Is Eddie Guerrero Dead? The Sad Story of the Latino Heat

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Eddie Guerrero was one of the most charismatic and talented professional wrestlers of all time. He was known for his catchphrase “I lie, I cheat, I steal”, his signature move the Frog Splash, and his legendary feuds with Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar. But is he still alive and well? Or has he passed away due to some tragic circumstances? Here is the sad story of the Latino Heat and his untimely death.

Early Life and Career

Eddie Guerrero was born on October 9, 1967, in El Paso, Texas. He was the youngest of six children of Gory Guerrero, a famous Mexican wrestler and promoter. He grew up in a wrestling family, with his brothers Chavo, Hector, and Mando, and his nephew Chavo Jr., all becoming wrestlers as well. He started wrestling at the age of 10, and made his professional debut in 1986 in Mexico. He wrestled under various ring names, such as Black Tiger II, El Caliente, and Máscara Mágica, and won several championships in Mexico and Japan.

He moved to the United States in 1994, and joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he had classic matches with Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and 2 Cold Scorpio. He then signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1995, where he became a part of the Cruiserweight division, and formed the Latino World Order with Rey Mysterio, Juventud Guerrera, and others. He also joined the New World Order (nWo) for a brief period, and had a memorable feud with Diamond Dallas Page. He won the WCW United States Championship, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, and the WCW Tag Team Championship with various partners.

WWE and World Champion

Eddie Guerrero left WCW in 2000, along with Benoit, Malenko, and Perry Saturn, and joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was initially a part of the Radicalz, a heel faction, but later turned face and became a fan favorite. He adopted the gimmick of a lying, cheating, and stealing Latino, who used his charisma and cunning to win matches. He also formed a tag team with his nephew Chavo Jr., called Los Guerreros, and won the WWE Tag Team Championship twice.

He reached the pinnacle of his career in 2004, when he defeated Brock Lesnar at No Way Out to win the WWE Championship, becoming the second Latino to do so after Pedro Morales. He had a memorable celebration with his friend Chris Benoit, who won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX later that year. He also had a memorable feud with Kurt Angle, who he defeated at WrestleMania XX to retain his title. He lost the title to John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) at The Great American Bash, after a controversial finish.

He continued to be a main event star, and had feuds with Rey Mysterio, Batista, and Randy Orton. He also won the WWE United States Championship and the WWE Intercontinental Championship during his WWE tenure. He was one of the most popular and respected wrestlers in the industry, and was loved by fans and peers alike.

Death and Legacy

Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 13, 2005. He was 38 years old. The cause of death was acute heart failure, due to underlying cardiovascular disease. He had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, which had damaged his heart. He had also suffered from chronic pain and depression, due to the physical and mental stress of wrestling. He had been clean and sober for four years before his death, and had become a born-again Christian.

His death shocked and saddened the wrestling world, and WWE held two tribute shows for him, on Raw and SmackDown. Many wrestlers paid tribute to him, and shared their memories and stories of him. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including his family, friends, and fellow wrestlers. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, by his nephew Chavo Jr. and his friend Rey Mysterio. He was also honored by other wrestling promotions, such as TNA, ROH, and AAA.

Eddie Guerrero is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and one of the most influential and inspirational figures in wrestling history. He is remembered for his passion, his charisma, his skill, and his heart. He is also remembered for his catchphrase “Viva la Raza”, which means “Long live the race”, and his motto “I’m your Papi”, which he used to taunt his opponents. He is a legend of the sport, and a hero to many. He is Eddie Guerrero, and he is gone but not forgotten.

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