10 WWE Champions That Didn’t Fit Vince McMahon’s Mold

A glance at the 5’6 luchador shows why he doesn’t meet McMahon’s standards: he’s tiny and wears a mask concealing his facial expressions, which the chairman believes to be paramount in connecting with the audience.

Rey Mysterio was supposed to be a career-long underdog, dominating the Cruiserweight division and midcard while the company cashed in on selling replicas of his mask. His destiny changed in November 2005 when his best friend Eddie Guerrero died.

A silver lining in the tragic passing was the opportunity to christen Mysterio as a top guy, rallying the fans behind his dedication toward Guerrero’s memory. Pat Patterson, consigliere to McMahon since the 1980s, convinced the boss to ride Mysterio’s momentum through the Royal Rumble and to the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22.

Although McMahon agreed, he wasn’t fully on board. He believed Mysterio should feel lucky to be champion, always squeaking out of certain loss. That mentality lingered throughout Mysterio’s three month reign, damaging his credibility in the process.