People still consider Eddie Guerrero to be one of the best wrestlers of all time, even though he passed away prematurely.
Born in El Paso, Texas, on October 9, 1967, Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes was a former American professional wrestler.
Guerrero’s exceptional athletic ability earned him scholarships at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands University.
WWE named Guerrero one of the most beloved and accomplished WWE superstars of all time.
Similarly, WWE also declared him as one of the best technical wrestlers ever and the fifth-greatest performer in the history of the company’s SmackDown brand.
Eddie Guerrero Passed Away At 38 Due To Acute Heart Failure
Beloved and celebrated professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero unexpectedly passed away on November 13, 2005, at the age of 38.
His untimely demise shocked and disheartened his family and his huge fan base.
In his short life span, Eddie established himself as one of the greatest wrestlers in the league, leaving a huge legacy behind him.
Guerrero’s nephew, Chavo, found him unconscious in his hotel room at the Marriott Hotel City Center in Minneapolis.
Furthermore, Chavo revealed that Guerrero was still alive when he discovered Guerrero.
Chavo further elaborated that Guerrero had passed out in his hotel bathroom with a toothbrush in his hand.
Unfortunately, Guerrero passed away upon the arrival of the ambulance at the scene.
Later, an autopsy report revealed that he passed away as a result of acute heart failure due to underlying atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
Billy Graham officiated Guerrero’s funeral service, who would later be buried nearby upon his demise in 2023.
The tragic demise of Eddie Guerrero brought significant attention to the cardiovascular risks within the wrestling community.
Guerrero’s death is also said to be partially caused by heart failure that was made worse by previous drug use and the physical strain of wrestling.
Despite being at the top of his profession, Guerrero faced many issues in his life, especially his substance usage issue.
He experienced various substance abuse problems, including alcoholism and an addiction to painkillers.
Besides being a fan favorite and having immense popularity, the media also incorporated his addiction problem into his storylines.
Kurt Angle named Guerrero as the second greatest professional wrestler of all time, after Shawn Michaels, stating:
“Eddie could have been the absolute greatest of all time because when I wrestled, he was still in that top three we were talking about, so Eddie had it all. He was so entertaining, but he also had all the technique. He was such a great wrestler and he got it. He got finishes. He knew how to structure them.”
Eddie’s demise had a profound impact on the wrestling world.
WWE paid tribute to him with special shows, where his colleagues remembered him as a great friend and hero.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Eddie Guerrero came from a prominent member of the Guerrero wrestling family and was the son of first-generation wrestler Gory Guerrero.
- Guerrero married former professional wrestling personality Vickie Guerrero, with whom he had two daughters.
- He was close with fellow wrestlers Art Barr, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and Batista.
