More than ever, modern WWE fans come out to root for the stars — babyface and heel alignment be damned. And right now, one of the biggest stars in the company is the chicken tender-lovin’, ladies’ man: “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio.
To be sure, this isn’t a fluke or a one-off regional pop. It’s a pattern.
Following SmackDown at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, the heel Mysterio received a hero’s welcome. During his entrance, a soccer-style chant of “Dirty, Dirty Dom” broke out. For a moment, he appeared to
be “Dublin” Dom with how warmly the Irish crowd embraced him.
But as always with Mysterio, the love came with limits.
Once he grabbed a mic and addressed the audience, the tide turned.
“In all seriousness now,” he began, and the crowd knew their cue. Boos rained down, almost on instinct.
In his promo, Mysterio recapped his recent loss at Triplemanía, where AJ Styles cost him the AAA Mega Championship. He poked at Styles for not following him to Ireland but clarified he was open to a fight — just not for his Intercontinental title. He then signed off with someone else’s signature phrase: “Yadadamean?”
That brought out Jacob Fatu, who also received a strong ovation. But once the bell rang, something unexpected happened: Mysterio got the bigger pops.
The match itself reflected the new norm for “El Sucio,” where fans cheer for him one moment, then taunt him the next. In between the soccer chants were chants for his father, Rey Mysterio.
Despite their support, Mysterio fell to Fatu. Late in the match, Dom slipped out of a Samoan Drop attempt and set up for the 6-1-9. Instead, Fatu countered with a pop-up Samoan Drop to seal the win. Post-match, Dublin paid its respects to Fatu. Yet, the response to Mysterio was electrifying.
Since betraying his dad and Edge in 2022, Mysterio hasn’t been able to get through a promo without being booed out of the building. While that continues today, a noticeable shift has taken place.
After winning the Intercontinental title at WrestleMania last April, fans in attendance roared in approval. As he was leaving the ring, they continued to cheer, prompting him to return to the ring and take a proverbial bow.
Whether it’s his commitment to character, his understated ring growth, or his onscreen relationships (first with Rhea Ripley, now Liv Morgan), Dom has become a paradoxical fan favorite. Crowds still boo the promos, but they cheer the performance.
Part of the appeal is what Dom represents. At just 28, he has evolved into a hybrid of wrestling DNA: the fundamentals of his father, the swagger of Eddie Guerrero, and a 2020s sense of irony. His character — cocky, yet oddly lovable, thanks to his unapologetic love of chicken tenders — feels authentic.
Despite the blurred line between heel and face in 2025, fans still crave authenticity. While his character still draws heat, the performer has clearly earned their respect, thanks to his charisma, his callbacks to Eddie, and flashes of his persona outside the ring.
And as names like Bron Breakker enter the “face of the company” conversation, Mysterio — once dismissed as a product of nepotism — now belongs in that discussion.
Other notes:
Iyo Sky & Lyra Valkyira defeated Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez: In what was billed as the first half of a dark match double main event, the heels received a positive reaction as their music hit. An “Iyo” chant broke out as she came to the ring. But the biggest pop came when Ireland’s Valkyria was announced from Dublin.
A clever spot took place early in the match. As Sky and Perez each tried to kick the other in the gut, they caught one another’s foot. A peaceful agreement to let go was seemingly made before Perez double-crossed Iyo with a slap to the face.
In the closing moments, Sky made a hot tag to Valkyria, who took it to the Judgment Day duo by capitalizing on their mistimed offense. Sky recovered and neutralized Rodriguez with a springboard moonsault to the floor as Valkyria drilled Perez with a Nightwing for the win.
