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Eddie Guerrero, a WWE legend, died tragically
Eddie Guerrero is largely recognized as one of the best wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling.
His family has a great history in the industry for producing excellent talent in the squared circle over three generations.
Guerrero’s WWE career peaked, but he died tragically at a young age, making his narrative and legacy in the ring all the more powerful.
Eddie Guerrero’s wrestling career begins
Eddie Gory Guerrero Llanes got his start in the profession at a young age.
He began training after attending New Mexico Highlands, where he competed in undergraduate wrestling before heading to Mexico to train as a professional wrestler, according to The Famous People.
He spent his first five years in the business as Mascara Magica with the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre before moving on to Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion.
Guerrero was with the business for two years, becoming a member of one of the most despised tag teams in lucha libre history with Art Barr on the La Pareja del Terror.
Guerrero and Barr were close to joining Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) when then-owner Paul Heyman tried to bring him over, but Barr died in 1995 before they could compete as a tag team.
He did, however, join ECW for a little period that year.
Guerrero wrestled as the Black Tiger in New Japan Pro Wrestling from 1993 to 1996 at this period.
In late 1995, he made the jump to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as part of the WCW vs. NJPW World Cup event.
Guerrero remained with WCW until 2000, becoming one of the company’s mainstays.
During his four-year career, he held numerous titles, including the United States Heavyweight Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship.
Guerrero’s journey to WWE superstar
Eddie Guerrero rose to popularity as a member of the infamous WCW crew, which included Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn.
He soon established himself in the company with his iconic “Latino Heat” gimmick, which he carried with him throughout his WWE career.
During his first several years with the company, Guerrero won the European and Intercontinental Championships.
However, he had a setback when he was arrested for DUI in November 2001 and was subsequently removed from the WWE.
Guerrero was given another shot by the business in April 2002, which he took advantage of, and he went on to achieve immense success in his wrestling career.
Guerrero used the creation of Smackdown to propel him to the next level as he made his way into the WWE championship picture in 2004.
He worked his way up to No. 1 contender status, then defeated Brock Lesnar to win the title at No Way Out, as seen on YouTube.
In one of the most significant segments of his career, he convincingly defended the title at WrestleMania XX.
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Eddie Guerero’s terrible death and impact on wrestling
Eddie Guerrero maintained his position as one of the industry’s most popular attractions.
Behind his captivating charisma, he remained a fan favorite, and his epic fight with JBL endeared him to fans even more.
Guerrero would drop out of the WWE title race, but he would go on to win the Tag Team Championship with longtime friend and foe Rey Mysterio.
However, on November 13, 2005, he was discovered unconscious in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to Bleacher Report, the wrestler died shortly after in the hotel at the age of 38, after an autopsy found he had sudden heart failure caused by underlying atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Eddie Guerrero’s death shocked many in the wrestling industry because he was a well-liked wrestler among his peers and a fan favorite.
He struggled with drug and alcohol addiction at various points in his career, which took its toll on him.
Guerrero had also used steroids, which could have harmed his health.
Wrestling was important to him, and that meant much more than just a match.
Wrestling is therapy for me. When I get into the ring, no matter how horrible my personal condition is, all my problems vanish.
My luggage remains in the trunk, where it belongs.
Many in the industry still view Guerrero as one of the greatest wrestlers and in-ring technicians the profession has ever seen.
He has inspired many in the generations that have come after him, and he has left an indelible mark on professional wrestling.
