There
have been countless deaths in the world of professional wrestling in the last
decade or so, but few have ever left me as dismayed as the passing of Eddy
Guerrero on November the 13th in Minneapolis. At only 38 years of age Guerrero
suffered a heart attack while brushing his teeth, his body found by cousin
Chavo Guerrero the next morning. It bought an untimely end to the life of a man
who had led a turbulent life, filled with addictions and havoc, but a man who
had seemingly overcome these obstacles to become the most loved wrestler in
North America at the present time. He joins a never ending list of those who
have passed away too young, the likes of Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Brian Pillman,
Hawk, Big Bossman, Davey Boy Smith, Elizabeth, Chris Candido, Hercules, Owen
Hart, Crash Holly to name a few who passed before him. Unlike this group,
Guerrero was actually at the top when he died, scheduled perhaps to regain the
WWE World Championship the next night from the injured Batista. Instead the wrestling
world has been plunged into unwelcome tragedy yet again.
The speculation about the
cause of Guerrreo's death wil run rampant. Was he clean or still on drugs? Over
the last five years the man had been involved in car crashes, overdosed, almost
dying on one occasion. He was let go by the WWE because of his state several
years ago, only to come back clean and better in ring than ever. Guerrero was
one of the best wrestlers of his generation, a high flying Mexican
cruiserweight who could adapt to any style of wrestling. In the current, stale
WWE scene he was one of the few redeeming stars, a natural heel who the fans
loved anyway. I first started watching Guerrero during WCW's huge run in the
mid to late 90's and always felt he was being wasted, despite some classic
matches with Rey Mysterio Jr. Prior to this he had wrestled extensively in
Mexico and ECW, lighting each
territory up. It was his move to the WWE in early 2000 when his career really
took off, for better and worse.
Guerrero's death, attributed to an
enlarged heart from years of abuse, was as shocking as it was sudden. When the
WWE released him in 2001 due to his erratic state and drug addictions few ever
thought he would ever make it back. This was after his move from WCW to the
WWE, where he had been experiencing more success in just a year than his whole
five year tenure in WCW. Armed with a strong marriage and immense self belief,
Guerrero battled back and found his way back to the WWE, where from 2002 to his
passing he was the corner stone of the Smackdown! brand of the WWE. In 2004 he
achieved the pinnacle when he pinned Brock Lesnar to win the WWE title, which
he held for nearly four months, dropping the title to John Bradshaw Layfield in
a controversial move, as JBL had zero heat and for all purposes none of
Guerreo's charisma and wrestling ability.
Guerrero could at least lay claim
to defeating Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 20, where he celebrated in ring with
best friend Chris Benoit at the shows end, both men reaching the top of the
ladder after years of struggle. This past Monday on RAW and Smackdown! the
shows were devoted to Guerrero, with al the roster shown, most in tears, only
having heard the news themselves. Seeing the raw emotion of Benoit, Mysterio,
Chavo Guerrero and Batista to name a few was difficult, as the WWE rightfully
set aside their usual programming to pay tribute to a legend.
The death does leave a huge
question mark about wrestling. How many more? It incenses me to see this high
death rate amongst such a sport where the fatigue, burnout and constant travel
are admittedly more constant than any other form of entertainment or sport.
Attempting to live on the road for three quarters of the year, keep in shape
and stay mentally adept cause many wrestlers to succumb to drug and alcohol
problems which have surfaced all to commonly in the last decade. It is to the
point where a new death is almost expected and not news. But Guerrero's was not
expected. He was at his peak. His life was on track. Most of the previously
fallen were out of the sport or suffering from years of abuse. Not all but
many.
I sense the fallout from this tragedy
will last for some time. For a man loved by millions it will not soon be
forgotten. Guerrero was a hero to so many, an icon for Hispanic Americans and a
figurehead for wrestling in general. WWE owner Vince McMahon must be shaking
his head wondering when this madness will ever end. There isn't much he can do
about it and I do not have enough inside knowledge of the business to speculate
as to how and why it is conclusively occurring, but all it is succeeding in
doing is driving people away from a once great industry, one that is in dire
need of repair.
ŠThe
Zephyr November 28, 2005