Dominik Mysterio felt ‘blessed’ to skip NXT and learn directly from WWE legends

WWE superstar Dominik Mysterio has admitted he was ‘blessed’ to come into the business at the top instead of being sent to NXT.

The 26-year-old star – whose father is masked legend Rey Mysterio – skipped the developmental system and jumped right on the main roster three years ago, and he found himself working with a who’s who of the wrestling world.

He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘I think there’s definitely pros and cons to it, depending on how you look at it. I was blessed and very fortunate to be in the position that I’m in.

‘I think just the way that I came about it, and the people that I was surrounded with, I just don’t think it made sense [to go to NXT], especially with who I was gonna learn from.’

Indeed, ‘Dirty’ Dom – who currently holds the NXT North American Championship despite being on the Raw roster – was in the ring with some WWE’s top names today, as well as some all-time legends.

He added: ‘Coming in with my first match against Seth, and then carrying on to work with Baron Corbin and Sami Zayn during the pandemic, to where once the pandemic was over I started working with John Cena, Roman Reigns, The Usos and Edge!

‘You can’t get any better than that. as far as guys that I could be next to. I’m literally next to some of the best – if not the best, the current best.

‘I had a chance to be in there with them, not once or twice but multiple times, working all the house shows with them, opening up SmackDown with them. My experience was a little different, being able to learn from those top, top guys.’

Dom – who will defend his North American Title against Mustafa Ali and Wes Lee at the Great American Bash later tonight (July 30) – also has the advantage of growing up around the business, which meant there were no surprises when he did join WWE.

‘I don’t know if anything really shocked me about [the business]. I think more respect for what my dad did, and for what we do for a living. But I think… I grew up around this, man, this is all I’ve known for my whole life,’ he pointed out.

‘I started travelling with my dad when I was four or five years old, I started appearing on TV when I was eight. So this is all I know, none of this is new to me,’ he admitted.

‘The only thing that’s new to me is my learning experiences that come from being in the ring, and I learn something new every day, so I’m very grateful and very blessed to be here.’

NXT Great American Bash airs Sunday, July 30 at 1am on the WWE Network.

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