Rey Mysterio has revisited one of the most uncomfortable in-ring accidents of his WWE career: the moment his West Coast Pop broke The Undertaker’s nose on an episode of SmackDown in May 2010.
Mysterio, whose high-risk offense has made him one of the most distinctive performers in modern wrestling history, recalled the incident during a conversation with Adrian Hernandez of Unlikely. The former WWE Champion explained that the mishap came when he overshot the landing on his signature springboard attack and came down on Undertaker’s face.
“I actually did it off the West Coast Pop. Yeah, I was scared for my life after that. Yeah, trust me.”
The remark was delivered with humor, but it also reflects the uniquely intimidating position Mysterio found himself in. Breaking the nose of any opponent is a serious accident. Doing so to Undertaker, one of WWE’s most protected and imposing locker-room figures for decades, understandably made the moment especially memorable for Mysterio.
For more background on this topic, read Paul Wight Says Shaquille O’Neal Has Taught Him Plenty Beyond Wrestling.
A Signature Move With Little Margin for Error
The West Coast Pop has long been among the defining attacks in Mysterio’s arsenal. The move typically begins with Mysterio using the ropes to spring himself toward an opponent, often creating the sudden, explosive momentum that has been central to his style throughout his career. It is a spectacular maneuver, but it also demands precise timing and positioning from both wrestlers.
That precision becomes even more important when a performer is moving at speed and using the ropes as part of the attack. A minor miscalculation in distance, balance, or timing can turn a routine sequence into a painful collision. In this instance, Mysterio said he overshot the move, and the result was direct contact with Undertaker’s face.
Wrestling is built on cooperation, trust, and repeated practice, but it is still a physical profession with unavoidable risk. Even the most experienced wrestlers can have an accident, particularly in a match involving aerial movement. Mysterio’s career is filled with innovative springboard attacks, dives, and rapid-fire sequences that thrill audiences while leaving little room for error. The 2010 incident stands as a reminder of that reality.
Why the Moment Carried Added Weight
Undertaker’s status made Mysterio’s reaction easy to understand. By 2010, Undertaker had already spent more than two decades as one of WWE’s defining attractions. Whether appearing as the ominous Deadman or working in a more grounded, hard-hitting style, he carried an aura few wrestlers could match.
For much of his career, Undertaker was portrayed as nearly untouchable, and his reputation extended beyond the character itself. He was a veteran presence who commanded respect from performers across generations. That does not mean accidental contact was impossible or that mistakes were treated as something beyond discussion, but it does explain why Mysterio would remember the immediate aftermath so vividly.
Mysterio’s words do not suggest a broader issue between the two men. Instead, they capture the anxious feeling that can follow an unintended injury in a high-pressure environment. His joking description of being “scared for my life” underlines how significant the moment felt to him, particularly because the injured wrestler was Undertaker.
Mysterio and Undertaker Represented Very Different WWE Styles
The incident also brought together two performers whose careers were defined by dramatically different approaches to the ring. Undertaker was known for power, deliberate pacing, striking, and a larger-than-life presentation. Mysterio built his identity around speed, agility, resilience, and a lucha libre-influenced offense that transformed the way many mainstream audiences viewed smaller wrestlers.
Despite their differences in size and style, both men became foundational figures in WWE. Undertaker was one of the company’s most enduring attractions, while Mysterio helped prove that a masked, high-flying performer could become a top-level star on WWE programming. Their ability to work in the same environment reflects the variety that has long been part of WWE’s in-ring landscape.
For Mysterio, the West Coast Pop was more than a flashy move. It was an extension of the fast-paced style that made him a standout in multiple promotions before and during his WWE run. His offense has always relied on momentum and movement, using the ropes and his opponent’s positioning to create openings against larger rivals. That approach made him a natural underdog and gave his matches an unpredictability that continues to resonate with fans.
At the same time, the physical demands of that style are substantial. Mysterio has spent years taking hard falls, moving at extraordinary speed, and trusting opponents to be in the right place during complex sequences. The 2010 West Coast Pop accident is one of those rare moments when the danger behind the spectacle became impossible to ignore.
An Honest Look Back at an In-Ring Accident
Mysterio did not overcomplicate the story. His explanation was direct: the move was the West Coast Pop, he overshot it, and he broke Undertaker’s nose. That straightforward account makes the recollection notable, especially because wrestling fans often remember the highlights of signature offense without considering the fine margins that make those moments possible.
There is an inherent vulnerability in a maneuver like the West Coast Pop. The wrestler delivering it must judge distance while in motion, and the wrestler receiving it must be prepared for the expected landing. When the move is executed perfectly, it looks seamless. When the trajectory changes, even slightly, the point of contact can be very different from what was intended.
Mysterio’s comment is also consistent with the respect he has frequently shown for the wrestlers who came before him and the major figures he has shared the ring with. Undertaker was not merely another opponent on the WWE roster. He was a generational name with a reputation that made the prospect of accidentally injuring him particularly daunting.
Mysterio Continues to Reflect on Major WWE Moments
During the same interview, Mysterio also discussed his 2023 match with Roman Reigns, another example of the many different eras he has worked through during his long career. The contrast is striking. Mysterio’s recollection of the 2010 Undertaker accident reaches back to a period when Undertaker remained a towering force on SmackDown, while the Roman Reigns discussion concerns a much later chapter shaped by WWE’s modern main-event scene.
That range speaks to Mysterio’s longevity. Few wrestlers have remained as relevant across so many different periods of WWE programming. Mysterio has competed alongside established legends, worked with stars who rose after he was already a major name, and continued to be part of major matches deep into his career.
His encounter with Undertaker remains a small but memorable piece of that history. It was not remembered because of a planned storyline twist or a celebrated finishing sequence. It is remembered because it was an authentic accident involving one of the most famous moves of Mysterio’s career and one of WWE’s most formidable personalities.
The Human Side of a Legendary Career
Fans often associate Mysterio with his greatest achievements: championship victories, remarkable underdog performances, masked mystique, and an influence that can be seen across generations of high flyers. Stories like this one offer a different perspective. They show the immediate human reaction behind the polished television presentation.
For Mysterio, the image of landing too hard on Undertaker during a West Coast Pop was clearly not something he forgot. His reaction was not a lengthy technical breakdown, nor did it need to be. The combination of the accident itself and the person involved says enough.
The moment serves as a reminder that even veteran performers can find themselves in situations where one mistimed landing changes the tone of a match instantly. It also illustrates the respect Mysterio had for Undertaker: he knew immediately how serious it was to make that kind of contact with a wrestler of Undertaker’s stature.
More than 16 years after the May 2010 SmackDown incident, Mysterio can laugh about being frightened by the consequences. But beneath the joke is a clear acknowledgment of the risks involved in the style that made him famous. The West Coast Pop helped establish Rey Mysterio as one of wrestling’s most electrifying performers. On that night against Undertaker, it also produced a painful accident neither man is likely to forget.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.