exciting, flashy wrestler, but he soon fell foul of the Wellness Policy, and developed a reputation for botching big spots. He lasted until December 2013 when Hunico inherited the gimmick, and while the Sin Cara character has had its moments, it has never come close to reaching Rey’s popularity.
Today, Cara is all but forgotten about, and is more likely to make the news for his backstage fights than in-ring antics.