Rey Mysterio has broken his silence on the full extent of his injury, confirming he fractured ribs on both sides of his body during a January episode of WWE Raw — and then competed in the Royal Rumble anyway.
Speaking at a WWE community event in the leadup to WrestleMania 42, Mysterio opened up to Adrian Hernandez of the Unlikely podcast about where things stand.
Much better than when it actually happened," Mysterio said. "That injury occurred on January 26, which was the Monday leading into the Rumble. Fractured ribs — both left and right. Those take a little bit of time to heal, but on the way out.
What Happened on Raw
The injury occurred during Mysterio's singles match against Austin Theory on the January 26 episode of Raw in Toronto. The referee raised the X sign during the bout — the universal signal for a legitimate injury — and Mysterio was tended to after the match, taking no part in the post-match angle involving Penta, Dragon Lee, and The Vision.
Initial reports from the Wrestling Observer described the injury as minor and not considered serious. The full picture, confirmed now by Mysterio himself, is more significant: bilateral rib fractures are a notoriously slow-healing injury that can sideline athletes for weeks, particularly with the physical demands of in-ring work.
Despite the severity, Mysterio made the trip to Saudi Arabia and entered the 2026 Men's Royal Rumble match just days later.
He has not competed in the ring since. WWE confirmed multiple injuries following the Rumble weekend, though the rib fractures were not publicly detailed at the time.
WrestleMania 42 on the Horizon
The interview was conducted at a WWE community event in Las Vegas — the same city hosting WrestleMania 42 — and closed with the host confirming, "We'll see you at WrestleMania," suggesting Mysterio's involvement at the show despite his extended absence from in-ring competition.
Mysterio did make a non-wrestling appearance last weekend, providing commentary for AAA's Rey de Reyes event, a sign that he is healthy enough to be active in the orbit of the business even while his ribs continue to mend.
This is not the first time Mysterio has battled back from a significant setback in recent years. His recovery from a torn groin kept him out for seven months in 2025, forcing him to miss WrestleMania 41. With his ribs trending in the right direction, the Hall of Famer appears on track for a return to the ring at the biggest event of the year.
