Remember The Day - The Passing Of Eddie Guerrero
by Michael Barton -mbarton.newrep@yahoo.com

It was only a couple of years ago, but the passing of Eddie Guerrero on November 13th, 2005 from heart failure was a shock to the industry. It was even more of a shock to the fans, as many of us watched his trials and tribulations and followed what was going on throughout his career, and we’re happy to learn that he had seemed to overcome all of his personal issues to become the star he was always meant to be.

It’s been stated (although unconfirmed) that he was supposed to win the World Heavyweight Title in a three way match against then champion, Batista, and Randy Orton at the November 15th Smackdown taping. That would have been his second title run with the company, having previously held the WWE Championship in 2004. Sadly, instead of a Monday Night Raw packed with action on November 14th, a tribute show was aired to honor the life of Guerrero. It’s a tribute show I still have on VHS to this day, and will never let go of, as it wasn’t about wrestling - it was about honoring a man who had overcome so much and had achieved greatness! It was about a man who showed all of us that no matter how hard the obstacle, anything could be overcome with determination and hard work! It was a show that still brings me to tears when I watch it, especially seeing Chris Benoit, his best friend, and Chavo Guerrero, his nephew, breaking down right in front of our eyes.

Vince McMahon, always the leader in these times of crisis (and for all of his faults, he does come through during these times), began the show with a few words about Eddie, and then a video package was shown. The video was set to the song “Hurt” by Johnny Cash, and still gives many people chills whenever they see it. There were interviews with many of the wrestlers, and vignettes with Eddie were shown during the evening. While the wrestlers themselves we’re not forced to work, many of them did, because, as Vince had put it, Eddie would have wanted the show to go on. Chavo even wrestled on the show, using Eddie’s finisher - the frog splash - as a tribute to his uncle. The highlight of this show, at least for me, was the end. John Cena, after his match, laid an Eddie Guerrero “Im Your Papi” shirt in the center of the ring, then laid the WWE title on it, and walked out.

For all of the things that are wrong and happen within the wrestling business, this was one night where everyone showed up and paid their respects properly to one of the great performers that gave everything he had for us, the fans. It was only fitting that the last thing we saw was that picture that is forever etched in my memory thanks to Cena. That memory, at least through my eyes, is this - Eddie Guerrero had not only become a champion inside the business, he also had become a champion outside of it as well.

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