One of the true greats of all time has
passed. He was 38 years old.
Eddie Guerrero died the night before his
second title run was said to take place. He died in
his hotel room while getting ready to leave for work.
His cause of death is yet to be determined. People can,
and have, guessed and speculated about the cause of
death. I think that’s a matter for his family,
and eventually, his former employer.
The time will come for questions to be
answered.
The love for Eddie Guerrero is evident
and unmistakable. People who knew him a lot better than
most have spoken of their pain and love for a man who
was true to his family and true to his love for God.
They knew a man who was as skilled as any in his profession,
a man who was greatly admired for the fight he put up
outside of his profession. They loved Eddie Guerrero
the man.
We, as fans, got to see Eddie in a completely
different light.
In a way we saw him with the eyes of a
child. We didn’t have to see him at his worst
before he went into rehab. We didn’t have to witness
him when his temper or his frustrations got the better
of him backstage. We didn’t have to witness him
when he was in pain or lonely. We didn’t have
to watch him holding his injuries. Eddie just appeared,
entertained us, then disappeared again.
To our naive minds, he was invincible.
Was.
But even though our view was a different
view, the fact that we, as different sets of people,
can be brought together in sorrow, remembrance and celebration
gives you a clear indication of the man Eddie was and
the caliber of performer he was.
Eddie Guerrero translated through the
screen his passion for wrestling like no other.
Look at his tapes now. Watch his facial
expressions, watch his flair. Watch the way he connected
or captivated an audience. In his work he could be successful
in making people hate him, or when the time came, rally
behind him if he so wished. He was a master craftsman.
A wrestler of awesome talent and unparalleled timing.
He was a gift to the family business.
Eddie Guerrero was a gift to anyone who
watched him perform.
The last few days have been genuinely
sad days for me. I feel more pain then I have any right
to. Eddie Guerrero affected me greatly when he was alive
and he effected me even more so when he died.
38 years old is too young for anyone to
leave this earth. And just like nearly all deaths at
that age, it could have been avoided.
Circumstance of employment should not
put any person in ground.
The wrestling business, and the people
who perform in it, prides itself on ‘sucking it
up’ and working hurt. Those with the contracts
understand the need for staying in the spot that they’ve
worked for. They are constantly trying to dodge the
bullet that threatens to cut their wages, and in some
cases, their employment altogether.
The worse thing that can happen to a professional
wrestler on the active roster is to get injured. The
most regular thing to happen to professional wrestlers
on the active roster is injury.
Eddie Guerrero had injuries. Eddie Guerrero
also had a family. Two into one don’t go.
The outpouring of emotion on the RAW Tribute
show was heartbreaking. It’s always easy to measure
the depth of a man when you see how deeply people loved
him. Eddie was cherished and he will always be remembered
by those who got to learn from him and those who wish
they had the chance.
Professional wrestling was a better business
when Eddie Guerrero was alive. It simply had more going
for it. It was a more creative place, an easier place
to subscribe to. Professional wrestling was made to
look simple by a man who worked the hardest to do so.
I don’t consider it a coincidence
that Eddie Guerrero left professional wrestling a more
passionate place than he found it.
A great many will mourn because a great
many were lucky enough to know of Eddie Guerrero, a
true great.
R.I.P.
Has this world been so kind to you that you should
leave with regret? There are better things ahead than
any we leave behind.
– C.S Lewis
***
Drop Paul
a line at:
Paul@WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
