by James Caldwell, Assistant editor

Former WWE champion Bret Hart's influence on Rey Mysterio is evident through Rey giving his pre-match mask to a fan ringside on the way to the ring for any given match.

Rey says he took a chapter from Bret's old pre-match routine of giving his sunglasses to a ringside fan. "I was a big fan, and I still am of Bret Hart," Rey told Jim Varsallone in the Miami Herald.

Mysterio says he didn't intend for it to become an every-show routine for him to give a fan his mask or knock heads with ringside fans, but he reveals that WWE told him to keep doing it after the first time he did it.

"One day it just happened," Mysterio said. "I was walking to the ring, and there was a little boy with his Rey Mysterio gear, and I just happened to bump heads with him and was talking to him, eye-to-eye.

"The next day they (WWE) asked me, 'Hey, what did you tell that little boy. He was excited.' I said I was just pumping myself up, and he was pumping me up. I kept doing it week after week, and the next thing you know more little kids are at ringside with their masks waiting to stick their head out to have Rey Mysterio face-to-face. There was definitely a connection between the fans and myself."

Rey was also asked about the upcoming Royal Rumble, which he won in 2006 soon after Eddie Guerrero's death to begin his quest for the World Title at WrestleMania 22. He says he felt Eddie's presence with him during the entire run.

"We had just left a very strong angle behind including my son and Eddy's family members and myself," Rey said. "From the point that Eddy passed, the fans just related so much to Eddy and myself. Every night I put my body on the line was always a dedication to Eddy."

"I also believe Eddy was with me throughout that whole period up to and at WrestleMania when I became world heavyweight champion."

Link: Miami Herald interview with Rey Mysterio.

-- HELP PWTORCH - TAKE A BRIEF 2 MIN. DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE NEWS: Superstars SPOILERS - Results from Chicago Raw

WWE NETWORK: Monday, Oct. 12 Schedule - Raw pre-show, Sting DVD preview

WWE NEWS: Lana & Rusev reportedly engaged - follow the interesting 2015 timeline