The Orlando Magic WrestleMania

Darrell Armstrong is Rey Mysterio

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Darrell Armstrong was never supposed to make the NBA. The 6-foot-1 (that is generous) point guard from Fayetteville State was playing in far-flung countries with batteries thrown at him. The NBA was a distant dream. Somehow he found his way onto the Orlando Magic.

At the beginning, he was nothing more than a cheerleader. During all the Finals footage in 1995, Armstrong is the well-dressed guard slapping five at timeouts. He did not play a game in that Playoffs run.

By 1997, he had impressed his way into the rotation. And while Anfernee Hardaway was a big reason for the Magic to force that Playoff series with the Miami Heat to five games, Armstrong played his part too. His energy and harassing defense on Tim Hardaway changed the series for the Magic.

He was a part of the rotation from there. He won Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improve Player of the Year in the 1999 season and became the team’s leading scorer. During the famed Heart and Hustle year, he was the team’s pulse.

For several years, Armstrong was the most popular player on the team just because of his sheer effort alone.

There are plenty of wrestling stories like this. But the one that sticks out is Rey Mysterio.

The diminutive luchador was known for his high-flying style and acrobatics. He started off as a cruiserweight, wrestling similarly diminutive fighters. But he slowly got upgraded to fighting heavyweights.

It must have been a spectacle to watch the 5-foot-6 Mysterio take on the 7-foot Kane. And it must have been even greater to see Mysterio win it.

That was Armstrong’s career in a nutshell.