It must be interesting to be Dominik Mysterio right now. The WWE Universe has gotten to watch him grow up and be involved in three separate angles (Eddie, Punk, and Brock) over the years before signing with company full time and now, he’s finally made his debut to take on Seth Rollins at SummerSlam.
But Dominik’s not the only heir to a wrestling dynasty that has faced off against an opponent that his father once fought. Along with the Mysterios, there were plenty more times that a father and son have fought the same wrestler.
10 The Mysterios Vs. Seth Rollins
At SummerSlam 2020, Dominik made his big debut match against the Monday Night Messiah. Before his big debut, he’s also had to endure being lashed over a dozen times with canes swung by Seth Rollins and the Disciple, Murphy. Since WrestleMania, the Mysterio men have been trying to stop the scourge that is Seth Rollins. Rey has gone to war with The Monday Night Messiah and had nearly lost an eye, not once but twice in two separate matches. Both father and son fell to the might of The Monday Night Messiah.
On the Raw after SummerSlam, Dominik and Rey teamed up to battle Rollins and Murphy, but their match ended in a no contest following an attack from RETRIBUTION. The war between the Mysterios and The Monday Night Messiah is far from over.
9 The Rhodes Vs. Arn Anderson
Dusty Rhodes spent the better part of the 80's feuding with The Four Horsemen. That mean having to deal with The Enforcer, Arn Anderson on more than one occasion. After escaping to the WWE with polka dots, he returned to the NWA and WCW and still had to deal with Double A, despite not having the Horseman around anymore.
Instead, Anderson was part of The Stud Stable and had done the dastardly deed of turning heel on Dustin after supposedly trying to look out of for him. The Rhodes boys teamed up with The Nasty Boys to take on Anderson and the rest of The Stud Stable in the 1994 War Games match.
8 The Ortons Vs. Roddy Piper
Part of the legacy of "The Hot Rod" Rowdy Roddy Piper includes hanging around The Ace, Cowboy Bob Orton. Years later, the legendary Piper found himself as part of a tag team with another good friend, Ric Flair. They had defeated The Spirit Squad to become tag team champs, but the duo would lose them less than 10 days later to Edge and Randy Orton. Despite being remembered as a being good friends, Randy’s dad did indeed take on Roddy as well on an episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event from 1986.
7 The Fatus Vs. The New Age Outlaws
The Usos have made their names in an interesting time. While there is an emphasis placed on tag team wrestling, the big dogs on campus are The New Day and every other team is just jockeying for second place. Jimmy and Jey have made their names being a constant thorn in the sides of The New Day and have been able to reinvent themselves from being face-painting Samoans known for dancing to the wardens of the Uso Penitentiary.
The Usos' dad, Rikishi certainly knows a thing or two about dancing up a storm in a WWE ring as well. Both father and sons have also had to deal with The New Age Outlaws - ‘Kishi teamed up with Too Cool against the Outlaws and Triple H. Meanwhile, The Usos defeated The Outlaws to win the WWE Tag Team Titles.
6 The Rhodes Vs. The Undertaker
The Undertaker’s long and mythical career has enabled him to take on all kinds of WWE Superstars. He might be the only one however to take on all members of The Rhodes family throughout his own career. In his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1990, he wound up being counted out for his continued assault on The American Dream.
Several years later, The Deadman would be engaged in a feud with Goldust and even wrestled him in a casket match. It would be over 10 years before The Phenom would meet Cody in the ring during the 2008 Royal Rumble match. Taker gets bonus Rhodes points for even taking on Uncle Fred, Tugboat.
5 The DiBiases Vs. Shawn Michaels
Ted DiBiase Jr. quickly decided that the wrestling business wasn’t for him, despite being in his blood. But before he ended his career, he teamed up with the future AEW TNT Champion, Cody to try and destroy Degeneration X, Triple H and Shawn Michaels at New Year’s Revolution 2007. Seventeen years prior in May of 1990 on an episode of Prime Time, a Rockers-era HBK had taken on The Million Dollar Man in an early Shawn Michaels classic.
4 The Flairs Vs. Sting
At the very first Clash Of Champions, Ric Flair was doing what he does best - defending the world title and making a young stud in the process. In a lot of ways, the legendary Stinger is Ric Flair’s greatest foe, and the biggest name The Nature Boy has ever made. The two remained locked in mortal combat up through the final Monday Nitro and even into TNA. During their decade-spanning feud, the next generation was brought in as well. During an episode of Nitro, David took on Sting, who was trying to get control of WCW from his dad. The match was a squash that turned into a schmozz when Sting had David beat but Lil’ Naitch, Charles Robinson refused to call the match.
3 The McMahons Vs. DX
In 2006, Vince McMahon had gone completely off the deep end, trying to stifle the careers of both Shawn Michaels and Triple H. The Chairman had also included Shane in his quest and even went as far as to challenge "God" and Shawn Michaels to a tag team match with his son, mocking HBK for being a born-again Christian.
The former friends, who were engaged in a bloody feud for years prior, had no choice but to come together and reform DX to take on The McMahons. At Unforgiven 2006, The McMahons added some extra help in the form of The Big Show to take on DX inside a Hell In A Cell handicapped match. Despite being behind the 8-Ball, DX were able to overcome their rivals thanks to The Chairman’s ego getting the better of him, with Vinnie Mac attempting to induct DX into The Kiss My Ass Club.
2 The Von Erichs Vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
As Kerry Von Erich was challenging Ric Flair for the NWA Title in a Steel Cage match, guest referee, Michael Hayes tried to help his then-friend, Kerry. When Kerry refused, Terry Gordy swung the cage door into Kerry’s head. From that moment on, The Von Erich boys and The Fabulous Freebirds were wrestling’s equivalent to The Hatfields and The McCoys.
Despite being retired for a few years, the family patriarch, Fritz came out of retirement for the first David Von Erich Memorial Show to team with sons, Kevin and Mike, to defeat The ‘Birds in a big six-man tag match.
1 The Rotundas Vs. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho is one of the last generations great journeyman. From Canada, Japan, Mexico, and of course the Americas, Le Champion has wrestled all over the world and with the exception of TNA, has worked in every major American promotion. During his WCW days, the then “Man Of 1004 Holds” had taken on and defeated Mike Rotunda, working as Michael Wallstreet on Monday Nitro back in November 1996. Nearly 20 years later, Y2J was still going strong and locked in a star making feud against a certain Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt, that included a big time leap from a Steel Cage from the Ayatollah Of Rocknrolla.