| Full Name | Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes |
| Born | October 9, 1967 in El Paso, Texas |
| Death | November 13, 2005 at age 38 in Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Cause of Death | Heart Failure |
| Trained By | Gory Guerrero (father), Negro Casas, Dos Caras |
| Notable Accomplishments | WWE Champion, WWE United States Champion, 4x WWE Tag Team Champion, ECW World Television Champion |
| Signature Moves | Frog Splash, Three Amigos, Lasso From El Paso, Lie-Cheat-Steal |
| Hall of Fame | WWE Hall of Fame (2006) |
| Social Media | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram |
As a lifelong fan, I‘m thrilled to provide this in-depth introduction to the legendary Eddie Guerrero – one of the most gifted, charismatic, and inspiring wrestlers to ever enter the squared circle.
Background and Early Career
Eddie Guerrero was born in 1967 as part of the acclaimed Guerrero wrestling family. His father was the legendary Mexican wrestler Gory Guerrero. Eddie had athletic prowess from a young age but eschewed an NFL career to pursue his family‘s wrestling legacy.
After training under his father Gory, Eddie made his professional wrestling debut in 1987 in various Mexican promotions like CMLL. He initially performed under a mask as Mascara Magica and quickly impressed with his mix of high-flying lucha libre and wrestling technicality.
Alongside tag partner Art Barr, Eddie captured imaginations as part of La Pareja del Terror. It was a short-lived but influential duo that helped introduce many American fans to the Mexican lucha style.
Rise to Stardom in ECW and WCW
In 1995, Eddie Guerrero‘s immense talent earned him a contract with the upstart Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion. Although a brief stint, Eddie‘s matches against the likes of Dean Malenko and 2 Cold Scorpio showcased his crisp wrestling ability.
Eddie‘s national breakthrough came later that year when he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His initial feud with Chris Benoit over the WCW United States Championship cemented him as a rising star capable of wrestling clinics.
During his WCW tenure, Eddie captured the cruiserweight title multiple times, bringing prestige to the belt with classics against competitors like Rey Mysterio Jr., Dean Malenko, Billy Kidman, and others. The sheer quality of his WCW crusierweight title matches is astonishing.
Eddie was also integral to the success of the Latino World Order stable and his wildly popular Filthy Animals tag team with Mysterio. For me, Eddie‘s WCW work alone would have earned him Hall of Fame status.
WWE Career Culminates with WWE Championship
Eddie Guerrero‘s career scaled new heights when he left WCW to join WWE alongside Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn as The Radicalz in 2000. This quartet made an immediate splash, bringing their superb technical wrestling skills to WWE audiences.
Eddie‘s WWE career kicked into high gear in 2002 when he formed Los Guerreros with nephew Chavo Guerrero. The duo‘s antics showcased Eddie‘s innate charisma and comedic timing. His "Lie, Cheat, Steal" mantra became one of the most popular catchphrases in wrestling.
The pinnacle of Eddie‘s career came in February 2004 when he realized his dream by defeating Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion. As a fan, seeing Eddie celebrate this emotional victory with his family is one of my favorite wrestling memories.
As WWE Champion, Eddie entered a legendary feud with Kurt Angle and continued elevating his game. His WWE run cemented his legacy as one of the most beloved, charismatic stars in wrestling history.
Wrestling Style and Influence
In my opinion, Eddie Guerrero is one of the most complete performers ever due to his technical mastery, high flying skills, brawling ability, and charisma. He executed moves like the Frog Splash and Lasso from El Paso to perfection.
Eddie‘s hybrid wrestling style paved the way for future stars like Rey Mysterio, Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and Sami Zayn. His fearless high flying abilities inspired many cruiserweights after him to push boundaries.
As a Mexican-American, Eddie also opened doors for more Latino stars to rise to prominence in the U.S. He remains a beloved icon and hero to the Latino community.
Legacy as an All-Time Great
While Eddie Guerrero‘s life ended prematurely in 2005, his legacy as an all-time great is etched in stone. He won titles and acclaim across every major promotion – from Mexico to Japan to ECW, WCW, and WWE.
Yet Eddie‘s impact transcends gold and glory. His compelling personal story of redemption and triumph over adversity made fans emotionally invest in him unlike few others. He was that special talent who could shift seamlessly from comic relief to theatrical villain to courageous hero, all while delivering 5-star matches.
As a fan, I‘ll forever be grateful for all the joy and passion Eddie Guerrero brought to this business. Gracias, Eddie.
Memorable Eddie Guerrero Matches
Here are just a few of my favorite Eddie Guerrero matches that showcase his excellence:
- vs. Dean Malenko, ECW Hostile City Showdown 1995 – Technical masterpiece
- vs. Rey Mysterio, WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 – High-flying cruiserweight spectacle
- vs. Brock Lesnar, WWE No Way Out 2004 – Emotional WWE title victory
- vs. JBL, WWE Judgment Day 2004 – Classic brawl with the crafty champion
- vs. Rey Mysterio, WWE SmackDown 6/23/2005 – Late career gem between friends
Be sure to seek out these matches to witness Eddie‘s abilities firsthand. You‘ll gain profound appreciation for his extraordinary talent.
FAQs About Eddie Guerrero
Here are some common questions fans have about the legendary Eddie Guerrero:
Who trained Eddie Guerrero early in his career?
Eddie was trained in wrestling fundamentals largely by his father, lucha legend Gory Guerrero. He also received training from renowned Mexican wrestlers Negro Casas and Dos Caras early in his career.
What was Eddie Guerrero‘s cause of death?
Eddie tragically died on November 13, 2005 at age 38 due to acute heart failure, likely related to his past struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. His shocking death saddened fans tremendously.
Why is Eddie Guerrero regarded as an all-time great wrestler?
Eddie had an unwavering in-ring excellence, charisma, and ability to connect with fans that cemented him as an all-time great. His technical skills, high flying, and brawling abilities were unmatched.
What is Eddie Guerrero‘s most famous catchphrase?
Eddie‘s most famous phrase was "I Lie! I Cheat! I Steal!" He adopted this mantra for his Latino Heat character in WWE, using cheating tactics to win matches and incite boos and cheers alike.
What was Eddie Guerrero‘s finishing maneuver?
Eddie‘s finishing move was the Frog Splash, where he would leap off the top rope and land on opponents with a devastating splash. He executed this move to perfection throughout his career.