
Carlito believes Dominik Mysterio has overcome one of the biggest challenges of his WWE career: establishing his own identity and no longer being recognized solely as Rey Mysterio's son. The former Intercontinental Champion, who shared a locker room with Dominik during his time in The Judgment Day, praised the wrestler's development and his ability to establish himself as a singles star.
During an interview on the Hitting The Turnbuckle podcast, Carlito stated that Dominik Mysterio has managed to step out of his father's shadow, a particularly difficult task considering Rey Mysterio's career and legacy in professional wrestling. The veteran also expressed his confidence that Dominik and Roxanne Perez could become WWE world champions in the future.
Dominik Mysterio's development was one of the topics Carlito discussed during his appearance on Hitting The Turnbuckle. The Puerto Rican wrestler, who was part of The Judgment Day before leaving WWE in 2025, has firsthand knowledge of Dominik's growth and the prominence he has gained within the company.
For Carlito, Dominik's greatest achievement is getting fans to recognize him for his own character rather than constantly associating him with his father.
Yeah, I think before he was Rey Mysterio's son. Now he's Dominik Mysterio. Being Rey's son has taken a back seat. So yeah, I'm happy for him.
The veteran continued praising his former stablemate's work and acknowledged how difficult it is to stand out as an individual when coming from a family with such a rich history in professional wrestling.
I think he's done a great job of getting out of his father's shadow. And that's a huge shadow to get out of, you know what I mean? So I'm happy for him.
These comments reflect Carlito's positive opinion of Dominik, whose character has undergone a considerable transformation since his early years in WWE. Joining The Judgment Day and subsequently developing his heel persona allowed him to distance himself from the image he had initially built alongside Rey Mysterio.
Dominik began his WWE career closely associated with his father, teaming with him and taking part in several storylines. However, his betrayal of Rey Mysterio and subsequent move to The Judgment Day marked a major turning point for his character, allowing him to develop an identity of his own.
One of the biggest moments in his development came at WrestleMania 41, when Dominik Mysterio captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time. He defeated Bron Breakker, Finn Bálor, and Penta in a Fatal Four-Way match, securing his first singles championship on the main roster.
His rise has also been accompanied by an increasingly defiant attitude toward his father. In December 2025, Dominik went as far as declaring himself the greatest Mysterio of all time during a Judgment Day celebration on Monday Night Raw, following his victory over John Cena at Survivor Series.
The family rivalry has not completely disappeared from WWE programming either. In September 2026, Dominik attacked Rey Mysterio again during an episode of Raw, in a segment that also involved several members of The Judgment Day.
These developments illustrate how WWE has kept the family conflict as part of Dominik's storyline while allowing him to pursue individual rivalries and goals. For Carlito, that evolution has been essential in helping the wrestler move beyond relying exclusively on the recognition associated with his last name.
Carlito's comments were not limited to praising Dominik Mysterio's growth. The veteran also expressed confidence in the future of Roxanne Perez, another member of The Judgment Day who has gained increasing prominence since joining the group.
According to Carlito, both Dominik Mysterio and Roxanne Perez have what it takes to become WWE world champions. This is the Puerto Rican wrestler's personal assessment rather than information about any potential creative plans within the company.
Perez officially joined The Judgment Day during the summer of 2025. Shortly afterward, she became part of the Women's Tag Team Championship-winning team alongside Raquel Rodriguez, replacing Liv Morgan following the latter's injury.
Carlito's experience within the faction allowed him to work directly with both talents and witness their development. Although he is no longer with WWE, he continues to hold his former stablemates' progress in high regard.
For now, Carlito's words represent recognition of Dominik Mysterio's career and a vote of confidence in his future. The Puerto Rican veteran believes Dominik has already succeeded in distinguishing himself from Rey Mysterio and still has plenty of room to achieve further individual success in WWE.