The Death & Legacy Of Eddie Guerrero, Explained
Highlights
- Eddie Guerrero, a beloved wrestling star, found fame in WCW and became WWE Champion in 2004.
- Guerrero passed away unexpectedly in 2005, leading to emotional tribute shows by WWE.
- Even after his death, Eddie Guerrero's legacy lives on, with fans chanting his name and references to him in current storylines.
One of the most painful parts of being a wrestling fan is seeing our heroes die. It's one thing when they die of old age, after having a lived a long life, but it's hard to take when one falls in the prime of their life. Just last year, we had to say goodbye to WWE's Bray Wyatt and Ring of Honor's Jay Brisoe. The deaths of stars like Brian Pillman, Owen Hart, and so many others will never be forgotten either. The most painful loss, however, was Eddie Guerrero in 2005. Not only was he young, but when he died, Guerrero was still one of WWE's biggest stars on SmackDown. His death shook wrestling to its core, but two decades later, he's still popular, with fans often chanting his name, and WWE mentioning him in storylines. Eddie Guerrero may have passed, but he still lives on.
- Eddie Guerrero wrestled in NJPW, ECW, and WCW.
- Eddie Guerrero called himself "Latino Heat" in WWE
- Eddie Guerrero won the WWE Championship in 2004
- Eddie Guerrero passed away on November 13, 2005
Eddie Guerrero's WCW And WWE Legacy
Eddie Guerrero Became WWE Champion In 2004
Eddie Guerrero began his wrestling career in 1986, and although he had stints in New Japan and ECW, it was in WCW during the Monday Night Wars that he found fame. Along with the likes of Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and more, Guerrero was one of the company's marquee cruiserweights. He held the Cruiserweight Championship twice, and became the United States Champion as well, and though he was great in the ring and led acts like the LWO, Guerrero never became a main eventer. That distinction was hogged by the veterans of WCW.
In 2000, Guerrero shocked the wrestling world when he, Malenko, Perry Saturn, and Chris Benoit showed up on an episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw together. Christened The Radicalz, they were an exciting faction, but quickly went out on their own. Guerrero found success as a singles star, including an entertaining partnership with Chyna that saw him become "Latino Heat", but after a DUI arrest in late 2001, WWE let him go. When he came back the next year, he picked up where he left off. He teamed and feuded with his cousin Chavo. He became a bigger star by the week, a heel so cool that you couldn't help but love him. In 2004, at No Way Out, Eddie Guerrero beat Brock Lesanr for the WWE Championship. In 2005, he was part of an unforgettable feud with Rey Mysterio over the custody of Rey's son, Dominik. Eddie was so over that he was scheduled to beat Batista for the World Championship. Then, tragedy struck.
How A WCW Human Resources Disaster Allowed Eddie Guerrero To Sign With WWE
When Eddie Guerrero left WCW in 2000, there should've been a non-compete clause that kept him out of WWE for 90 days, but Eddie found a way around it.Eddie Guerrero Passed Away Unexpectedly In 2005
The Raw After Eddie Guerrero's Death Became A Tribute Show
Chavo Guerrero has spoken about what happened next many times, including in an episode of Dark Side of the Ring about the Chris Benoit tragedy. WWE was in Minnesapolis, and on Sunday, November 13, 2005, after Eddie Guerrero failed to answer a hotel wake-up call, Chavo went with security to his room. It was there that he found his cousin on the bathroom floor, unconscious and barely breathing. Eddie died in Chavo's arms at the age of 38.
Raw the next night became a tribute show. It's most remembered now for those heartbreaking images of Eddie's best friend, Chris Benoit, bawling on the stage and in a video package. SmackDown was a tribute to Eddie Guerrero as well. Even though he was gone, he lived on, as his close friendship with Rey Mysterio carried Rey to winning the 2006 Royal Rumble, which was followed by a World Championship win at WrestleMania 22. Guerrero even continued on as part of storylines, including a very controversial one between Rey and Batista, where a newly heel Batista told the babyface Rey that Eddie was in Hell.
Autopsy results for Eddie Guerrero revealed that he died of acute heart failure, brought on by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease from his past steroid use. In February 2006, WWE's Wellness Policy took effect, with many substances, including steroids, now banned. The death of such a beloved star in the prime of his life was the last straw in the heartbreaking wrestling world where so many wrestlers died before their time.
Eddie Guerrero Vs. The Rock: The WWE Dream Match You Forgot About, Explained
On a random WWE Raw main event in 2002, wrestling fans got to witness The Rock vs Eddie Guerrero in their one and only match together.Eddie Guerrero's Name Lives On Today
Wrestling Fans Still Chant For Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero has been gone for almost two decades, but he is still immensely popular, unlike any other passed on superstar. If a wrestler does the Three Amigos or a frogsplash, it's certain to draw "Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!" chants from the crowd. Eddie's widow, Vickie Guerrero, worked in WWE for years (and later AEW) as a manager and GM, becoming one of the greatest heels in the business. Rhea Ripley's "Mami" nickname is a wink to Eddie Guerrero's "I'm your Papi" gimmick. Last year, Rey and Dominik Mysterio's feud partially involved Dominik wishing Eddie was his real dad. There has also been the rebirth of the LWO in WWE on SmackDown, which Eddie founded in WCW. Eddie even had a daughter, Shaul, who competed for a time in NXT.
The phrase "gone but not forgotten" is used often, but in Eddie Guerrero's case it is so true. Eighteen years after his death, fans still remember him, both for his in ring talent, and his charismatic ability to connect with fans in a way few others can, whether it be as a vile heel, or a babyface jumping into the stands to celebrate his newly won title with the fans who had always supported him.
