JG's 11/14/05 Raw Report:
In Memory of Eddie Guerrero
By James
Guttman
There's some days that just seem to last forever. Yesterday,
November 13th, was one of those days. It was the day that
we all lost Eddie Guerrero, one of this industry's most
talented, respected, and loved performers.
Eddie touched all of our lives. Whether you knew him
personally or not, you shared in his art. You watched
him compete and entertain. At the end of the day, you
took part in his craft by watching him practice it. Every
maneuver, hold, promo, skit, angle, and feud he had served
to remind us all why we loved the man we came to know
as Latino Heat.
At the time of his death, Guerrero was a top wrestler
in World Wrestling Entertainment. Sitting atop the Smackdown
totem pole, Eddie seemed to be a staple of WWE's programming.
While no death is predicable, Guerrero's was especially
shocking. No one expected news like this. I mean, we were
still analyzing his performance on Smackdown last week
and wondering if he would win the World Title at the next
set of tapings. In an instant, that all changed and many
of us were left asking why.
Death is a hard thing to understand for many people.
How could someone so alive and vibrant one day be gone
the next? What will become of their spirit? Even more
so, what will become of our own spirits on the day that
we no longer live on this Earth?
I've had the unfortunate task of dealing with death on
many occasions. I've lost a number of people in my life.
Some were young, some were old. However, they all hurt.
They all become ingrained in your memory and you never
truly forget them or the feelings you had when you first
heard the news.
I know that they say that time is a healer, but that's
not completely true. Time isn't so much a healer as it
is an opportunity to reach out and make the most out of
the cards you've been dealt. Last year, my best friend
passed away. I still think about it every day. However,
I used that horrible sense of pain to strengthen the relationships
I had with other people in my life. It helped me remember
that not everyone will be around tomorrow. Anyone can
go at any time. When they do, you have to make sure you've
made your peace with them. What I'm trying to say is that
mourning the dead teaches us to love the living.
The hardest part with handling a death like this is the
immediacy of it all. Eddie was someone who many people
had just seen. He wasn't sick. He wasn't incapacitated.
He was up, smiling, and looked more alive than most. Now
that he's gone, his voice is still vivid in our minds.
It's a shock to the system when you realize that he's
no longer with us. After all, if you close your eyes,
you can still hear him. You can still picture him. It
doesn't seem real.
It won't seem real for a while, if at all. There's some
losses I've experienced that still don't seem real. The
most we can do is sit back and honor Eddie the best way
we know how. We need to celebrate his life and achievements.
Whatever emotions that brings out are OK. Some will be
sad. Some will be angry. Some will be confused. Whichever
emotion you experience is the right one because it's yours.
Everyone mourns in their own way.
Tonight's Raw is a different one than what we're used
to. That's why my Raw report is different as well. Next
week, we'll return to the Raw Insanity report format.
This week, it's not about Insanity or silly jokes. It's
about the legacy of a good man who loved what he did.
It's about someone we all knew in some way and will miss
very deeply. It's about Eddie Guerrero and the memories
he helped create.
Thank you, Eddie. Thank you for all you've given us.
Tonight, we celebrate you.
***
(JG Note: Throughout the show, I listed
a time when each performer worked with or alongside Eddie
Guerrero.)
All the wrestlers from both Raw and Smackdown
are standing on the stage. To illustrate that it wasn't
a storyline or "in-character," wrestlers were
standing alongside enemies. (For example, Triple H was
standing next to Batista) To the side of the stage is
a lowrider like Guerrero would drive to the ring.The camera
showed the emotions of all the wrestlers as Vince McMahon
told the audience that Eddie had passed away. Vince says
that tonight we will celebrate the life of Eddie Guerrero.
He talks of Guerrero's love of performing and entertaining.
McMahon says that Eddie would want the show to go on,
so it shall. After the bell is rung, a video will be played.
The bell rings ten times in memory of Eddie Guerrero.
WWE then goes to a video honoring Eddie, set to the tune
of Hurt by Johnny Cash.
"Hurt" By Johnny Cash
I hurt myself today, to see if I still
feel.
I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real.
The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting.
Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything.
What have I become? My sweetest friend.
Everyone I know goes away in the end.
And you could have it all, my empire of dirt.
I will let you down.
I will make you hurt.
I wear this crown of thorns, upon my liar's chair.
Full of broken thoughts, I cannot repair.
Beneath the stains of time, the feelings disappear.
Y ou are someone else, I am still right here.
What have I become? My sweetest friend.
Everyone I know goes away in the end.
And you could have it all, my empire of dirt.
I will let you down.
I will make you hurt.
If I could start again a million miles away.
I would keep myself, I would find a way.
We come back from the video and the crowd is chanting
Eddie's name. Vince yells, "Ariba la Raza,"
which felt a bit inappopriate, albeit well-intentioned.
The audience then started a "Thank you, Eddie"
chant. The whole scene is surreal and to think that Eddie
Guerrero is actually gone is almost unimaginable. You
can't help but picture him running out and stealing the
lowrider or something. It's going to be an emotional show.
Vidoe of John Cena. John speaks about
how Eddie Guerrero helped him find his passion and refers
to him as a father figure. At the end of the video, Cena
said something that was beautifully stated and really
stuck with me:
"Eddie was a man of faith, so I know he's in a better
place. But selfishly, every single one of us will miss
him. We love you, Eddie."
- John Cena
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video: His attack on Big Show with a sewage
truck hose.
1. World Tag Team Champions Big
Show and Kane defeated WWE Tag Team Champions MNM
(Show) - No Mercy
2003: Big Show defeated Eddie Guerrero for the
US Title
(Kane) - July
2nd, 2005, Japan Supershow: Rey Mysterio, Undertaker
and Kane faced Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, and Edge
(MNM) - November
4, 2005, Smackdown:
WWE Tag Team Champions MNM defeated Eddie Guerrero and
Batista
It says a lot about the people here that they were able
to compete despite the fact that Eddie had died the morning
of the taping. Obviously, there's a different feeling
in the air and things aren't about stories and angles.
They're about putting on an exhibition for the audience
that helps everyone get their emotions out. The fact that
they ended up booking so many inter-brand matches (including
their money main event) should be enough example that
this night is different than any others. The whole feeling
in the air is similar to Owen Hart's Memorial Raw. It's
good in the sense that I remember Owen's Raw as something
that felt like a healer. It's bad in the sense that I
wish I never had to see another Raw under these circumstances.
Echoing my thoughts on the dedication of the performers,
John Coachman says:
"It's not about the tag team titles. It's not
about any titles tonight. It's about the passion that
all these performers have. That's why they're out here
tonight. That's why we're out here tonight. To honor a
man, but to show exactly why we love doing what we do."
- Coach
The crowd started off pretty subdued for this match,
obviously upset over the weight of the situation. However,
by the end, they started to react more. Finishing sequence
for this one saw Big Show force a kiss on Melina. Johnny
Nitro attempted to ambush him with the title belt, but
was thwarted by the referee. Kane flew from the top with
a clothesline before Johnny Boy found himself the victim
of a double chokeslam. Three seconds later and MNM are
sent packing.
Video of Lillian Garcia. Lillian tells a story about
meeting the US soldiers with Eddie on the WWE Tour of
Iraq and how humble Guerrero was. She speaks to him in
Spanish and tearfully blows a kiss.
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video: The time he auctioned
off items he stole from Kurt Angle.
2. Kurt Angle defeated Shelton Benjiman with
an ankle lock.
(Angle) - WrestleMania
20 - WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Kurt
Angle
(Benjamin)
- Feb 13, 2003, Smackdown
: Shelton Benjamin defeated Eddie Guerrero
I remember the last time Kurt Angle faced
Shelton Benjamin, the two had an amazing match. I'm glad
they included it tonight. They don't need a backstory
to put on a good contest and both men had styles that
gelled well with Guerrero. Both Kurt and Benjamin both
had great feuds with Eddie. Angle obviously did the WrestleMania
match with him and all the skits. Benji teamed with Charlie
Haas to feud with Latino Heat and Chavo for the Smackdown
Tag Titles. The match was good, but at this point a lot
of the wrestling is secondary. I mean, it's there and
we watch it, but it's not what people are watching the
show for. What makes things a bit difficult is that the
announcers don't really know how to call the show. You
have Coachman, who plays the smug heel. You have Lawler
who plays the horny old man. You have Joey Styles, the
new guy. It's a rough group to use for such a deep episode
of Raw. They seemed to focus on the match action and kayfabe
at times, which felt a bit strange. Joey's emotion was
a bit much too. Styles shouldn't have been screaming at
any point in the show, outside maybe the main event, if
that. I would have preferred that they used Michael Cole
and Tazz on commentary, to be honest. The announcers call
Joey out on his emotional outbursts and suddenly he tones
down. Styles then says that losing himself in commentary
was the only way he can take his mind off of Eddie Guerrero.
After getting the anklelock submission, Angle raises his
"EG" armband and crowd cheers.
Video of Shawn Michaels discussing how he and Eddie shared
their faith. Shawn says that although he and Guerrero
never wrestled, they will one day wrestle in Heaven for
Jesus Christ. Michaels finishes by saying that everyone
in WWE is joined in prayer for Eddie Guerrero.
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video of the Los Guerreros
"Lie, Cheat, and Steal" skits.
Video of Chavo Guerrero discussing his Uncle
Eddie and how they were merely three years apart in age.
He tells the story of wrestling Eddie during intermission
at his grandfather's shows when they were children. Chavo
talks about his love for his Uncle as a partner and brother.
Commercial Break.
3. Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Shawn
Michaels after a springboard leg drop
(Michaels) -
March 11, 2004 - Shawn Michaels and Eddie
Guerrero both appeared as guests on WWE's Byte This
(Rey) - Summerslam
2005 - Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero in
a Ladder Match
Both Rey and Michaels wore "Who's Your
Papi" shirts. Jerry Lawler says that one of his favorite
things was pushing the phrase "Latino Heeeeeeaaaat!"
It made me laugh because I had totally forgotten about
that. I loved that early period for Eddie in WWE. The
initial Latino Heat run was hilarious and really showed
the type of humor he was capable of. This was a good match
and a real special moment. Under different circumstances,
WWE would never put this match on free TV. It was obviously
a different contest than what these two would have at
a pay-per-view or something. It was an exhibition match
and they handled it that way. In the end, it was Shawn
doing the clean job for Mysterio after the 619 and a springboard
leg drop.
Video of Dave Batista. Batista is visibly
shaken as he discusses how Eddie would help him through
personal problems with guidance and Bible passages.
Commercial Break.
5. Melina won an Inter-Brand
Diva Battle Royal
I didn't really understand why this match was kept in
while Ken Kennedy vs Val Venis was cut. It didn't seem
to fit in with the night and felt a bit out of place.
The finish saw Melina dump Trish and the announcers question
whether she might come to Raw and challenge for the Women's
Title. I didn't really get that.
Video of Rey Mysterio discussing his relationship
with Eddie Guerrero and his family. He ends by telling
Eddie he loves him. As he cries, Mysterio looks down and
removes his mask.
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video: The closing moments
of WrestleMania XX with his in-ring celebration beside
Chris Benoit.
6. Eugene pinned Simon Dean with
the Rock Bottom.
(Eugene) -
December 1, 2004 - Eugene and Eddie Guerrero
both appeared as guests on WWE's Byte This
(Simon) -
November 23, 2002, OVW - Simon "Nova"
Dean beat Eddie Guerrero.
I know I'm not giving too much personal
commentary here. It's hard to. This show is just really
powerful on so many levels. The truly chilling thing is
that the lowrider in the arena was here for Eddie to ride
to the ring for Smackdown. That's why it's in Minneapolis.
Now it's being used as an symbol for his Memorial Raw.
If that doesn't hammer home the fragility of life, nothing
will. As for this match, it was a comedy match. You either
liked it or you didn't. The ending was Eugene using the
Rock Bottom to finish off the fitness guru of Smackdown.
After the match, Gene drove away on Dean's scooter.
Video of Chris Benoit discussing Eddie Guerrero
followed. This was the most heart breaking thing I've
seen in a long time. Benoit was overflowing with emotion
and just broke down. I can't even begin to express how
terrible I feel for Chris and how many fans who saw this
must be hurting for him right now.
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video of WWE Title win over Brock Lesnar
Video of Triple H discussing Eddie Guerrero's
talent and professionalism.
Commercial Break.
7. Ric Flair defeated William
Regal with the Figure Four Leglock
(Regal)
- April 15, 2002, Raw
: .Eddie Guerrero and William Regal defeated
Rob Van Dam and Spike Dudley
(Flair) -
WCW Road Wild 1996: Ric Flair pinned
Eddie Guerrero
I said on the Insanity Message boards that
I think William Regal has Doink the Clown's old music
only without the horns and laughing. I'm not being sarcastic
either. I'm serious. Go listen to it. As for this match,
it was a good choice to be put on the card. Both Flair
and Regal have distinct styles and favor technical wrestling.
It seemed to fit in on the show. Fairly quick outing saw
the Intercontinental Champion defeat Lord William via
Figure Four submission.
Video of Stephanie McMahon discussing the
passion and ability of Eddie.
Commercial Break.
Eddie Guerrero video: The battle with his
"Mamacita" Chyna over the Intercontinental Title.
8. WWE Champion John Cena defeated
Randy Orton via disqualification
(Cena) -
September 11, 2003, Smackdown:
John Cena faced Eddie Guerrero in a parking lot brawl
(Orton) - October
14, 2005, Smackdown:
Eddie Guerrero defeated Randy Orton by Disqualification.
Much like HBK-Rey, this match really drove the point
home that this was a special evening. Orton came to the
ring in his own T-Shirt, rather than a Latino Heat one
like the rest of the performers, but had an "EG"
armband on throughout. Bob Orton watched from ringside
and Jerry Lawler urged the ref to "keep an eye on
dad there." Turns out Jerry's psychic because Dad
jumped in. Just as Cena was about to FU the RKO guy, he
was jumped by Ace Cowboy Bob Orton.
The duo couldn't stop the Champ. He fought them both
off and ended up hitting Randy with an FU before his music
hit.
The show closed out with the Doctor of Thuganomics laying
out his Eddie Guerrero shirt and placing the WWE Title
on top. Our show is over. Fade to black.
All in all...I thought WWE did a great
job tonight. It was nice to remeber some of the great
moments that Eddie Guerrero gave us.
The night was heartwrenching at times and you couldn't
help but feel emotional watching some of Guerrero's friends
and colleagues break down.
There's nothing more to really say here. I'm just sitting
here staring blankly. There's a lot of emotion to digest.
I think we're all going to remember this night for a long
time.
Reader emails
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Guerrero Part 2
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