November 13, 2005
I know I'm overdue a column, but I think it is now necassary for me to write one. I don't plan to review Rampage, Primetime, WWE, or NFL news this time. I'm not going to make smartass comments about anything. I plan on paying tribute to a great wrestler and even better man, Eddie Guerrero.
I've been privilaged to have seen Eddie Guerrero wrestle live on numerous occasions. I've seen him toil away on the mid-card on WCW Monday Nitro. I was there live in Denver when he defeated Chris Benoit for the US title at Vengeance 2003. I was there at Wrestlemania 21 when he and Rey Mysterio kicked off the event in style. He was one of the most gifted in ring performers I've ever seen. He may have been smaller, but no one had a bigger heart than him. He could do it all. He could make you laugh hyserically with his promos and vignettes, no matter who he was performing with. Whether it be during his "Latino Heat" stuff with Chyna, the "Los Guerreros" segments with his nephew Chavo, or his current dealings with Batista, they were always highly entertaining. His serious promos were always powerful, either verbally sparring with JBL, or creeping us out against Rey Mysterio.
Eddie had made some mistakes in his life. He readily admitted that. He lost his wife and kids at one point because of his drug and alcohol abuse. He was fired from WWE because of it. He very nearly took everything he had worked so hard for in his life and flushed it down the toilet because of that disease. His story is that no matter what mistakes you've made in life, don't ever give up. Redemption is not an easy thing to come by, but it's not impossible. Eddie's last name in spanish translates into "warrior", and that's what he is. He fought back the disease of addiction, regained his family and his dream job and eventually made it back to the top of the mountain and became WWE Champion. I was so happy for him. I had always been a fan of his, and I was so glad he had gotten his just due, even at the expense of one of my favorites at the time, Brock Lesnar. No Mexicano had ever worn a recognized World title, and he won the biggest one. All of La Raza stood and cheered, as well as anyone who admired and respected what this man had stood for.
We lost a great human being this past Saturday. I can't imagine what the entire Guerrero family is going through right now. My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Vickie, and their three daughters as they mourn their husband and father. We'll miss you down here, Eddie. I'm reminded of a quote from one of my favorite movies, La Bamba: "El Vivir Es Dormir, El Morir Es Despertar." It means "to live is to sleep, to die is to awaken." Eddie's journey here with us may be over, but his path as an angel has been awaken.
Eddie Guerrero
1967-2005
Rest In Peace
