Despite Boxing Backlash, Noah Lyles Makes Bold Confession to WWE Legend Rey Mysterio: “Lot of Entertainment”

In the first episode of the first season of Netflix’s Sprint, Noah Lyles said he wanted to be the face of track and field. Now, after winning the 100m in Paris 2024, Lyles is busy doing just that. After racing one of streaming’s biggest stars, IShowSpeed, Lyles has become a topic of discussion among combat sports fans. While many didn’t agree with his take on Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor, the athlete remains undeterred.

A little over an hour ago, the official WWE Instagram age posted a clip of the defending world champion with pro wrestling legend Rey Mysterio. In the short clip, the 27-year-old track and field icon had nothing but praise for Mysterio and pro wrestling. “Hey, bro, it’s an honor to me,” said Lyles while shaking Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio, aka Rey Mysterio’s hand.

“I know what you gotta put your body through. I know you guys do a lot of entertainment, but a lot of sports too.” Noah Lyles said, appreciating what it takes to perform the high-flying moves involved in pro wrestling. This holds especially true for the 49-year-old veteran wrestler, as the 5-foot 6-inch, 175 lbs. legend is known for his acrobatic prowess inside the ring.

Even the WWE acknowledged it in their cation. “The world’s fastest man @nojo18 meets the greatest high flyer @619iamlucha at @complexcon!” wrote the official Instagram page. The two stars met one another at Complex Con on Sunday, where Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, and Liv Morgan were also present. Several stars, including the track and field world champion, attended Complex Con.

The event gave fans an exclusive opportunity to interact with their favorite stars, witness exclusive releases from top brands, and enjoy live music. Rappers Travis Scott and Playboi Carti were the headline acts at the venue. So as a fan of the latest fashion, it’s no wonder Noah Lyles attended Complex Con. Getting to meet Mysterio might’ve been the icing on the cake. The fans also reacted positively to the meeting of the two icons; the same couldn’t be said for his take on the Jake Paul vs. Nike Tyson co-main event pick.

Boxing fans roasted Noah Lyles’s mistake

Noah Lyles is no stranger to online criticism. The 27-year-old attracted immense backlash for saying NFL teams shouldn’t call themselves world champions. Lyles’ “World champions of what? The United States?” has become one of the most infamous quotes in U.S. sports history. So it was no surprise when many boxing fans pounced on the 100-meter Olympic champion for his rookie take.

While Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson stole the limelight, avid boxing fans enjoyed yet another unforgettable match between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. The last time they met at Madison Square Garden in 2022, the Taylor edged out Serrano in a close split decision victory. It was no different on Friday night at AT&T stadium, and after the controversial decision, Noah Lyles chimed in.

The Olympic gold medalist supported Serrano when she disagreed with the loss on X. “I’m very new to boxing so idk how it works but it looked like to me you definitely won,” said the six-time World champion. However, many fans took issue with the fact that Lyles gave his opinion despite admitting to being a novice.

“I mean come on man, first you say you don’t know s**t but then give your half-baked take,” complained one fan. However, he was far from the only one. Several other fans harped on the same point, blasting the Olympian’s take in the comments. However, the 100m gold medalist in Paris seemed unbothered by the whole incident. Yet, what did you think about Noah Lyles crossing paths with Rey Mysterio? Let us know in the comments.