Rey ready for TLC

On Sunday night Rey Mysterio will battle his nemesis Alberto Del Rio at WWE TLC.

The Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view is one of the most brutal events in the WWE calendar and Mysterio will take on Del Rio in a Chairs match.

Mysterio has had his problems with Del Rio ever since his wrist was broken by 'The Essence of Excellence' at the end of August.

As the 'Master of the 619' prepares for his hellacious encounter with Del Rio he spoke to skysports.com's Richard Parr about getting revenge, up-and-coming Superstars and a possible movie role.

skysports.com: Hi Rey. You've been having your problems with Alberto Del Rio lately. Will you be able to finally settle the score with him at TLC?
Rey Mysterio: I'm hoping to settle the score there. He has one on top of me right now, so I'm hoping at TLC it'll be the type of match that I can get a little payback or get even. I want to say with these matches I do have experience and I think I can let that experience come out in this match against Alberto Del Rio.

skysports.com: What did you think of Jerry Lawler's effort at the age of 61 against Miz in a TLC Match on Raw a couple of weeks ago?
RM: Incredible, incredible, incredible. As I was watching the match I was trying to imagine myself at 61 and wondering if I could do what he was doing at that age. It was really incredible.

skysports.com: Is 61 too old to wrestle? After over 20 years in the industry - do you still want to be wrestling when you are 61?
RM: I'll tell you what - if I'd been sitting at a commentating table and getting excited week after week calling all these wonderful matches and seeing these Superstars go about and flourishing in this entertainment, and at 61 after not wrestling for a certain amount of 10 or 15 years and then all of a sudden you get the chance to get in the ring one more time - I think I would do it.

skysports.com: The WWE has a lot of new young talent coming through. Has anyone in particular caught your eye? Is there anyone you would particularly like to work with?
RM: Without a doubt there are a lot of wrestlers out there that are pushing strong. And I think the first time I saw Evan Bourne I said: "Here comes the next generation of high-flyers coming in and pushing strong". On the side of Smackdown, Kaval's been around quite some time now, but he is now getting the opportunity to perform in WWE. Kaval is another wrestler that really stands out. You sometimes ask yourself: "Where have these guys been hiding man? Why haven't they been given the opportunity a long time ago? Why weren't they stepping up to the plate trying to come in to WWE?" I tell you what man I think they are really bringing something exciting to the table.

skysports.com: Well I know one person I'd like you to face, and I'm sure many of the WWE Universe would too, that's United States Champion Daniel Bryan.
RM: Oh my god, that's another guy. I didn't even think about saying something about him but I actually wrestled him one time in San Diego and he really impressed me. One thing is to see him work against other opponents and another thing is to step into the ring with him. And when you step into the ring with a certain wrestler and he has ability - then you see that opening, that there is a lot of chemistry.

skysports.com: We are starting the road to Wrestlemania 27 and if you had to pick an opponent to face in Atlanta next April who would it be?
RM: Erm I think if I had to pick someone right now I would probably... ooh, that's a hard one. I guess I'm just so focused on Alberto Del Rio right now. Like every time I try to pick an opponent his name and face pops into my mind. I don't know if it would be him but if the score's not settled after TLC and keeps on moving I wouldn't mind having a Hair vs Mask match at Wrestlemania against him.

skysports.com: So you wouldn't fancy trying to end the Undertaker's unbeaten streak then?
RM: Ooh, wow. I think that would be a definite hard call. I have faced the Undertaker before and I don't want to say that I realise that the Undertaker is beyond vulnerable at points. Wrestling against him is very intimidating but at the same time I have seen a side of him that I have never seen before. Maybe that's an interest that I might pick up on in the next couple of months.

skysports.com: This year you finally regained the World Heavyweight Title. How did that feel and how much did it mean to you?
RM: That meant the world. When it comes around after you lose it, you better learn from your mistakes. The second time when I won it, it was such an exciting moment that I'd accomplished. At the time it wasn't part of my plans but it happened so fast that before I tried to adjust and accommodate myself it was taken away from me right away. But the excitement was incredible.

skysports.com: You've achieved so much in the WWE. What are your current goals? Would you like to one day become WWE Champion, have your own stable or even begin to manage?
RM: I think your goals are never satisfied or fulfilled when you still have a passion for this sport. There's always something that you want to do or haven't done. Of course I would definitely love to do a film on something that takes it back to the El Santo days. El Santo was the first Mexican to make movies and fight vampires and monsters. And maybe we can do something old school like that. Definitely I am looking to perform.

skysports.com: Have you spoke to Vince McMahon or anyone at the WWE about this idea? Is it something that could happen?
RM: I'm hoping it will. It has been mentioned. There's nothing concrete yet but I'm hopeful in the next few years we can pull something out.

skysports.com: You clearly are creative. On that note, do you design all of your entrance outfits?
RM: I do all of that on my own and of course I sometimes get ideas from my own children - my daughter and my son. I try to stay on top of whatever's new out there for the youths. I use that in accordance with what I want to wear.

skysports.com: You mentioned your children; they have both appeared on WWE TV over the years. Does either of them have plans in following your footsteps and become Superstars?
RM: Dominik is definitely a big soccer fanatic. I believe he's a big European soccer fanatic - he loves Man United. And my daughter has actually told me she does want to wrestle one time and that's it. I don't know where she got that idea. I'm hoping that my son doesn't have to but I think when he gets older he will want to focus his life onto wrestling.

skysports.com: You mention Manchester, which is where WWE Raw and Smackdown were broadcast from last month. How much are you looking forward to returning again next April?
RM: I'm looking very forward to it. I'm a big European guy. I love wrestling in Europe. For me, being from San Diego, I love the weather over there. I definitely love to peform for the fans over there too.

Booking details

WWE TLC will be shown live on Sky Box Office (channel 743) and Sky Box Office HD (channel 753) on Sunday December 19 at 1am (Monday morning).

WWE TLC will be repeated on Sky Box Office between 9am on Monday December 20 and 9pm on Saturday December 25. Repeat shows will last three hours.

Repeats will only be shown on Sky Box Office channel 743 and NOT on Sky Box Office HD channel 753.

The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.

The easiest way to order WWE TLC is to press the Box Office button on your remote in the week before the show. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.

Viewers can also call 08442 410888 to book WWE TLC. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).

Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.

Sky Box Office terms and conditions apply.