Your Thoughts on Eddie Guerrero - Part 3
Here's the third batch of Eddie Guerrero memory emails. Please note that most of these were written on Sunday, so if you see references to "tomorrow's Raw" or something about seeing Raw the next day that's why. Sorry about not getting a post up yesterday, but I was busy and didn't have time to get it done. My plan is that after this one I'll do another one on Friday and a final one on Saturday, then we'll have reached the end of the emails I've received. It will be five parts in total. Thanks to everybody who has written in. It's been great to see.
Before we get started, two links I wanted to point out. We've had a lot of tributes to Eddie on the Oratory already, but this one isn't about Eddie. It's about Kurt Angle and it's the story about how much he is putting his body, and his life, at risk for us. It's written by my good friend Jay Bower and it's called Killing Yourself to Live, so check that out. Also wanted to make mention of the Eddie Guerrero tribute t-shirt that WWE has put out at WWEShop.com with all proceeds going to the Guerrero family. I'm flat broke, but I ordered two. One for me and one for a member of my family that I know will love it. I doubt it will be here before Survivor Series, but if it was I know I'd be wearing when I go to that show.
Now here are more of your thoughts on the life and legacy of Eddie Guerrero.
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A dagger through my heart, I've been knocked off my feet.
I can't believe the world has lost Latino Heat.
How can this be? He was at the top of his game.
Everywhere he went, people chanted his name.
Eddie was an inspiration, a man with a heart of gold.
A man who's story needs to be repeatedly told.
It feels good knowing he's in a better place, God said he was ready.
He said Viva La Raza, we all say Viva La Eddie.
Whether if he was feeling froggy or rollin' in his Low Rider,
His family, the fans, everyone knew he was a fighter.
It didn't matter if he was a face or if he was a heel,
There was no measuring the excitement that all his fans would feel.
In conclusion, this is not a goodbye,
because even God takes those who cheat, steal and lie.
Rest in Peace Eddie, I never met you, but I considered you a friend.
I pray and hope to God, that I will be able to see you again.
Dan O
St. Louis, MO
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My favorite Eddie Guerrero moment happened at a house show here in Syracuse, NY a few years ago. A friend and I were lucky enough to get front row seats for the show. Eddie was involved in a tag match, and my friend and I heckled Eddie (a heel at the time), making jokes about his famous mullet. He heard us, jumped down from his corner, came over, and stood right in front of us in an intimidating pose. Right as he seemed to be starting to turn away to go back to his corner, he seemed to notice that I was fumbling around for my camera, so he turned back, reassumed his intimidating pose long enough for me to take the picture. As he was heading back to his corner I yelled out "thanks Eddie!" Most heels don't do subtle things like that. Eddie knew that he was there for the fans, and a subtle move as holding a pose for an extra couple of seconds would mean everything in the world to just a couple of fans, and he was smart enough to do it. That was several years ago and the memory is as vivid now as it was when it happened. Eddie was so good to his fans. I miss him already.
Justin Huffman
Syracuse, NY
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With tears in my eyes, and a lump in my throat, I came to terms with reality today... The reality that a man, who brought himself back from the edges of hell to shine brighter than any other star I've seen in my life, had been stolen away from us again... but this time, he wouldn't be coming back...
As a former wrestler, I cannot begin to describe what Eddie Guerrero meant to us all as people, wrestlers, and human beings... He's a true role model to anyone that's even been faced with the types of demons he faced, and lived to tell his stories about them... For the people that didn't know how to face those problems, he showed them how... head on...
Even now, as I write this, I expect my phone to ring with someone on the other end telling me, "It's all a work"... What else could you expect from someone like Eddie? Sure, it'd be a practical joke gone too far, but I don't think even I could stay mad at him... I could have honestly said, "You got me... you little fucker, you got me..."
If I can say one thing on behalf of every single one of his family members, friends and fans... it's this...
Eddie, you will be missed, for many years to come... possibly generations... but rest assured, your legacy will not die, for it will live on, not only with your family, but your friends and fans all over the world... East to West, North to South...
Eddie, continue to be the superstar you were down here while you're in the skies above... Until we meet again, my friend, you will forever be in my thoughts and memories.
Thank you for everything you've given us.
R.I.P. Eddie Guerrero
(10/09/1967 - 11/13/2005)
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Shawn Baldwin, Oshawa Ontario Canada
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It took about 30 minutes but the news has finally hit me which is why I felt compelled to tell my experience in 2002 when I actually got the privilege to meet Eddie. I had been on the tail end of a long shift at an Applebee's in Raleigh, NC. when there was a commotion up front at a booth. Normally I thought nothing of such events since that is commonplace in the atmosphere that I worked. When I went to clean my tables there he was only feet away from me: Latino Heat himself. The worker in me wanted to act as if he was any other person as I would think he would have wanted going out to enjoy a simple meal but the fan in me wanted to just run up and tell him about all the matches I seen him in and how great it was an honor to say I met this guy. After "wrestling" conflicting thoughts on what to do I had to take the opportunity to talk to him because what other chance would I have? The only thing I could think of asking him was about his upcoming match with RVD which I was hyped about because they both used the same finisher to gain popularity and he would be wrestling him for a title as well. Television does not do these guys justice as they are HUGE in person and Guerrero's arms were about as big as my legs. So I asked him who has the better frog splash and he said RVD did. It blew me away that he even talked to me but even more that he had the grace to acknowledge someone else did something better than he even if he had been doing it for years and been winning titles before RVD decided to wrestle. When I think of all the things he has done I think of that moment and how classy this guy was. He was one of the bright spots of Smackdown and wrestling in general because he was a living example of perseverance and grace and my experience drove it home. Matt Hardy might have coined the phrase but Eddie Guerrero will never die for me...
Willie J.
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Hello!!
I just wanted to say that I am truly saddened to hear of the loss of Eddie Guerrero...I have watched wrestling for 20 plus years now and I've loved Eddie and hated him in the time he's been wrestling. My favorite moment is a very recent one from last weeks smackdown when he faked the chair shot in his match with Ken Kennedy, the grin that came across his face was priceless and has us all laughing as we knew what he was going to do. I've always loved that cheeky grin that he got when he was up to something. I will never forget Eddie and I will be taping both tribute shows to keep forever so I always have a reminder of him. He will definitely be missed by the fans.
Thank You,
Robin H
New Brunswick, Canada
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Im in shock at this moment. After getting home from a day out with family I log onto Rajah.com to get my daily fix of wrestling news. I am greeted with a headline that made my heart drop into my stomach. One of the great ones is gone. A inspiration for millions with his story of overcoming the odds has passed away without warning. I am at a loss for words. I can only say may God bless eddie and his family......
Gil Felix
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John, thanks for the heartfelt tribute to this spectacular performer. You put into words feelings millions of fans are going to have a hard time articulating.
My favorite Eddie memory has got to be the return. I'd been uncharacteristically avoiding the web for the two weeks before that Raw broadcast when a clearly rejuvenated Eddie showed up to frog splash RVD. The first thing I thought when I saw him was, "No way! It's Eddie!" followed by, "Man, he looks pumped!" The energy he brought to that one surprise appearance made it clear that this was a whole new man,
sparkling with irrepressible charisma and a zeal for life.
Eddie carried over that energy into every match from that day to this. His loss at such a young age (and 38 gets younger every day) is a huge loss to the industry and millions of fans. My heart goes out especially to his family. As a father myself, I know the deep bond that can exist between father and daughter. My thoughts are with Eddie's wife and family, and especially his girls.
-Ryan Twombly
Greensboro, NC
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hi, i would just like to say thank you for writing such a fitting tribute article about eddie. i cant believe that he has gone. to me eddie surpassed many superstars that have graced the squared circle before him. the way he was able to get the crowd in the palm of his hand and make them feel that they hated him and the way that him made them feel that they loved him it was just unbelievable. the guy had it all, great ring skills, great promos and overall he was just a tremendous talent that i and millions others had they pleasure of seeing live, of which i will never forget. i cant believe that just a few hours before he died i was watching his match with kennedy and looking forward to his participation in the survivor series match and thinking how great it would be to see eddie once again with the championship belt. if anyone ever deserved to be champion it had to be eddie. to end this, i cant believe he has gone, he will be sorely missed by every one in the wrestling industry and i hope we can all recall as eddie as the champion he became and the great entertainer and family man that he was. my condolences to everyone involved with eddie. he will be missed greatly.
steve magson
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I have to say that was a tremendously touching piece you wrote. Every word was true. Eddie Guerrero gave it his all in the ring. Those demons he fought were the effects of the wrestling business; the pain, the grueling schedule, the time away from his loved ones. But he loved the business so much that he persevered. He burned himself out as champion, never believing he was living up to the hype. It is kind of humbling to think that in a way, it was all for us, so we would walk away happy. He was a great showman, a great competitor, and a tremendous talent. Honestly, part of me feels like WWE should just fold the brand extension. With all the setbacks Smackdown has faced, I just don't see the show being able to bounce back from the untimely loss of Eddie Guerrero.
Some of my favorite moments of Eddie Guerrero... one would have to be the farewell match he had against Dean Malenko in ECW. The way the crowd kept chanting "Please don't go" still gives me chills. And what a great match on top of it all.
One thing that really amazed me was after he had injured his arm from that frog splash when he first arrived in WWE with the Radicals. Not only did the man stay on the road, his arm in a sling, but he became the biggest heel of the group. The man got mad heat every time he knocked out an opponent with a pipe and slid it back in the sling. I knew he was special after he persevered with a bad injury and was able to outshine the rest of his group.
What's amazing is that I didn't even watch WCW and I still have a huge list of great matches involving Eddie. How about his series with Benoit? Or his frog splash battles with RVD? His battle with Kurt Angle that included the hilarious 'slip off the boot and out of the Angle lock' at Wrestlemania 20? Even recently, his ladder match against Rey Mysterio at Summer Slam had me in awe. Not to mention his promos against Rey were some of the best I have ever seen.
I am genuinely going to miss Eddie Guerrero. He did go out on top. He had a short life but a brilliant storied career including the Heavyweight championship. And in all honesty, as brilliant a heel as he was, I am glad he went out a face. It made a fitting end to a career all too short.
RIP Eddie Guerrero... Latino Heat Forever
- Chris Vorenkamp
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Hello John,
This may not be a story that I have about Eddie Guerrero exactly, or even a favourite memory of mine that I have of the man. Every memory I have of him is special. Instead, I would just like to extend my thanks to Eddie and his family, in the unlikely event that they should even see this message, for inspiring me to pursue my own dreams... Like many of the fans I have been watching wrestling from a very early age. In that time, only 2 men have ever captivated me so much that I can say that I truly idolized them. Those men were Chris Benoit, and, of course, Eddie Guerrero. Benoit for his abilities in the ring, and Eddie, not only for his outstanding ring presence, but for his perseverance when facing hard times. Having just turned 18 years old myself, I am now eligible to do something that I have always dreamed of since I was 4 years old, and that's wrestle. I may not have the highest paying job in the world to pay for the proper training, but damn it, Eddie wouldn't quit there. He would find a way, any way, (maybe even cheating his way in.. heheheh.) to reach his goals. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I am literally in tears, writing this statement, but once the grieving is finished, I intend to carry out my dream, as Eddie would, so that I may carry with me a little piece of his spirit so that no one will ever forget the name of Eddie Guerrero and how he touched the hearts of millions. VIVA LA RAZA!
Tyler Krotowich
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Eddie Guerrero...my favorite wrestler....a living legend...is gone. He changed WWE forever in a way that could never be told. He truly was inspirational as well as Chris Benoit. What made Eddie so different from other wrestlers was that passion that he had for the business. The wrestling that went through his veins. He slept, ate, sweat, dreamt this business. Through all the problems Eddie still had enough heart to go to the squared circle and give us a match to remember. From his old ECW days, to his move to WCW, to his debut with the Radicalz in the WWE, he was destined for greatness anywhere. Winning the European title, the I.C. title, Tag Team and of course, the biggest of them all...the WWE Championship. He truly deserved to be champion, and it was destined since the day he was born. Eddie...I love you...and I speak for everyone in the world when I say you will be greatly missed. You always made us smile, the whole Lie, Cheat, and Stealing concept, that smirk you have, those over the top Low-riders, you just kept giving us more and more. The fans loved you, the wrestlers loved you, everybody loved you. You truly were one of the greatest of all times, and I am blessed to be able to see you wrestle live. Twice in a house show, and your infamous ladder match at Summerslam. We love you Eddie, you truly deserve your spot in heaven...while you're there, thank god for me, tell him I said thanks for giving us such a gifted and talented performer. We all fell in love with you, and you will be greatly missed...I love you Eddie Guerrero.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alejandro Villarroel
RIP Eddie "Latino Heat" Guerrero 1967-2005
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Dear John,
i thought your tribute speach about eddie was very well done. Eddie will be really missed, he was one of my all time favorite superstars nonone could do a promo quite like Eddie. There are too many favorite Eddie moments to choose from, but some of my favorite are when Eddie pretened to be JBL's limo driver & left JBl helpless covered in loads food. But my all time favorite was when Eddie won the wwe title i was over the moon with joy. What are you favorite Eddie moments? I can't belive we will never see Eddie in action again, Thank you for everything Eddie you gave the fans a life time of memories. Eddie was that good, that when they tried to make him an heel in 2003 summer the fans still cheered so loud for him the wwe had to keep him a fan favorite, i've never seen that happened before with any other wwe superstar.
CRAIG BROWN
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The title win over Brock. NOTHING was sweeter than that. To see a man with true talent and passion get that win, with all the bullshit that goes in this business, just to see a truly passionate and dedicated man rise to the championship was truly inspiring. Eddie always shined, no matter what. It's so hard to accept he's gone.....Holding back these
tears is very difficult.
Ted H.
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Hey man, it's Pat Casey from Orrville, Ohio. I just recently started getting back into the WWE and wrestling as a whole about 1yr ago after watching it all my life growing up. I stopped watching it when WCW was falling apart and everything just got old to me. However, the new talent and personalities got me glued back into it.
Here's for my solute to Eddie. When I first started watching again was when he got his push up to the WWE title after beating Lesnar. I always liked Eddie's drive and passion, but I never thought he was put in the right situation to let it grow on everyone. The more and more I started watching and watching Eddie in particular he started to grow on me as not only a wrestler, but a personality. I loved his entrance music themes, every one of them. I liked how he was just so laid back and into it. Then recently with his fued with Rey Rey and then battling it out with Batista, Eddie really showed me what kind of entertainment he could produce. He knew how to always keep you entertained, whether or not he was the heel.
When Hennig died I cried after listening to Macho Mans tribute song to him. Tomorrow I know I'm going to cry when I watch, listen, and hear all the tributes given out.
Eddie Guerrero in my heart will go down as one of my favorite entertainers in the wrestling business because he always knew how to keep my eye on him. He was never a guy I overlooked, he was a guy I loved seeing every night because he knew how to make a fued work.
VIVA LA RAZA
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i'm in singapore right now, and found out about eddies passing at 2am while trying to convince myself to go to bed. it sounds stupid but i couldn't sleep at all aftert hearing it. i was so shocked. when i first read the message, i tried to convinced myself that it weas one of eddies older uncles "yeah, that's it, chavo was chavo jr, so he must have been eddie junior". the page too so long to load. but, in the end. it wasn't long enough.
eddie, as you rightly said in your column was one of the best wrestlers in the world. he could turn a crowd perfectly. his acting was brilliant. when a face, you cheered your lungs out for him. when he was a heel, you'd want to kill him. and that's the genius of a man. making you forget everything and remember only what you're meant to.
the image of eddie winning against brock is such a great memory. seeing eddie standing in that ring, belt with him, as beniot turned around. man...it still brings shivers to me. remembering el paso. walking through the crowd. they took so long to stop chanting. then he just went into one of the funniest promo's i will ever see.
i would do anything to be at that raw/Smackdown taping right now. i want to stand on my seat, and start up an eddie chant. deafen the crowd with it. because the man earned my respect, and god damn it i respected him. my thoughts go to his friends and family. but know, without a shadow of a doubt that he had bought happiness to millions.
marku
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A very heartfelt, touching piece. I think I'm still in a state of shock myself. I remember little things about Eddie. The smile is almost at the top of the list. But it was his quickness that amazed me. It may be only a blip on the Eddie Guerrero radar, but I will never forget something he did at Wrestlemania 19 in the triple threat tag match. I think he was working with Rhyno. They cautiously advanced toward one another, Eddie almost lured Rhyno into a test of strength, then suddenly leapt into the air an landed a beautiful dropkick. It was such a small move, but I still hit reverse every time I watch that dvd. It was so fast - if you blinked, you missed it. Eddie was phenomenal, a genuine talent. There were so many more great matches left that would have had Eddie Guerrero on one side of the ring. It may be selfish of me to think this way, but I feel cheated by the wrestling gods once again. I will never get to see where else Eddie might have gone. Three daughters? My heart goes out to them.
Alex
Philly, PA
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I was never lucky enough to ever meet Eddie Guerrero in person, but he meant a lot to me. When I first started to watch wrestling, he was one of the first superstars to stand out to me. He was very funny and always had that cute, innocent grin on his face. I would tape some of his skits, the most memorable one to me being when he stole items from Kurt Angle's office and tried to auction them off in the ring. The very first Smackdown I was able to attend in person, Eddie was in the first match I saw. It was Eddie versus Rey Mysterio, at the beggining of their long feud. All I can remember was how much I enjoyed this match- how great Eddie was at every aspect of being in that ring. He just oozed charisma. I laughed at some of the things he was able to pull off. I also remember quite vividly that everyone around my friend and I started up a "619" chant. Well, we wanted Eddie to win of course. So as soon as they would finish belting out those three numbers, we would scream "Frog Splash!!!" as loud as we could. Sure people were wondering what the hell we were doing, but we were having a blast---cheering on one of our favorite wrestlers of all time.
I will miss him so much.
Sara H.
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I don't normally write or post anything like this but I always read your articles. However I feel compelled to write at least a couple thoughts on the tragic loss of Eddie Guerrero. Just this morning I finished watching the rest of Smackdown as I hadn't seen it all on Friday night. As soon as it was over I skipped over to read the rest of the Smackdown recap and saw the news posted. My jaw just hit the ground as I read that Eddie Guerrero had passed away. How can this be? I just finished watching him on TV! Such a shock. I am still finding it difficult to accept that he is actually gone. Just as the great antics of Eddie lying cheating and stealing came back. There may not have been a wrestler I had been currently enjoying more than Eddie. "Was he really Batista's friend or was this all a trick to backstab him?" He was so good at what he did you just never knew. I know only too well how quickly life becomes death, having lost my wife suddenly a couple years ago, but there is no way to prepare for such a thing. I feel especially bad for his wife and kids and my thoughts and prayers go out to them. And to Eddie, I say thank you for the part of your life you gave us all, the memories we will all cherish. Thank you Eddie...
Sean
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Eddie was once a neighbor of mine in land o'lakes ,fl. He was one of the greatest human beings i ever known. Not only in the ring but outside of it also. I will never forget when my 9 yr old daughter sold him girl scout cookies. She was a big wrestling fan and eddie took her on his lap and signed a picture of himself and gave her a big hug. She was on cloud nine for weeks. Eddie was the kind of sports star who always had time for his fans, if everyone in any sport was the type person he was then we truly have heroes to look up upon. I will always have fond memories of eddie both in the ring and out of it. May god comfort his family and fans. Thank you eddie i am a better person for knowing you
Bob Boehm
Land O' Lakes, FL
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My favorite Eddie moment was when the Radicalz came into the WWF/WWE. I had always hoped I would see Eddie in the WWE as he was a consummate performer, and he had so much potential. When he left WWE because of the drugs and alcohol I always had faith he would come back and be a champion. He did just that when he defeated Brock Lesnar for the WWE championship at Wrestlemania. I will miss Eddie and I hope that he will always be remembered as a great man and as a great father. My condolences go to Eddie’s wife and children and all the Guerrero family.
Mike Hefner
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I'll never forget it. My first, and last time seeing Eddie Guerrero, my absolute favorite wrestler, the man that got me interested in wrestling to begin with. No Way Out 2005, Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio vs. The Basham Brothers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I marked out, more than I've ever marked out before for his entrance. I saw the lowrider and I was in a different place. The man that made me jump around like a little school girl when he won the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar in 2004. But this was different, I was there.
Now, whether you choose to believe me or not, this is the truth. For those of you who have the DVD or a tape of the PPV, watch the match. I believe it's the second "Eddie" chant of the match. The chant is started with a loud, obnoxious sounding "EDDIE.. EDDIE... EDDIE!!"... MY voice. I screamed until I couldn't anymore. Watching the tape I see my friend James standing behind Eddie when he exits his lowrider before the match, jumping up and down behind Latino Heat. The entire event was indescribable. Then the best part, they won.
I was watching this match in horror, knowing that the rumor was circling the net. Eddie turning heel. Now, I'm no mark, but I absolutely LOVED Eddie's face character. I noticed various spots throughout the match that might have shown this. Eddie distracting the ref while Rey Rey got beat down, that sort of thing. When Eddie clocked one of the Basham Brothers with the title belt, and covered him... my heart stopped. 1... 2... 3... with the three count came me jumping into the air, and landing on the edge of the step, almost falling down the staircase of Mellon Arena. It was my favorite live wrestling moment ever. Better than seeing Hulk Hogan. Better than the Iron Man Match between Chris Benoit and Triple H. My favorite. After the match, as Eddie and Rey continually embraced, my friend brought to my attention earlier today about how paranoid I was. Amidst cheering, chanting, and screaming, "JUST STOP HUGGING AND GET TO THE LOCKER ROOM," in fear of the pending heel turn, my two friends, Gene and Luke laughed at me, and still do to this day. It was a moment I'll never ever forget.
R.I.P. Eddie Guerrero.. A man I can honestly say is a hero to us all... a man who if it wasn't for me, watching my first ever episode of WWE Television and seeing him laying on the top rope like he always did, all cocky like, with that big Latino Grin on his face, I would not be watching wrestling as of this day if it wasn't for that one episode, which I can remember nothing about except for that moment. I'll miss you, Eddie...
Steve Ventura
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I will try to keep this short, Eddie might not have been my favorite wrestler, but he sure was a great wrestler and entertainer. I got to see him once at a Smackdown taping at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Oh. Exactly one year ago, maybe to the day, it was either Nov. 12 or 13, Weird. He was in the ring with JBL and Undertaker, wanting a title shot. Eddie chants were off the charts that night. The fans truly loved him. I was shocked when I went onto the website, and saw a pic of him next to those unfortunate words. Just the night before, I re-watched the Kennedy match, from Smackdown, all of Smackdown for that matter, because it surprised me how good it was. Eddie winning a slot in the Elimination match and possibly taking the title on Smackdown, and now he's gone. Will tape the tribute shows, my heart goes out to his family, Eddie you will be missed.
ScarfaceChris
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Everything Eddie did in the ring was hilarious, but my favorite Eddie moment was this year at a house show. It was when he and Rey were tag champs, they faced MnM and while Rey was in the ring getting pounded, Eddie undid the tag team rope in the corner, and brought it all the way to the center of the ring to try to get the tag from Rey. I just found it so funny, it was an Eddie move.
-HmL
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Hey John, I've been a long time reader of your columns. I've always enjoyed reading your work, but this week, your Eddie Guerrero tribute column took it to new level. This was so beautifully written and from the heart. I share your opinion, I'm at a loss for words from this tragedy, but you managed to put your sentiments into words and produce one of the greatest columns I've ever read. We have lost one of the few great people in wrestling. Well, I hope I speak for all your readers when I say, thank you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, as well as your honesty in each column. Keep up the great work John.
Sincerely, B. Aguiar
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My favorite Eddie moment would have to be when he did the promo of his testimony. On a personal level i felt a true connection with Eddie when he spoke about it on television. Because at about the same time he was finding God i was as well. I thank God so much or what he gave me, and I am glad that he was able to give to Eddie as well. The passion in his eyes showed the authenticity of what he was saying. As well as this just being an amazing promo, it was the moment that hooked my fiance into wrestling and created something else that we could share together. For that I will always thank Eddie. Viva la Raza Eddie Guerrero.
Shaun Thompson
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John,
How do you choose just one Eddie moment? I mean there are so many. But I would have to say that my favorite was at Mania 20 when he beat Angle by untying his boot and having it come off when Angle tried to put him in the ankle lock. "Long Live Latino Heat!"
Corey, Wisconsin
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i dont have a fav moment. i have seen the man live and met him a few times. some he was one of my all time fav guys to see and and great man on the mic ill miss him. with us fans we may not know these preformers personaly but we see them every week and even live. we feel like we get to know them and when we lose one it brings tears to our eyes many greats have passed and eddy was for sure one of them. we will remember him and all the others
Adam
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Dear John, my name is matt, and I want to say something about Eddie Guerrero he was a great wrestler from the time i saw him in wcw to the wwe i loved eddie . he was a awesome entertainer, and i will miss him deerly. I loved the article you wrote on him i think it describes him to the "T". It is very hard for me to type this knowing that he is no longer with us. But i know that we will never ever forget the name Eddie Guerrero. Thank you John.
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The moment that I will remember most about Eddie Guerrero is his match with Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XX. The match had everyone that was watching it with me at my Wrestlemania party on the edge of their seats, and at times, even out of them. The near falls were done so well, I fell for nearly every one of them. I was taping it, but unfortunately, the tape ran out in the middle of the match. I did manage to find a new tape in time to get the finish (Which I loved, it was exactly what we came to expect from Guerrero). He was one of the guys that I cheered no matter what, whether he was a heel or a face. That match, to me, represented what Eddie Guerrero was, and will forever be remembered as. I will definitely be buying the Eddie Guerrero DVD this week. I'll miss watching him every week to an extreme extent. I hope his friends and family can find the strength to get through this. We will all miss him dearly.
-James Weed
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John C.
First I send my condolences to the Guerrero family. I also congratulate you on that beautiful piece you wrote for Eddie on Rajah. I have been a fan of wrestling since 1989 I was only three that year yet something inside me told me that I was going to be a wrestler later in life. That feeling has stayed with me since then and as I got older and became an Eddie fan the feeling got stronger. Every time I saw him step into the ring whether it was in WCW or WWE that made me want to be a wrestler that much more.
I have plans to attend the WWA4 wrestling school in Atlanta, GA beginning March of next year. One of my dreams was to excel in WWA4 and move on to WWE and step into the ring with the greatest professional wrestler of all time, Eddie Guerrero, and now that dream has been squashed into the ground. I will greatly miss Eddie and I can only hope that he has gone on to a better place.
Terry Johnson
In loving memory of
Eddie Guerrero
10/9/1967-11/13/2005
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Hey John C.
I would first like to tell you that I love your reports and columns. I'm extremely happy that you had a column dedicated strictly to "latino heat," Eddie Guerrero. I'm in tears right now just writing this. Eddie Guerrero was just such an incredible performer. His action in the ring spoke louder than his words during the early years in WCW. I remember when my dad, my uncle, my cuzin, and myself would just sit watching WCW and would never shy away from an Eddie Guerrero match. He had that wholesome boy look on him. But after his drug addictions, he was looking different. But that didn't change the fact that he went out there each and every night giving us a show to remember. Then his WWE days came around and it just blew my mind; he was actually competing with some of he biggest names in the business and wining championship gold. But probably my favourite Eddie Guerrero match (even though it was hard as hell to choose), would probably be the match he had with either Brock Lesnar at NWO '04 or against Kurt Angle at WM 20. Those matches just made me some anxious and had me at the edge of my seat...couch just screaming his name and anticipating his every move. I love Eddie Guerrero to death and I hope sincerely hope that he is in a better place. May you rest in peace Eddie and I promise you, I'll never forget you and everything that you've done for the business. Thank you.
- Dabanshu Chowdhury
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Most people who know me know that I am a huge wrestling fan.
Today I am shocked....
Eddie Guerrero passed away..
How? I don't know... his problems have been well documented and his life has been all about second chances.. things were looking good for him then all of a sudden.... gone.
I of course didn't know Eddie but I respected him and all that he has accomplished, as do thousands of other fans across the world.
It goes to show how life can change in the blink of an eye.
For me I don't think wrestling will be the same....
From this mamacita, I'll miss you Eddie
VIVA LA RAZA
Joanne Dennis
Sydney, Australia
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The one thing I will always remember about Eddie was the unbelievable feud he had with Kurt Angle. Eddie really worked his ass for the business. He was one of the people who would put out a great match after great match. This was really shown in the matches he had with Kurt Angle, they worked so great together and it happened at a time when I really wasn't into wrestling anymore. But I enjoyed every Eddie Guerrero match that I have watched and I would actually take time to watch matches with him. It is very sad for me to see one of the top 3 wrestlers (there is no doubt in my mind about this) that was under contract by the WWE have his life cut short. R.I.P. to one of the greatest performers in wrestling.
Kevin
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I don't know how Eddie died, but how he lived was everyone's fantasy. The man was great as a heel and just as good when he played a hero role.
My favorite memory of his had to be back when the Big Show was a heel some time ago. Anyway the Big Show had the title and was for the most part putting everyone in their place making it known that the Big Show was not the man you wanted to mess with. Then came along Eddie Guerrero, he would come out introduce his cousin who worked at a sewage treatment plant. The next thing you see is Eddie grabbing a hose and spraying the Big Show with what looked like poo. It was very funny and just had to be one my most favorite memories.
Again, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Eddie. Eddie was indeed a diamond in the rough as far as wrestlers are concerned.
Peace Out,
Rob
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Hey John, my name is Benny, and I'd like to share my favourite Eddie moment.
Well I attended a house show in Dublin Ireland last April. At this time, Eddie was a face and the match was Rey and Eddie vs MNM. Anyway they lost the match, but afterwards they cleared house in the ring, and after cheekily disposing of Melina, he turned to my section of the crowd and gave a little
cheeky smile just as his music broke out and the crowd immediately started chanting "Eddie, Eddie...". It was one of the best moments I've experienced as a wrestling fan, and that man will be dearly missed by all, including myself.
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I was a fan of Eddie when I returned to watching wrestling in 1997 after about a five year layoff. His feud with Rey Mysterio in WCW was a classic and I always felt he couldn't top his performances after that unless he left the cruiserweight division. Fortunately he did, so we all have a lasting memory that nobody can ever take away: Eddie Guerrero, World Champion. Eddie made the most of second chances, let it be a reminder for those that never do.
Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz
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Before i start of with anything, i would like to send my condolences to eddie's wife and daughters.
Eddie, Eddie , Eddie , Eddie, Eddie........
This familiar chant is recognised by any mere wrestling fans because it is chanted to one of the best wrestler in history...EDDIE GUERRERO.
Eddie Guerrero is one reason why i will always tuned in to smackdown every thursday night for the past years. He is one of those special wrestler where he can make us hate him as well as like him at the same time. The smile on his face when he trick the referee into believing that the opponent uses the chair instead of him always brings a smile to my face as well. His style of wrestling, his moves, his charisma are different from other wrestlers which is why i love to watch him wrestle.
My best moment with Eddie Guerrero was when he came to Singapore. That's the only time i saw Eddie LIVE in action because Singapore only holds this type of wrestling events once in a blue moon. The moment i heard WWE is coming to Singapore, I was so excited. My cousin, my friends and I all bought front row tickets to the show. At first we did not knew that Eddie was coming to Singapore. But when his music hits the indoor stadium, he coming out with Chavo, it was like the best moment of almost every wrestling fan in Singapore who went to the invent. The match was incredible. Even though Eddie and Chavo lost to the Basham Brothers because the Basham had to retain their titles, they came down and celebrated with us, the fans. Then the best part of that night came. Chavo came up to me and took the signboard i was holding and went up to the ring to parade around with it. And i got to shook Eddie's hand. I cannot believe i was that lucky guy that Eddie and Chavo had chosen to share a moment with. After the match, I gave the signboard to them as a remembrace of that night. I wonder if they threw it away or kept it but that doesn't matter because they had made my night and the best lifetime experience i ever had.
Reading the article that John wrote was very shocking. I couldn't believe it. Eddie was like all up and fit fighting in smackdown the previous week. Then now he passed away just like that. I just couldn't believe it. Like what John wrote, of all the wrestlers that passed away, this one hurts the most that it brought a tear to my eye.
Even though Eddie may not be around to entertain us and amaze us again, he will forever be in our heart and mind as a wrestling legend that he should be. Thank you Eddie, thank you for bringing magic into the wwe industry, thank you for everything. You will always be in my mind.
Nick 3:16
A fan from Singapore
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When I started watching wrestling in 1998, I was watching WCW, and my three favorite wrestlers were Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero. Since then, only Mick Foley and Kurt Angle have made it to that top spot in my list of favorites. For the past seven years, those three have remained my favorites, for the sheer fact that they always entertained me. Even when I hated the storylines, even when the PPV was being headlined by stupid matches I didn't care about, throw an Eddie VS Benoit match in and I'm THERE. They gave it their all every single night, sacrificing themselves night after night, televised or not, to entertain people. Eddie had a drug and drinking problem for a time, years ago. After getting into a drunk driving accident, he was fired from WWE. Most people would have let that get them down and gotten worse, as we've seen time and time again. Instead, Eddie got himself cleaned up. He stopped taking painkillers (which he was addicted to), he stopped drinking, and he was rehired by WWE. Since then, he continued to entertain night after night, winning the world title eventually, and entertaining people in the ring, on the mic, etc.
To me, a true role model isn't someone who never makes mistakes. It's someone who does make mistakes, but instead of letting those mistakes control their lives or bring them farther down, they make the conscious effort to fix things, to make it right, to turn things around. Anybody can not do drugs, and that's commendable, but to do them for many years, become addicted to them, and then work tirelessly to stop and to become someone people can look up to is the real difficult thing. Eddie did that. He was a role model to a lot of people, and he deserved to be.
Rest in peace, Eddie. And thank you for the years of entertainment, and everything you sacrificed to bring a smile to people's faces for a few minutes.
Kyle L.
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My Eddie moment would have to be when he won the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar. At that moment in time, I had thought about being a pro wrestler. But me with my size I never thought a 5'9" guy like myself could win it. He showed me that night anything is possible. After that night, he inspired me to be a pro wrestler. From that night on I was a Eddie Guerrero fan. He had always entertained me up until that time. I respected everything he had done for wrestling. Through WCW and the WWE. I will never for get his era of lying and cheating and stealing. I loved everything he had done for the business over the years and I would just like to say....Thank You Eddie Guerrero.
Matt Raddatz
Milwaukee, WI
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When I think of one of the greatest wrestlers of my lifetime, I think of Eddie Guerrero, the man could simply do it all, from his awesome performances night in and night out inside the square circle, to his live promos, to how he would do anything for the company that asked him to do so. Eddie Guerrero is a special person, he has had many obstacles in his life and he has overcome them all, if I can quote Chris Benoit for a second, "Eddie was a man who walked through every possible valley you can imagine. Eddie was a true inspiration to every life he touched" that's exactly how I feel about Eddie Guerrero, he touched me in so many ways, he was living proof that anything can happen if you want it bad enough, he worked his ass off for years and years doing Indy Shows, than getting a chance with WCW where he was a wasted talent, than when he got to the WWE he finally got his big break.
Vince McMahon realized what kind of talent Eddie Guerrero was, and you know what? it was about time that someone realized how talented the guy was, the guy could do it all, he could work the microphones as good as anyone, he could wrestle circles around most wrestlers in wrestling today, he could make every fan smile and laugh, he could make every fan boo him or every fan cheer him, but one thing is for sure and will always remain this way, Eddie Guerrero had the respect of all of his employers, his co workers and especially the fans of wrestling all over the world.
My favorite moment of Eddie Guerrero would have to be when I was able to see him retain his WWE Championship at WrestleMania XX against Kurt Angle, in what I thought was a GREAT match and probably to me the best match of the night, I remember the arena chanting Eddie so loud you could hear it anywhere in the United States it seemed like and maybe it reached Russia or maybe even Pluto, the Eddie chants that night were deafening, that's because at least to me Eddie Guerrero did everything in his power night in and night out to give the fans what they wanted to see. The ultimate Guerrero moment was after Chris Benoit won the world title from Triple H that very night in Madison Square Garden that is know as where Wrestlemania began, and that night Eddie Guerrero retained his WWE championship and Chris Benoit beat Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, and than when Eddie came down after that match to congratulate Benoit, it was just a surreal moment, the slogan for Wrestlemania XX was where it all begins again, and that very night, it seemed to me like I became a wrestling fan all over again, and I have to give all that credit to Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, 2 wrestlers with the talent outside of this world who worked their asses off their whole careers, to finally reach the pinnacle of their career at such an important event.
From his drug addictions to his accident that nearly took his life, to losing his wife and kids because of those very reasons, Eddie Guerrero never gave up he never quit, he did what he had to do, he found God and changed his lifestyle and you could see it, he was able to get his family and his kids back and that's a special thing to be able to do. The world just lost a very good man, and we lost him much too soon. Rest in Peace Eddie, Gone but not forgotten.
Nyn
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I woke up this morning and decided to check the wrestling rumor wire to see if there were any updates on Batista's injury situation. The last thing I expected to see was a headline stating that Eddie Guerrero had passed away. I thought it was a misprint. I had just seen Eddie in top form against Ken Kennedy, surely he couldn't be gone. Sadly, he is, and I know that for me, pro wrestling won't quite be the same. Since the roster split a few years back, I felt Raw was the stronger show, but Eddie Guerrero was one of the reasons I kept tabs on Smackdown. He was great as a face, great as a heel, and he always gave his all in the ring, which is what I appreciated most as a fan. I was happy when he reached the pinnacle and captured the WWE Championship, and one of my favorite Wrestlemania memories is his celebration with Chris Benoit after Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship. Eddie, you will be missed, and wherever you are now, I hope you're at peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Guerrero family and all Eddie's friends. Viva la Raza!
Alberto G.
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First off John I love your writing. Now to bulk of my e-mail. I came home from work today to check the NFL Scoreboard. And I see "WWE Superstar Guerrero dies". And I start to tear up because I'm thinking that it is a misprint. But when I read the story I start to fight back the tears. Eddy Guerrero has been a remarkable performer over past 13+ years. Today before I went to work I watched Eddy vs. Chris Benoit in their Super J Cup Semi-Final Match from '94. And even then he had that flair ( No Pun Intended.),the way he performed I loved that match. I will now try to get the Eddy Guerrero from the WWE website or go wherever I need to go to have the DVD. I saw the Match against Ken Kennedy. And I loved it. I wish he could have the strap just one more time. And I remember when he won at No Way Out '04. I was among the many who marked out when Eddy got the strap. The Match was awesome. I was reading the 50 greatest matches you did earlier in the year. And just reading about it I saw Eddy's name on the list quite a bit. As a man I have nothing but respect for him. He fought his demons. Overcame a hell of a lot. And for that I respect him for it. The last three years he's been easily one of my favorite performers. Much like you I will miss that really great smile. His slyness (Don't know if it's a word. But oh well.) in the ring.I always loved the Three Amigos spot. I loved when he would do the frog splash. Smackdown Vs. Raw 2006 is coming out. I will be using Eddy in the game. Hell might even create a guy and have his finisher. I hope he's in Heaven at peace with himself and his soul. Beacuse every night he performed. He gave us his. God Bless Eddy Guerrero. You will be severely miss by the wrestling community. John Keep up the excellent work man.
Omar From Riverton, Wyo
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Hey John C.
I just wanted to say first how shocked I am right now after hearing about the passing of one the all time great wrestlers known as Eddie Guerrero. He was to me the best athlete to ever grace the squared circle, as well as gracing us with his presence. I've followed Eddie's career from his ECW to his WCW til finally his WWE career. I'll never forget those classic matches he had with Dean Malenko in ECW, or his classic matches with Chris Benoit in WCW. He was one of the greatest and will be missed. I just want to give my condolences to his family and friends who lost a very special guy! As far as I'm concerned Eddie will live forever!
Sincerely,
Beth (Whisper)
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On behalf of fans across the world, I would like to thank you for the piece you wrote about Eddie Guerrero, the article was true throughout, Eddie was capable of everything required in the wrestling business, he was tenacious, charismatic and technically sound, possessing the rare ability to be successful as both a Heel and Face,
My favourite Eddie moment is not a match, it was the heartfelt speech that he gave following his WWE title win, you could tell through watching how much that the fans and the business meant to the guy, and for the first time, in a very long time, we had a champion whom we as fans felt deserved that strap.
Eddie could elevate the competition to his level, his matches were always entertaining at any level, and those things we have read or heard about his personal life, he never hid from, he regretted his actions no doubt, but the fact that he came through all of that earned him the meaning of his surname, Guerrero means warrior, and that is what Eddie was, both in the ring, and in his personal life.
This is a sad day for the business, we have lost a true Superstar.
Thank you for reading.
JAPoole
Leeds, UK
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Feel so saddened about the news. Never met the guy, but I feel like I have lost someone I know.
Absolutely amazing performer. Loved everything about him.
My thoughts go to his family and friends
RIP Eddie
Regards
Andy Hough
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Hey John,
Firstly, thank you for your awesome write up, it summed everything up perfectly. It doesn't matter how he died...he's gone, but we can all share memories of this man, a man who when everything was in the toilet, got back on top and gave us another truck load of matches. Thank-you
i started watching WWE (or then WWF) back when the attitude era was just kicking off. Sure wrestling then was great, but until that fateful RAW when the Radicalz walked into the arena I had seen nothing yet. Eddie was my favourite wrestler for several reasons. He was the best heel. PERIOD. Only Eddie could make me laugh my arse off, because Angle was screwed out of the title yet again due to Eddie's cheating. The one match that i think showcased Eddie's determination to give the fans one hell of a show was Judgement Day, versus JBL. Coming into this match it was already well documented that Eddie as blaming the low Smackdown! rating on himself, as being the champion he thought he was responsible for keeping attendance up. Little did he know how strongly the fans felt after he dropped the belt, for me it was devastating as he was a wrestler truely deserving of that title, and for vince to hand it to JBL. I was hurt. Eddie gave it his all for that match, and the evidence was in that fateful blading that shocked many viewers and fans alike. He took it upon himself to show the world something not seen before. Throughout the match, blood sprayed everywhere but Eddie continued. It probably should have been called off, and if Eddies safety was at risk, i would not have been pissed at all. But Eddie continued, and gave another performance which will stick in my mind. The final image i'll have of Eddie is a fond one, as i have just watched his match at Summerslam, who can forget vintage Eddie chucking a tantrum throwing ladders around, that is the Eddie i will love and remember, a man who wrestling skills were outstanding and un-matched, but who had the best in-ring charisma and always, ALWAYS, gave 110%.
To Eddie's family go my deepest condolences, you have truly lost a special person. To the fans around the world, lets all keep our heads up and just remember why we watched Eddie. Peace out.
-Cheers
-Mark Harvey
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John. Thanks for your column. I'm still having trouble coming to grips with the news of Eddie's passing away. I was lucky enough to see the Smackdown show in Adelaide, a week after WM21 and let me tell you, Eddie was fanbloodytastic! He tagged with Rey Mysterio against Kurt Angle & Luther Reigns and his in-ring work with Angle had us in stitches. He was pulling the straps on Kurts tights and when Kurt pulled his straps down & Eddie went for a cover he pulled on his tights exposing Kurts butt. Kurt high-tailed out of the ring & when he got back in Eddie did it again. Later in the match the ref was balling out Eddie for not hanging onto the tag rope so he undid the rope from the corner and tied it to the ring rope and was walking around with it. He had such a rapport with the fans. I loved his work before that night but I loved it even more having seen it first-hand. RIP Eddie Guerrero...A Great Entertainer
Lazarus
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hi there john, i'm a very vocal fan from the UK and have followed the business for the best part of my life. Eddie is gonna be missed greatly, not only as the 'latino heat', but for being one of the most gifted guys in the game today. Without trying to belittle the current roster, it isn't often whereby a superstar performs a move that sits in your memory, such as Hulkster dropping the late great Andre or matt hardy's twist of fate at the top of a ladder in a triple threat TLC match. One memory of Eddie that sticks in my mind occured fairly recently against Rey mysterio, Eddie held him on the apron in a vertical suplex for well over 60 seconds (well it seemed that), then brought him down onto the steel steps he'd put in place. hand on heart, i thought he'd murdered rey rey, and what will set in my mind even more from that instance was the heel smirk he held afterwards, which he was ever so famous for. i have been critical in the past of batistas performances and repertoire but i was at the gym last week and watched his match with eddie against MnM and i could see great improvements and his work with eddie was such that i couldn't help but comment about. So as you can see apart from being a great wrestler and performer, eddie brought out the best in others. when i saw him live recently, the crowds went wild for him, true to form, at the 1st live smackdown taped in England i saw him come down to the ring in a modified convertible Mini accompanied by page 3 models.
Eddie the performer, great ability, latino heat forever. Condolences to his wife and family. He will be missed by many.
Fraz
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Hey John
My simple and fondest memory of Eddie Guerrero is a rarity among wrestlers.
One thing I always noticed about Eddie was that unlike pretty much anyone else in the business, he could make any angle, as well as any match work.
Some superstars could make any match work, but didn't have the emotion, mic skills or charisma to make a bad angle work. Others could talk all night, develop one-liners like a stage show comedian, but could never put it all together in the ring.
Eddie could do both. Not only could he do both, but he did them with professionalism, class and unbelievable talent.
No matter how stupid the storyline, Eddie could make it work. No matter his opponent, Eddie could make it work.
Eddie always made it work. We all reaped the benefits of this phenomenal performer.
Roland Geary
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My choice is probably the most obvious, and no doubt most remembered, Eddy moment. That being his title win at No Way Out. It was one of those moments that easily transcended Wrestling, and the idea of being a spectator to entertainment, and I think what was so special about Eddy is that he gave us moments like that week in week out. This one was, along with the end of Wrestlemania XX, one of the most real moments in professional Wrestling. Where the fans didn't cheer because they'd been told to for all those months, but because they felt so passionately about this man, and this mans struggle.
Whenever Eddy was in the ring, whatever he was doing, we weren't cheering the character Eddy Guerrero, we were cheering the man behind it, who always had a look on his face where you could tell that he was enjoying being him, as much as we were enjoying watching. He surpassed being just a great Wrestler, a great entertainer, and simply, was a great person. And it really makes me wonder about how the world works sometimes, when a man who has fought so hard, and loved so much for his family, can be taken from us that easily for no reason.
God Bless, Eduardo Guerrero
Harry French
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Hi John,
When my friend Greg texted me with the news of Eddie's death, I could not believe my eyes, the words just made no sense to me. He was one of those wrestlers that you never had to worry about in the ring, he was always going to give you everything he had. The efforts he had made to rebuild his life and revive his career were remarkable, superhuman almost, and served as inspiration for me to put whatever problems I had into perspective and deal with them in the right way. Once the news was confirmed, as I was so disbelieving, I did exactly the same thing as you, and put "Cheating Death, Stealing Life" into my DVD player. I still feel that the documentary serves him poorly with the focus on his addictions and personal problems and not on his illustrious in-ring career that spanned three decades, three continents and many promotions. But what there is of Eddie just talking about himself and his career is worth it. Where the DVD scores is with the matches, and when I thought about what match to view again in memory the choice was easy: the Malenko vs Guerrero classic from ECW. To me it is like a work of art that gets better the more you look at it, I never ever tire of this contest: the emotional drama as well as the workrate grips each time that bit more with every viewing. Even though I loved the "Latino Heat" and "Los Guerreros" gimmicks as many of us do, I felt that hearing Eddie speak after that match without that put-on accent gave me more of a sense of who he was than any other promo he gave. In the ring, just like Chris Benoit, he was a man you could rely on to give you a great match, and I was saddened when at One Night Stand that just didn't happen. It was the only time I could say I felt let down by him.
I loved his feud with RVD, the rivalry with Rey in WCW, his tantalising clashes with Steve Austin (that really could have been something special), his cameo appearances in IWA Mid-South wrestling a young CM Punk, and of course his run for the WWE title in 2004. I still maintain that WWE has not been able to mount a title match that can compare with the events of 2004: Eddie's spectacular win over Brock Lesnar was on my player this morning, what a euphoric experience it was to witness Eddie's "redemption" in front of a wild partisan San Francisco audience. The images of Eddie celebrating that victory, as well as the poignant sight of Eddie in the ring with Chris Benoit at Mania XX will be my abiding memories of a great, great wrestler and a fine man. We've lost one of the very best this week, we are all in his debt: Thank you Eddie
Kevin McCaighy
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Hey John, I think its great that you are posting some of the fans favorite moments of Eddie. The man was definitely one of a kind, I'm gonna miss him. Every time I watch the ending of Wrestlemania XX with Benoit and Eddie standing in the middle of the ring holding up their world titles it brings tears to my eyes.
My favorite memory of Eddie is the very first time I ever saw him wrestle. The internet wasn't very popular back then and even though I had heard about ECW from some of my schoolmates I'd never gotten a chance to watch it. I'm not sure what year it was, probably 94 or 95. I turned on WCW Saturday night at 6:05 like I did every Saturday. If I'm not mistaken it was the first match. Eddie Guerrero verses Dean Malenko. I remember thinking, who the heck are these guys? They were flying around the ring so smoothly, it was beyond impressive. Both the fans and the ring announcers were making a big deal over the wrestlers in the ring, but I hadn't ever seen or heard of either of them before. Boy, did they put on a show. I remember at the end of the match, which I think Malenko won, they embraced for a few moments congratulating each other on making it to "the big time". To this day I consider that match my first real exposure to what was to become the cruiserweight division (outside of watching The Lightning Kid/1-2-3 kid/Sean Waltman). Eddie will be missed greatly. Viva La Raza!
Chris J.
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just wanted to say my bit about Eddie,
I remember the first Eddie match i Saw was when WCW had a PPV against Japanesse wrestlers. Living in England I didn't get to watch WCW unless it was on the German channels so am not to sure what the event was. There are few wrestlers which I can say I remember their first match, but to be able to say that I remember Eddies first match I saw, I think that shows how much impact he made.
I think we all forget that Wrestlers are human. We see them put their bodies on the line and perform feats of which we can only dream of doing. It is only when a tragedy like Eddies death happens, do we remember that they are just mortal men like you and I. I am just glad that I have a vast ammount of Eddie matches on tape so my memory of him will live on as it wills in millions of other wrestling fans.
I just want to say thank you Eddie.
Simon Turner, England
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John:
I cannot express the depths of my sorrow at Eddie's passing.....from his days at WCW, to his association with WWE, I have enjoyed his outstanding performances. I remember......
"Latino Heat" and his 'relationship' with 'mamacita' China.....what a hilarious and wonderful ride for us to watch of his wooing of his Amazon lady.
"Lie, Cheat, and Steal" with his nephew, Chavo....they were the best team going in the WWE.....I always awaited their entrances in the low riders....what a trip!!!!!
His winning of the championship belt...there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
He was the best of the WWE and a class act....he will definitely be missed by this fan. No one can take his place.
Linnea Ann Tully
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Hi there
Man..i was so stunned when i read about Latino Heat's sudden departure from this world..it saddens me to see such a talented wrestler die so suddenly...My most favourite moment of Eddie's was when he was being the charmer in trying to woo Chyna. That was quite entertaining stuff from him as he just oozed charisma and had so much attraction towards the fans. May he rest in peace...
regards
Joshua Huang
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Hi John
I believe every wrestling fan that has seen this terrible event unfold over the last couple of days will be feeling just as i was when i saw the very sad headlines on wwe.com. Eddie was one of the funniest, most believable and most talented in ring performers of all time. I did not know Eddie as a man and can only comment on what i saw in the ring, however you probably got a lot more of Eddie the man in the ring, than most wrestlers would allow you to see of their real persona's. In terms of showing his emotions, whether acted or real, he was up there with Ric Flair and he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as him and many others. If i am honest i never really spoke of Eddie as one of the best in the business before but i always enjoyed what he did, he was a great worker in an era when wrestling does not have many of those and when he won the wwe title, it brought back memories of when i first started watching wrestling. This was one of the few moments in the last 3-4 years that i truly treasured and watch over and over again. I actually share my birthday with Eddie so i always felt a certain connection and i favored him because of this. I also am a believer that you never know what you had until it is gone. That is certainly true here. This man helped put over so many people that may or may not have been ready for their shot, he was as quick as a cat and was probably the best actor/wrestler around. i know the wwe will handle this with great respect and i look forward to raw and smackdown this week.
Regards
Daniel Sharpe
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I have just heard about the death of Eddie Guerrero. I can only say that I am devastated. This put me right on my ass. I along with John do not care how he died. This is the biggest loss I have ever felt. I may have only been a fan of wrestling for five years but it feels like I have been watching Eddie wrestle my whole life. There are too many matches and memories to remember just one. Whenever Eddie was a heel or a baby face you could not help to love his style. I will never forget him "lying, cheating, and stealing." I will always remember his last televised match last Friday. Now that I realize that I will never see him again I feel like I took his performances for grated. I'm with John on how I will never forget that smile on his face, never knowing what it meant. All I can say now is goodbye Eddie, and you would have beaten Batista! R.I.P.
Matt Newman
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Eddie Guerrero was an inspiration. He was an inspiration to not only Latinos and to addicts, but to all men. Here was a man from a proud wrestling heritage. A man who had to fight for everything his whole life. Held down for much of his career due to his height, Eddie proved that size was the decisive factor in a man's success when he pinned Lesnar at No Way Out 2004. That he overcame severe drug problems that cost him his job, only to die so tragically young the same day he had a shot at becoming a World Champion again is one of lifes unjustices. When I read the news on wwe.com, I thought it was some kind of joke article reflecting a re-born Eddie, that it was not made me cry. I actually shed tears at the death of a man I had never met. But that was Eddie's gift he had the power to connect with every person in the audience, something that made him truly great. Rest in Peace, Eddie we all love you and we always will.
Stoo Broo
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i was at the tapings sunday night, watching all the wrestlers come out at the beginning....crying along with the rest of us, watching the low rider sitting by the tron....it was really hard to watch. eddie was an amazing man and everyone knew it. the tributes from wrestlers, the video tributes, the armbands, the eddie chants.....those were a few of the things we could all do to keep latino heat burning.
-ashley pruka-
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Eddie,
I would like to thank you for all that you have done for me as well as millions of people around the world. Your contributions to the wrestling world have been endless. You cracked me up, you made me curse, you had me crying when you won the title. You had my in your palm as a wrestling mark, guiding my emotions with a snap of your fingers. If there ever was a wrestling god, you were damn close to being one. The way you battled with life's problems and that shitty hand the world dealt to you, it was an inspiration to many many people. Perhaps the Lord felt that you had done enough to cement your status in the heavens, but we'll never get tired of you work ethic and dedication both in and out of the ring.
For all the times that you had me crying
For all the times you had me laughing
For all the times you made me hate you
For all the times you had my heart racing with excitement
For all the times you entertained us
For all the times you captivated us
We salute you, Eddie Guerrero
Lester Lee
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John: I didn't count how many were posted this time, but I'd say it's somewhere between 60-70 emails. There's still another 120 or so to go. I'll get to those on Friday and Saturday. As I go today, I want to encourage all of you to watch Smackdown. It's going to be another tribute to Eddie Guerrero and I think that's something we all need to watch as our chance to say goodbye to this great man.
Once again, a reminder that if you still want to send in comments to me, do not hesitate to email me at oratoryjohn@gmail.com with your thoughts.
Thanks for reading once again.
John
Links
The Oratory Reviews Raw
Your Thoughts on Eddie Guerrero - Part 2
Your Thoughts on Eddie Guerrero - Part 1
My Goodbye to Eddie Guerrero
WWE Friends of Eddie give testimonials. - These are very good and are highly recommended.
