5 things you should know about Eddie Guerrero

Eddie Guerrero was one of the greatest WWE performers we’ve ever seen step into a ring. The man whose personality shone through the television sets died 12 years ago this November. Since his death, Eddie’s legendary status has only grown and even young wrestling fan hold him in the highest of regards.

He started wrestling in front of tens of people and later found himself wrestling in front of thousands. He’s done it all in the squared circle and nobody better embodies wrestling than the WWE Hall of Famer. You know he’s a legend, but there’s more than meets the eye with the wrestling icon.

Here are 5 things you should about Eddie Guerrero.

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#5 He was initially a jobber in WCW

Eddie Guerrero lost 92 matches in WCW

It’s funny to think that before reaching the big leagues of the WWE, Guerrero was actually a lower tier talent in Ted Turner’s WCW. When he was at the tender age of 22, Eddie wrestled as an ‘Enhancement Talent’ for WCW, all the way back in 1989.

His job was just to put over more established wrestlers, in relatively short squash matches. Funnily enough, the man he first put over was the person who brought him into WCW, Terry Funk.

Guerrero returned to WCW in 1995 with future WWE Superstar, Chris Benoit. Even then he only wrestled dark matches. It was only later in his WCW run that Eddie gained the respect he deserved and the championships he craved.

It was at that time that Vince McMahon started to secretly meet him, eventually bringing him to the WWF.

#4 He was constantly in pain

Eddie put on 700 matches in his wrestling career

It’s so sad to know that Eddie Guerrero died at the peak of his career. Back in 2005, Eddie Guerrero was having the year of his career, putting on wrestling clinics with Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit and Batista. However, he was doing all that whilst in constant pain.

Years of being in the wrestling industry had taken its toll on the Latino wrestler and his niggling injuries were becoming worse.

It was Bob ‘Hardcore’ Holly who revealed to the world that in the months leading to his death, he’d often see Guerrero lying in the physio’s room in pain before a match. Then when it was time go out and wrestle, he’d grab an energy drink and put on a stellar match.

He would ignore the pain and carry on wrestling; it was only a few wrestlers backstage who knew how much he was truly suffering.

#3 Had his first match at the age of 9

Eddie Guerrero was born in Texas

Wrestling wasn’t just a profession Eddie picked up to make a quick buck, it was in his blood. The WWE Hall of Famer came from a family that prided themselves in the pro-wrestling industry, as he was the son of Gory Guerrero, a lucha libre pioneer.

So, like most wrestling families, the Guerreros had a wrestling ring in their backyard in which the whole family would run the ropes daily. As most of his brothers were nearly twice his age, Eddie couldn’t really practice with them, instead, he would grapple daily with his cousin Chavo Jr.

So, after years of practising, Eddie had his first official match at a local carnival in Mexico. A 9-year-old Eddie teamed up with his 6-year-old cousin to take on his Dad and Uncle. The youngsters scored a legendary pinfall and set Eddie on his trajectory towards greatness.

#2 He wasn’t fond of the lie, cheat & steal gimmick at first

Los Guerreros were two-time Tag Team Champions

Eddie’s career took a turn for the worse in 2001. After a life-threatening car accident, he found himself finding comfort in the consumption of painkillers, to which he became addicted to.

When he came into work unfit to wrestle, the WWE sent him home permanently. After a little while on the Indy circuits, Guerrero returned to WWE in April 2001 to feud with Rob Van Dam.

After a series of uninspiring matches, Eddie was teamed up with his brother and branded as the 'lying, cheating and stealing' Los Guerreros. At first, Eddie resented the gimmick as he felt it disrespected his family’s name. That’s why he initially refused to shoot the lie, cheat and steal vignettes, but once popularity grew, he gave in and filmed them.

It’s hard to imagine that the 'lie, cheat and steal' gimmick almost didn’t take off, but when it did, it took Eddie to the top of the company.

#1 He was booked to face Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 22

Eddie Guerrero performed at five Wrestlemanias

Can you believe that in all the time they were both in the WWE, Guerrero and Michaels never crossed paths? It’s a travesty that two of the best of their generation never got to showcase how good wrestling can truly be.

The pitch of Michaels vs. Guerrero was made only a few months before he died.

It was scheduled to have been initiated at Survivor Series 2005, continuing through to the Royal Rumble, ending in a match at Wrestlemania. Vince was reportedly in awe of the idea and was already planning the video packages for it.

However, two weeks before Survivor Series, Eddie sadly passed away and the match of a generation could never come to fruition.