WWE: 15 Greatest Technical Wrestlers – Number 12

Continuing with our series to find some of the greatest technical wrestlers in the history of the WWE, we come down to number 12. And this superstar is not just universally loved and respected, but is one of the most popular superstars in the history of the WWE. Through the course of years, there have been very few superstars would captivated and entertained the fans like this performer did. Not only could he make the fans laugh, but he could make them cry the next second, and get angry at the next moment. He’s arguably the most entertaining superstar in the history of professional wrestling, with his charismatic persona and his antics. He’s also known to the fans as ‘Latino Heat’, due to his well known short tempered nature. He is none other than the late great Eduardo Gory Guerrero Jr., better known to us as Eddie Guerrero.

 

Eddie was born into one of the most respected wrestling families. Growing up, everyone knew he would become a professional wrestler, and he started young to realize his dreams. Eddie wrestled in Mexico and in Japan, and performed under the monicker of ‘Black Tiger’, and this was where he met two of his best friends, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. Eddie got his first major break when Paul Heyman spotted Eddie, and brought him to the United States to join ECW along with Dean Malenko. Eddie and Malenko revolutionized ECW, as they didn’t go out and put on violent matches, instead putting on some of the best technical matches in the history of the company, which the fans absolutely loved. Eddie and Malenko later signed with WCW, and after their last match in ECW, the fans chanted ‘Please don’t go!’, which resulted in Eddie breaking down and thanking the fans.

Eddie, Malenko and Chris Benoit then went to WCW, where they went their separate ways. WCW realized Eddie’s potential, and immediately pushed him, first as the WCW United States Champion, and next as the WCW Cruiserweight champion. It was at this time that Eddie feuded with the likes of Jericho and Rey Misterio Jr., and had one of the best matches in WCW history with Rey at Halloween Havoc in ’97. Guerrero was one of the ‘young blooded’ wrestlers who were upset about WCW not pushing them, as they still had the Nashs and Hogans at the top. Although Eddie was a part of few more stables such as ‘Filthy Animals’ and ‘Latino World Order’, he, along with other guys such as Chris Benoit, Raven, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn were fed up of WCW, and asked Eric Bischoff to release them from the company.

 

It was at this point that Eddie, along with his best friends Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko, jumped ships to the WWF and debuted as ‘The Radicalz’, with Perry Saturn included in the group. Guerrero, although injured immediately after his debut, returned and had some memorable feuds, most notably with Chyna, and held the WWF Intercontinental title as well as WWF European title. His first stint with WWF/E didn’t last long however, and he went back to the independent scene to work his way back to the top. Eddie was involved in the first ever episode of Ring of Honor, before he eventually returned to the WWF/E for a second run.

After Eddie returned, he formed a team with his nephew and they began calling themselves ‘Los Guerreros’. Eddie had some memorable matches with RVD for the IC title, along with some tag team matches with the likes of Edge/Rey Mysterio and Team Angle. Eddie then moved on to singles competition, capturing the WWE United States championship at Vengeance, when he defeated his best friend Chris Benoit, in what is regarded as one of the greatest US title matches in the history of the business. This was when the ‘Lie, cheat, steal’ motto of Eddie started, and the fans loved him for it. But perhaps, Eddie’s biggest achievement in his career came in ’04, when he defeated Brock Lesnar at No Way Out for the WWE championship. A month later, Eddie defeated Kurt Angle at WrestleMania to retain the title, and at the end of the night, celebrated with his best friend, Chris Benoit who won the World Heavyweight Championship, in what is regarded as the greatest WrestleMania moment in history.

 

Eddie landed in controversy many times due to his personal demons. Eddie took his finisher from Art Barr, Eddie’s partner in the 90s who passed away, and Eddie began using it in his memory. Eddie’s problems with drugs and alcohol abuse was highlighted as a storyline in WCW, and just before he left WCW, he was involved in a major car crash which could have ended his life. Eddie was released from the WWF/E the first time due to his drug/alcohol problems, but he worked his way up and became sober till the last day of his life. Eddie was found dead in his hotel room in November of ’05, and was then inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in ’06 by his best friend Chris Benoit, close friend Rey Mysterio and his nephew, Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Eddie was voted at #11 by his peers in the Top 50 WWE Superstars of all time DVD, and was considered as one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time. To this day, the fans still remember the moments Eddie was involved in, and the world lost not only a great wrestler, but also a great human being.

 

To read about other Greater Technical Wrestlers of all time, click here.