5. Rey Mysterio - World Heavyweight Champion (2/04/06 23/06/06)
At 5,6 and 175lbs, Rey Mysterio was the last person that anybody expected to climb to the top of the WWE ladder. And yet he did. Winning a gobsmacking triple threat bout against Kurt Angle and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 22, Rey Mysterios title run was the ultimate underdog triumph. If, to borrow a line from Germaine Greer revolution is the festival of the oppressed, then Rey Mysterios first World Heavyweight Championship win was a full-on tattooed luchadore fiesta. In truth, Rey was always going to be a tough sell as a long-term World Champion, mainly because he is so slight in stature compared to the rest of the WWEs Main Event crowd. However, WWE recognized this and smartly booked Mysterio as a little man with a big heart who never gave up and never let his fans down, no matter what and the fans responded. Naysayers tend to argue that Mysterio only got the belt that night as a tribute to the late, great Eddie Guerrero, Mysterios close friend (and sometime rival) but I prefer to see it as a gesture of respect, given to Rey in recognition of his mould-breaking, trailblazing career in the squared circle. For some wrestlers, a Championship belt is more of a lifetime achievement award than a statement of intent from management and that was definitely the case with Rey Mysterio. For longtime admirers of Mysterios transcendent talents, seeing him finally recognized as a World Heavyweight Champion was a dream come true. Wed watched him for years and any true fan respects the hell out of the man for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport, but most of us never actually believed hed get that far. To this day, if ever I fear that an obstacle is insurmountable, I re-watch Rey beating Kurt Angle and Randy Orton and I know in my heart that nothing is impossible.
I am a professional author and lifelong comic books/pro wrestling fan. I also work as a journalist as well as writing comic books (I also draw), screenplays, stage plays, songs and prose fiction.
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