Rey Mysterio is considered one of the biggest names in professional wrestling today. However, back in 1996 he was just a rookie trying to make his mark after being signed to WCW. Mysterio began a feud with another WCW star over the Cruiserweight Championship by saying: “83 Weeks” Eric Bischoff believes that competition is what allowed the young luchador to find his footing on American television.
“Dean (Malenko) helped Ray be the best Ray (him) and make the biggest impression Ray could make,” Bischoff said. “Ray couldn’t have done it without someone as good as Dean.”
The first phase of their rivalry spanned from Mysterio’s debut on the WCW roster at the 1996 Great American Bash to the destruction of that year’s Halloween, with those matches lingering in the minds of many viewers at the time. Bischoff also argued that Malenko’s influence had been underestimated.
“I think Dean and Eddie, everyone involved in this early Cruiserweight initiative, deserve credit for so many of the matches and talent we see in the industry today,” he added. “They created a market that had never been created before because of their unique capabilities and skills. Those guys all deserve a *** ton of credit.”
Not too long ago, Bischoff also commented on Mysterio and Malenko. where he stated why he preferred Malenko over Mysterio. He felt that Malenko was just more believable to him in WCW. Mysterio has also expressed his respect for Malenko in the pastconfirming Bischoff’s views on their relationship in the ring.
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