Today’s fighters are the equivalent of the gladiators of Ancient Rome. These square circle demigods are highly regarded by many voracious fans who expect nothing but canned performances and gratuitous violence. They say that to succeed in the world of wrestling, you must prove yourself worthy. One of the things that draws many people to these ring celebrities is their unique ability to generate emotions and captivate audiences with their stories. Perhaps one of the best in the business was Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes, also known as Eddie by his fans.
Eddie made his WWF debut as a villain known as the handsome Latino Heat competing for the affections of Chyna, whom he affectionately called “Mamacita.” He would later win the European Championship against Chris Jericho with a little help from Chyna. The two would continue to work as a team and proved to be quite popular with fans. The couple were even “engaged” for a while until they calmed down when Latino Heat was caught showering with two other women saying, “Two mamacitas are better than one!”
In November 2001, Eddie was arrested for driving under the influence and later released from the WWF. He would work on the independent circuit before making his wrestling debut in 2002. Guerrero made his return to Raw and fought Rob Van Dam. He would later win the Van Dam Intercontinental Championship.
At that moment, Eddie wowed audiences with his charisma and trademark smile. Audiences would always be entertained by the star’s tricks, from driving his flashy custom low riders into the ring, to his ever-famous battle cry, “Viva La Raza!” Eddie would also amuse the crowd with his “lie, cheat, steal” tactics to win the game. He was always quite creative, even misleading the referee that his opponent had hit him with a steel chair to win by disqualification. Whether he plays the villain or the hero, he will always incorporate the tactic of lying, cheating and stealing.
It was in 2004 that Guerrero would win the coveted No Way Out champion title against Brock Lesnar. He would later defend the championship against Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XX. It was a huge victory when he celebrated in the ring alongside his longtime friend and partner, Chris Benoit, who won the World Heavyweight Championship that night.
Sadly, Eddie’s personal life wasn’t very rosy. It was known that he was addicted to painkillers and alcohol. This addiction took its toll on his family, and he was even separated from his wife, Vickie, for a time. The two later reconciled and renewed their vows. Vickie would later accept her daughter, Kayley, who was born to another woman with whom Eddie had a brief affair.
Tragedy struck on November 13, 2005 when Eddie was found unconscious in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was pronounced dead when paramedics came to the scene. Later that week, Raw and SmackDown announced that they would hold tribute matches in honor of the late Eddie Guerrero. Many of the wrestlers wore black bracelets with the initials “EG” during those shows. Some of the fighters, such as Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero dedicated their matches to him.
Eddie would later be inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in April 2006 by Rey Chavo Guerrero, Mysterio, and Chris Benoit. Vickie Guerrero accepted the honor that night. Now the Latino Heat may be gone, but their spirit lives on in many of their fans.
