WWE icons remember Eddie Guerrero two decades after sudden death aged 38

It’s been 20 years since we lost the best wrestlers of all time, Eddie Guerrero.

A WWE Hall of Famer, decorated champion and unbelievably charismatic performer, Latino Heat inspired generations of superstars, including his own peers.

Guerrero died age 38 on November 13, 2005, as his death sent shockwaves through the industry – but his name is still chanted loudly in arenas around the world two decades on.

Over the last few years, the likes of CM Punk, William Regal, Rey and Dominik Mysterio, JBL, Booker T, Lita and more have exclusively spoken to Metro about the late icon.

Earlier this year, current World Heavyweight Champion Punk opened up on their time together on the independent scene in 2002, after Guerrero had been fired from WWE and was struggling in his personal life.

‘Working with Eddie at that stage of his career, he was real sad,’ he recalled, admitting that he ‘felt sorry’ for his fall from grace to such small rooms.

However, Punk added: ‘He wrestled me like it was the main event WrestleMania.’

He said: ‘[Eddie] taught me, it’s not about moves, it’s about when you do them,’ he said. ‘He taught me about the connection between your fans and you, and making it emotional.’

Guerrero’s talents and instincts as a performer are well documented, and Blackpool legend William Regal, WWE’s vice-president of global talent development, still regards him as the standard bearer for the industry.

‘There’s never or will never be anybody better than Eddie Guerrero at this job,’ he told us in 2022. ‘He was so good in far better ways than most people even know, which only a very few people at a very high standard of wrestling know.’

He added: ‘If you wanna really study Eddie, there is no one better to understand how to be exceptionally good at this job.’

Lita experienced first hand his instincts, after Guerrero tried to get her to reconsider a nasty bump where she went for a hurricarana from the top rope to the outside, only to get hit with a powerbomb.

‘He was so adamant about not doing it, and I was do adamant about doing it and it hurt me! I landed on the ground like, “He was right,”‘ she laughed. ‘It’s kind of like a badge of honour, to have that story and that moment with Eddie.’

Shawn Michaels on the match he never had with Eddie Guerrero

Shawn Michaels: ‘You think about what could have been in that respect.

‘For me again, I think about those things in real life. I think about Vicky and his girls and family just dealing with that loss, and seeing them carry on all these years without him.

‘I appreciate the fact that the wrestling business, at least, remembers [him] on a regular basis, which is always a kind thing. It lets you know your impact to a community that appreciates you, and I think it’s nice to see.’

Guerrero’s talent and heart was one side of him, while the fiery temper and intensity that inspired the Latino Heat nickname wasn’t just for show.

Remembering their friendship, Booker T told us: ‘Eddie and I, we almost got into a fight one time.

‘I don’t even know why we almost got into a fight, but I do remember about 15 minutes later, we was apologising to each other, like, “What were we thinking?!” We didn’t even know what the fight was about!’

Some people in WWE, like John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, got to know the best of Guerrero in and outside the ring as a genuine friend – he was a groomsman at JBL’s wedding, and Layfield delivered part of his eulogy.

‘We would’ve travelled together probably, if we hadn’t been competitors against each other,’ he told us, recalling moments they’d go out to dinner when JBL was struggling personally.

‘I’m not one to tell people about that,’ he shrugged. ‘Eddie came up to me, “Hey, something’s bothering you. I want to talk to you.” I thought that was really cool, that was really observant of Eddie, and he did that to everybody.’

Former Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio has become a huge star in WWE, he grew up backstage at show’s with dad Rey, and as a child worked with Guerrero just months before his death.

‘I’m very blessed. As an eight year old, I was excited to skip school and travel with my dad and get given candy by Eddie. It was a great time,’ he recalled. ‘He was just such a good guy, you know?’

For Rey, he’s glad that the fans – and wrestlers, ‘still keep Eddie’s name alive through his moves’ and more.

‘It’s truly a blessing in disguise,’ he told us. ‘I really enjoy seeing all of that.’

Dom added: ‘We miss him, we love him. He’s one of the greatest of all time.’

Netflix is the home of WWE in the UK, including Eddie Guerrero’s greatest moments.

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