5 Years since Eddie G's passing.

Handsome Bob

It's five years today (I think) since Eddie Guerrero passed away. He was a true legend that never failed to make me smile or draw me in with one of his from the heart promos. I think it was Jim Cornette who once said that some of the most over guys (such as Steve Austin, The Rock and Mick Foley) were the ones who were just themselves in front of the camera (but obviously amplified up a few notches of course, it is entertainment after all ). I think Eddie G easily falls into that category and is probably up there with Foley as one of the superstars who was most true to himself when in front of the camera.

What makes it all the more amazing is that I actually hated his first run with the company, but when he cleaned himself up and came back the transformation was just dumbfounding. What a man.

RIP Eddie.

grames_bond

such a legend and a fantastic entertainer! he oozed class! such a tragedy!

Viva la raza!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfzpWE2n8ZY

RIP EDDIE!

SlickRic

that is ridiculous that it's been 5 years.

still missed.

it's still one of the most emotional moments in wrestling history.

Diabhal Beag

One of the 1st wrestlers that made an impact on me. His ladder match with Rey at Summerslam is one of my favourite matches.

Vickie is getting a lot of his charisma just like he got his from Art Barr.

paddyismaddy

5 years already time flies

one of the best he made smackdown a lot more interesting and fun

i loved his feuds with rey, angle and jbl

rip eddie

viva la raza

irish_stevo815

Wow 5 years already! I remember when i heard about Eddie's passing - I was in college and was just browsing the web at lunch time on the Monday on went to WWE.com to see the tragic news. I remember just being in total shock for the rest of the day.

It was the first time really that someone i admired and was a fan of had died and it was a weird feeling. Just imagine what more he would have accomplished if he were still alive. I wonder if he would have Lied, Cheated & Stole his way to breaking Undertakers Wrestlemania Streak

Handsome Bob

I was just thinking there that it's a shame that WWE will probably never revisit one of his most memorable moments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYN9akZIndU

Can't blame them, but it's still a crying shame.

The Volt

No celebrity death had as much an impact on me as this. 5 years gone, never forgotten.

RIP Eddie

Bubs101

Voltwad wrote: »

No celebrity death had as much an impact on me as this. 5 years gone, never forgotten.

RIP Eddie

Not even Benoit?

Used to hate him when I was younger but he's grown on me since his death. I do remember one of the reasons I stopped watching for a couple of years was all of Eddie's tricking the referee into DQing the other guy finishes.

chopperbyrne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3HXCiSO8t0

Such a shame he's gone.

El_Drago

Of all the deaths over the last few year,none hit me more so than Eddie's. For me,there was nothing more entertaining than watching an Eddie promo or match-the guy had charisma oozing out of his ears. It was such a shame that after all he'd been through cleaning himself up,it was his past which ultimately led to his demise.

RIP Eddie:(

D2D

Wow, it's 5 years already?!?! I'm actually taken back by how quickly time has flown. This day 5 years ago, 1 of the world's most charismatic, dedicated and passionate wrestlers, Eddie Guerrero, was taken from us aged only 38:(:(

For those that don't know, on Twitter, Eddie Guerrero has been a trending topic (something that everyone is talking about on Twitter) for the whole day. Here are a couple of tweet's:

* Taz wrote on Twitter: Eddie G, u r missed & loved by millions. I miss your humor, amazing talent & your friendship! U will never be forgotten....RIP bro.

* Vickie Guerrero wrote: "Today is a day of remembrance that is heavy on my heart"

* Chavo Guerrero - "5yrs ago today we lost 1of the greatest of all time.Wrestler and person. Eddie Guerrero! Thank u to all who has wished our families the best"

* Chris Jericho - "Eddy Guerrero was a good friend and a good man. I miss his friendship, humor and wisdom every day. Que Paso Putillo Falso?!?"

* CM Punk - "I wake up and plan to try to get Eddie Guerreros name to trend and it already is! Good Job people."

* Joey Styles Tweeted: I miss Eddie Guerrero. I'll never forget him. I still watch his matches often. Seeing Vickie every week is comforting. She really is sweet.

* Kurt Angle: Today is a day to honor the greatest wrestler I had the priviledge to wrestle with. Eddie guerrerro left this world 5 years ago. I miss him. GOD bless you Eddie. And ur family and friends to. You are truly missed- but your legend will move on!!!!

* Gangrel: I never learned as much about the job as I did when I spent a year ridding with you eddie guerrero RIP my true friend! Love you

Although I could say a lot of stuff about Eddie, I think BH's induction speech for him into the Boards PW Hall of Fame says everything I would say, probably more. For those who have never read it before and for those who would like to read it again, here's the speech:

He lied, he cheated and he stole all of our hearts

Eddie Guerrero
Viva La Rasa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y-8-XE_D9s

There is not much more I can say to pull on your heartstrings and remind you of how much Eddie ment to people than that Youtube video did so ill give you a lil bit of a recap of "Latino heat" Eduardo Gory Guerrero's illustrious career.

Eddie Guerrero came a long way before becoming a WWE Superstar. He trained with his family, the legendary Guerrero family, which included his father the great Gory Guerrero. Eddie really broke into wrestling in the late 80s wrestling through the independant route and going international. He often Wrestled as the "Black Tiger" in Japan, and as "Mascara Magica" in Mexico.

Guerrero and Chris Benoit became great friends as they would usually tour Japan and Mexico together at this stage. It was during this time that Eddie teamed with Art Barr, and together they came up with the frog splash. Barr died soon after cause of drugs, and Guerrero dedicated his career to him, and used the frog splash as a tribute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KJ3jqqVRBs

Eddie went to ECW were he particularilly stood out whilst wrestling with and against Dean Malenko. Soon WCW signed Guerrero, Malenko, and Benoit in late 1995. He arrived in WCW as a face, and didn't really do all that much, other than carrying other wrestlers to good or even great matches every time he laced up his boots. He won the WCW United States title in late 1996 wrestling Syxx in a great ladder match at the first Souled Out. Eddie kept the belt until losing to Malenko in another classic in March of 1997 at Uncensored 97.

After which Eddie showed his capabilities as a Heel with a revialry that was later revisted in the WWE (I'm Your Papi!) against Rey Mysterio. He completely dominating the cruiserweight division and wrestled Rey at Hallowen Havoc 97, in what would go down as the best match Guerrero and Mysterio had ever been in up to that point. The match was filled with innovating spots, great wrestling and as a result the two became great friends afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7-MjNfI70

Before leaving WCW partially due to backstage politics Guerrero was a member of the "Latino World Order" and started a gimmick with Malenko, and Saturn, where they were known as the the Revolution. Soon thereafter, Malenko, Guerrero, Benoit, and Saturn asked for their release from WCW.

As a result all four guys went to WWE, and they were dubbed the Radicalz. They were an instant success and had a memorable debut when all 4 guys hit their finishing moves on the New Age Outlaws.

Despite the fact that when Guerrero went to hit his frog splash he dislocated his elbow, and was out for 6 weeks he still got to build his character on tv. He became a stereotypical hispanic guy, who was overtop intense and funny. He instantly got over with the crowd and bacame known as "Latino Heat". He was then paired up with his "Mamacita" Chyna and hilarity inseud as he became the European champion. Guerrero was now one of the most popular guys on tv.

He eventually ended up on Smackdown, becoming the first WWE United States Champion, and tagging with his nephew Chavo, winning the WWE Tag Titles numerous times as "Los Guerrero's" who are argueably one of the most underated tag teams of ecent times.

2004 was Eddie Guerrero's year. Eddie won the second Royal Rumble of the year, earning a WWE Championship Match at no Way Out, facing Brock Lesnar. In a 30-minute titanic battle, Eddie won with a tornado DDT to the belt, and then his famous Frog Splash. He got a huge crowd reaction as he was crowned the WWE champ, his dream had come true.

At Wrestlemania XX, with Kurt Angle in great form, Eddie defeated the olympic champion after a brilliant match. He then celebrated in the Ring with his best friend Chris Benoit who he himself had just won a world title. THis despite everything that happened with Benoit is still considerd one of the best Wrestlemania moments.

This is all withouth mentioning how he got over as a face who acted like a heel. to quote Eddie himself, "he lied, he cheated and he stole but he was honest about it" and the crowd loved him for that. Eddie it can be argueably said made JBL's main event run with their feud too at this time

Tragically he died suddenly in 2005 and at the time he was actually rumoured to being lined up for another run with the title belt due to injuries to others.

There is so much that has been left out about this guy as one little write up could never do such a man justice. To say Eddie Guerrero is a deserved member of the inagural class of the Boards.ie Hall of Fame is to say the least an understatement. It truely is hard to believe we arent still seing the great Latino Heat putting on top class matches every time he steps into the squared circle. He truely was a massive loss to the industry and to be honest not many men could have gotten the reaction out of his colleagues that Eddie did as the 1st youtube video above is testament to.

R.I.P Eddie, gone but never forgotten!!

Viva la Raza!!!

Exclamation Marc

I remember the tribute video played to the song Hurt by Johnny Cash and I bloody hated it.

Great video, but the song was a brutal choice.

There has been no wrestlers/personalities like Eddie since, he was the last of his kind I think.

IanMc666

R.I.P Eddie. You'll remain a hero of mine and many.

Wompa1

FireballPitcher wrote: »

I remember the tribute video played to the song Hurt by Johnny Cash and I bloody hated it.

Great video, but the song was a brutal choice.

There has been no wrestlers/personalities like Eddie since, he was the last of his kind I think.

I liked the choice of song. Fitting to his demons through his life.

steelcityblues

At the time of his death, he was my second favourite behind Kurt Angle.

Admired how he, like Angle, developed into a great all rounder with his five star matches, entertaining promos and comedy bits.

I'll never forget that numb feeling on a Monday afternoon when I logged into my favourite wrestling website, and saw his picture with 1967-2005 underneath it on the main page!

Hope he's having a blast in the great wrestling ring up above!