WWE Champion Breaks Silence on Real Injuries — Including a Career-Threatening Scare
WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio may be the most booed man in sports entertainment, but his latest revelations prove there’s more grit behind “Dirty Dom” than most fans realize.
In a candid conversation on The Club 520 podcast, Mysterio confirmed that the rib injury which took him out of action for over a month earlier this year was completely real — despite speculation from fans that it was just another heel move.
“I dislocated my two lower ribs, and they were digging into my cartilage,” Mysterio explained. “Everyone thought I was faking it, but I was actually hurt.”
The injury, suffered in early June, forced Mysterio to miss his scheduled Night of Champions match and kept him on the shelf until late July. But that’s not the most shocking part of his story.
A Match That Could Have Ended His Career
In a jaw-dropping revelation, Mysterio shared that during his first-ever match as a heel in September 2022 — against none other than WWE Hall of Famer Adam Copeland (Edge) — he suffered an even more dangerous injury.
After delivering a frog splash, Mysterio says he cracked a rib so severely that it punctured his lung.
“I finished the match, went back to the locker room, and ten minutes later I still couldn’t breathe,” he recalled. “I went to the hospital, and they told me I had a pneumothorax. I couldn’t even fly home.”
A pneumothorax — or collapsed lung — is a potentially life-threatening condition. The fact that Mysterio worked through the match speaks volumes about his toughness, even if his character doesn’t scream “warrior” on TV.
The Most Hated Man in WWE
Since turning on his father Rey Mysterio and aligning with The Judgment Day, Dominik has mastered the art of drawing nuclear heat. His “Prison Dom” persona, coupled with his on-screen pairing with Rhea Ripley, makes him one of the most despised — and effective — villains in WWE today.
Recently, Mysterio retained his Intercontinental Title against AJ Styles at SummerSlam and is set to challenge for the AAA Mega Championship at Triplemania this Saturday. Whether fans cheer or boo, one thing is certain — “Dirty Dom” isn’t just playing tough.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Dominik Mysterio is walking proof that sometimes the most hated heels are also the toughest competitors in the locker room. It’s easy to forget behind the jeers that performers put their bodies on the line every night. Love him or hate him, “Dirty Dom” has earned a new level of respect — even if you’ll never admit it when the cameras are rolling.
Watch The Full Interview 👇
