Just hours before WrestleMania 41 Night One kicks off, Rey Mysterio has officially pulled himself from the card—and he’s named a surprise replacement fans didn’t see coming.

During the Countdown to WrestleMania pre-show, Mysterio appeared live and addressed his injury status head-on. “As of right now, I don’t have the clearance to be able to compete,” he revealed. But instead of letting the match die, Mysterio dropped a bombshell: “There is a replacement. That replacement is Rey Fenix!”

The announcement ended a day speculation surrounding Mysterio’s injury, which he suffered during Friday Night SmackDown. WWE had continued promoting his match against El Grande Americano as if it was still happening, but behind the scenes, names like Dragon Lee and Fenix had been floated as potential substitutes.

Now it’s official—Fenix is stepping up. Originally, Mysterio was set to defend the honor of Lucha Libre against WWE’s newest masked star, widely believed to be Chad Gable under the El Grande persona. With Rey now out, Fenix will get the nod in what’s sure to be a fast-paced, high-stakes encounter.

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This marks Fenix’s first WrestleMania appearance, and it’s a massive opportunity for the former AEW star to show out on WWE’s biggest stage. It also gives fans a fresh twist on the match that could end up stealing the night.

Do you think Rey Fenix was the right choice to take Rey Mysterio’s place? Would you have rather seen Dragon Lee step in? Sound off in the comments and let us know your pick.

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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