An igniting match

Match heads

A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface.^[1] Matches are usually sold in quantity; wooden ones are packaged in boxes, and paper matches are clustered in rows stapled into matchbooks. They are commonly sold by tobacconists and many other kinds of shops. The coated end of a match, known as the match "head," contains either phosphorus or phosphorus sesquisulfide as the active ingredient and gelatin as a binder. There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only against a specially prepared surface, and strike-anywhere matches, for which any suitably frictional surface can be used. Some match-like compositions, known as electric matches, are ignited electrically and do not make use of heat from friction.

Etymology[link]

Historically, the term match referred to lengths of cord (later, cambric) impregnated with chemicals, and allowed to burn continuously.^[1] These were used to light fires and fire guns (see matchlock) and cannons (see linstock).^[2] Such matches were characterised by their burning speed i.e. quick match and slow match. Depending on its formulation, a slow match burns at a rate of around 30 cm (1 ft) per hour and a quick match at 4 to 60 centimetres (1.6 to 24 in) per minute. The modern equivalent of this sort of match is the simple fuse, still used in pyrotechnics to obtain a controlled time delay before ignition.^[3] The original meaning of the word still persists in some pyrotechnics terms, such as black match (a black powder-impregnated fuse) and Bengal match (a firework akin to sparklers producing a relatively long-burning, coloured flame). But, when friction matches became commonplace, they became the main object meant by the term.

The word "match" derives from Old French "mèche" referring to the wick of a candle.^[4]

Early matches[link]

A predecessor of the modern match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulfur were used in China in AD 577. Besieged by military forces of Northern Zhou and Chen, Northern Qi court ladies were out of tinder and needed a way to start fires for cooking and heating.^[5] During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907–960), a book called the Records of the Unworldly and the Strange written by Chinese author Tao Gu in about 950 stated:

If there occurs an emergency at night it may take some time to make a light to light a lamp. But an ingenious man devised the system of impregnating little sticks of pinewood with sulfur and storing them ready for use. At the slightest touch of fire they burst into flame. One gets a little flame like an ear of corn. This marvellous thing was formerly called a "light-bringing slave", but afterwards when it became an article of commerce its name was changed to 'fire inch-stick'.^[5][6]。

Prior to the use of matches, fires were obtained using a burning glass (a lens) to focus the sun on tinder, a method that could only work on sunny days, or by igniting tinder with sparks produced by striking flint and steel. Early work had been done by alchemist Hennig Brandt, who discovered the inflammable nature of phosphorus in 1669.^[7] Others, including Robert Boyle and his assistant, Godfrey Haukweicz, continued these experiments in the 1680s with phosphorus and sulfur, but their efforts did not produce practical and inexpensive methods for generating fires.^[8] Matches of various kinds began to appear in Europe by about 1530.^[5] But the first modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by Jean Chancel, assistant to Professor Louis Jacques Thénard of Paris. The head of the match consisted of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar, and rubber. The match was ignited by dipping its tip in a small asbestos bottle filled with sulfuric acid.^[3] This kind of match was expensive and its usage was dangerous, so Chancel's matches did not become common. In London, matches meant for lighting cigars were introduced in 1849 by Heurtner who had a shop called the Lighthouse in the Strand. One version that he sold was called "Euperion" (sometimes "Empyrion") which was popular for kitchen use and nicknamed as "Hugh Perry" while another meant for outdoor use was called a "Vesuvian" (a similar version of which was patented by Samuel Jones in 1828 as a "Promethean").^[9] The Vesuvians or "flamers" were designed to work out of doors. The head was large and contained niter, charcoal and wood dust, and had a phosphorus tip. The handle was large and made of hardwood so as to burn vigorously and last for awhile. Some even had glass stems.^[10] Vesuvians and Prometheans had a bulb of sulfuric acid at the tip which had to be broken with pliers to start the reaction.^[11] Samuel Jones introduced fuzees for lighting cigars and pipes in 1832. A similar invention was patented in 1839 by John Stevens in America. In 1832, William Newton patented the "wax vesta", a wax stem that embedded cotton threads and had a tip of phosphorus. Variants known as "candle matches" were made by Savaresse and Merckel in 1836.^[10]

Friction matches[link]

In 1816, François Derosne produced a crude match tipped with phosphorus which he called a briquet phosphorique, which used a sulfur-tipped match to scrape inside a tube coated internally with phosphorus. It was good in theory but poor in practice.^[12]

Ignition of a match

The first "friction match" was invented in 1826 by English chemist John Walker, a chemist and druggist from Stockton-on-Tees. He experimented with "percussion powders" made up mainly of potassium chlorate. His early experiments led to a wood splint dipped in a paste of sulfur, gum, potassium chlorate, sugar and antimony trisulfide. The match was drawn between a fold of sandpaper to ignite it. Between 1827 and 1829, Walker made about 168 sales of his matches. It was however dangerous and flaming balls sometimes fell to the floor burning carpets and dresses, leading to their being banned in France and Germany.^[11] Walker either did not consider his invention important enough to patent or neglected it.^[7][13] In order for the splints to catch fire, they were often treated with sulfur and the odor was improved by the addition of camphor.^[7]

In 1829, Scots inventor Sir Isaac Holden invented an improved version of Walker's match and demonstrated it to his class at Castle Academy in Reading, Berkshire. Holden did not patent his invention and claimed that one of his pupils wrote to his father Samuel Jones, a chemist in London who commercialised his process.^[14] A version of Holden's match was patented by Samuel Jones, and these were sold as lucifer matches. These early matches had a number of problems- an initial violent reaction, an unsteady flame and unpleasant odor and fumes. Lucifers could ignite explosively, sometimes throwing sparks a considerable distance. Lucifers were manufactured in the United States by Ezekial Byam.^[7] The term "lucifer" persisted as slang in the 20th century (for example in the First World War song Pack Up Your Troubles) and in the Netherlands and Belgium today matches are still called lucifers.

Lucifers were however quickly replaced after the discovery in 1830 by Frenchman Charles Sauria who substituted the antimony sulfide with white phosphorus.^[15] These new phosphorus matches had to be kept in airtight metal boxes but became popular. In England, these phosphorus matches were called "Congreves" after Sir William Congreve (1772–1828) while they went by the name of "loco foco" in the United States. The earliest American patent for the phosphorus friction match was granted in 1836 to Alonzo Dwight Phillips of Springfield, Massachusetts. From 1830 to 1890 the composition of these matches remained largely unchanged although some improvements were made. In 1843 William Ashgard replaced the sulfur with beeswax, reducing the pungency of the fumes. This was replaced by paraffin in 1862 by Charles W. Smith, resulting in what were called "parlor matches". From 1870 the end of the splint was fireproofed by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals such as alum, sodium silicate and other salts resulting in what were commonly called as a "drunkard's match" and prevented the accidental burning of the user's fingers. Other advances were made for the mass manufacture of matches. Early matches were made from blocks of woods with cuts separating the splints but leaving their bases attached. Later versions were made in the form of thin combs. The splints would be broken away from the comb when required.^[10] A noiseless match was invented in 1836 by the Hungarian János Irinyi, who was a student of chemistry.^[16] An unsuccessful experiment by his professor, Meissner, gave Irinyi the idea to replace potassium chlorate with lead dioxide^[17] in the head of the phosphorus match.^[16] He liquefied phosphorus in warm water and shook it in a glass vial, until it became granulated. He mixed the phosphorus with lead and gum arabic, poured the paste-like mass into a jar, and dipped the pine sticks into the mixture and let them dry. When he tried them that evening, all of them lit evenly. Irinyi thus invented the noiseless match. He sold the invention to István Rómer, a match manufacturer. Rómer, a Hungarian pharmacist living in Vienna, bought the invention and production rights from Irinyi for 60 forints. Rómer became rich and Irinyi went on to publish articles and a textbook on chemistry, and founded several match factories.^[16]

The replacement of white phosphorus[link]

Unfortunately, those involved in the manufacture of the new phosphorus matches were afflicted with phossy jaw and other bone disorders,^[18] and there was enough white phosphorus in one pack to kill a person. Deaths and suicides from eating the heads of matches became frequent. The earliest report of phosphorus necrosis was made in 1845 by Lorinser in Vienna, and a New York surgeon published a pamphlet with notes on nine cases.^[19][20] Attempts were made to reduce the ill-effects on workers through the introduction of inspections and regulations. Anton Schrötter von Kristelli discovered in 1850 that heating white phosphorus at 250°C in an inert atmosphere produced a red allotropic form, which did not fume in contact with air. It was suggested that this would make a suitable substitute in match manufacture although it was slightly more expensive.^[21] Two French chemists, Henri Savene and Emile David Cahen, developed a safe match using phosphorus sesquisulfide that was patented in 1898. They proved that the substance was not poisonous, that it could be used in a "strike-anywhere" match, and that the match heads were not explosive.^[22] They patented a safety match composition in 1898 based on phosphorus sesquisulfide and potassium chlorate.^[22] Albright and Wilson developed a safe means of making commercial quantities of phosphorus sesquisulfide in the United Kingdom in 1899 and started selling it to match manufacturers.^[23][24] White phosphorus however continued to be used, and its serious effects led many countries to ban its use. Finland prohibited the use of white phosphorus in 1872 followed by Denmark in 1874, France in 1897, Switzerland in 1898 and Holland in 1901.^[19] An agreement, the Berne Convention, was reached at Bern, Switzerland, in September 1906, which banned the use of white phosphorus in matches.^[25] This required each country to pass laws prohibiting the use of white phosphorus in matches. Great Britain passed a law in 1908 prohibiting its use in matches after 31 December 1910. The United States did not pass a law, but instead placed a "punitive tax" on white phosphorus-based matches, one so high as to render their manufacture financially impractical, in 1913. India and Japan banned them in 1919, and China banned them in 1925.

New York Times report dated 29 January 1911

In the United States, the Diamond Match Company obtained the patent for sesquisulfide manufacture in 1900 for a sum of $100,000.^[19] In 1901 Albright and Wilson started making phosphorus sesquisulfide at their Niagara Falls, New York plant for the US market, but American manufacturers continued to use white phosphorus matches.^[22] The Niagara Falls plant made them until 1910, when the United States Congress forbade the shipment of white phosphorus matches in interstate commerce.^[23] At the same time the largest producer of matches in the US granted free use, in the US, of its phosphorus sesquisulfide safety match patents.^[23] President William Howard Taft of the US then wrote publicly to the Diamond Match Company asking them to release the patent for the good of mankind, which they did in 1911.^[26] In 1913 Albright and Wilson also started making red phosphorus at Niagara Falls.^[23]

The strike-anywhere match[link]

Early friction matches made with white phosphorus as well as those made from phosphorus sesquisulfide could be struck on any suitable surface. They were particularly popular in the United States even when safety matches had become common in Europe.^[24] Strike-anywhere matches are banned on both passenger aircraft and cargo-only aircraft flight under 'dangerous goods' classification., "U.N. 1331, Matches, strike-anywhere;"^[27]

The safety match[link]

"Household" safety matches

The dangers of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches led to the development of the "hygienic" or safety match. The major innovation in its development was the use of red phosphorus, not on the head of the match but instead on a specially designed striking surface. The idea was developed in 1844 by the Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch (1788–1862) and was improved by Johan Edvard Lundström (1815–1888). Pasch patented the use of red phosphorus in the striking surface. He found that this could ignite heads that did not need to contain white phosphorus. Johan Edvard and his younger brother Carl Frans Lundström (1823–1917) started a large-scale match industry in Jönköping around 1847, but the improved safety match was not introduced until around 1850–55. The Lundström brothers had obtained a sample of red phosphorus matches from Arthur Albright at The Great Exhibition, held at The Crystal Palace in 1851^[28] but had misplaced it, and therefore they did not try the matches until just before the Paris Exhibition of 1855 when they found that the matches were still usable.^[28] In 1858 their company produced around 12 million match boxes.^[24]

The safety of true "safety matches" is derived from the separation of the reactive ingredients between a match head on the end of a paraffin-impregnated splint and the special striking surface (in addition to the safety aspect of replacing the white phosphorus with red phosphorus). The idea for separating the chemicals had been introduced in 1859 in the form of two-headed matches known in France as Alumettes Androgynes. There was however a risk of the heads rubbing each other accidentally in their box. These were sticks with one end made of potassium chlorate and the other of red phosphorus. They had to be broken and the heads rubbed together.^[24] Such dangers were removed when the striking surface was moved to the outside of the box. The striking surface on modern matchboxes is typically composed of 25% powdered glass or other abrasive material, 50% red phosphorus, 5% neutralizer, 4% carbon black and 16% binder; and the match head is typically composed of 45–55% potassium chlorate, with a little sulfur and starch, a neutralizer (ZnO or CaCO₃), 20–40% of siliceous filler, diatomite and glue.^[29] Some heads contain antimony(III) sulfide to make them burn more vigorously. Safety matches ignite due to the extreme reactivity of phosphorus with the potassium chlorate in the match head. When the match is struck the phosphorus and chlorate mix in a small amount forming something similar to the explosive Armstrong's mixture which ignites due to the friction.

The Swedes long held a virtual worldwide monopoly on safety matches, with the industry mainly situated in Jönköping, in 1903 called Jönköpings & Vulcans Tändsticksfabriks AB.^[30] In France, they sold the rights to their safety match patent to Coigent Père & Fils of Lyon, but Coigent contested the payment in the French courts, on the basis that the invention was known in Vienna before the Lundström brothers patented it.^[30] The British match manufacturer Bryant and May visited Jönköping in 1858 to try to obtain a supply of safety matches, but it was unsuccessful. In 1862 it established its own factory and bought the rights for the British safety match patent from the Lundström brothers.^[30]

Safety matches are classified as dangerous goods, "U.N. 1944, Matches, safety". They are not universally forbidden on aircraft; however, they must be declared as dangerous goods and individual airlines and/or countries may impose tighter restrictions.^[27]

Special-purpose matches[link]

Storm matches, also known as lifeboat matches or flare matches, are often included in survival kits. They have a strikable tip similar to a normal match, but much of the stick is coated or impregnated with a combustible compound and waterproofed with wax, and will burn even in a strong wind. This match was used in the first mass-produced Molotov cocktails.

Matchbooks and matchboxes[link]

The development of a specialized "matchbook" with both matches and a striking surface occurred in the 1890s with the American Joshua Pusey, who sold his patent to the Diamond Match Company. The Diamond Match Company was later bought by Bryant and May.

The hobby of collecting match-related items, such as matchcovers and matchbox labels, is known as phillumeny.

See also[link]

A Brookesia micra chameleon—one of the smallest reptiles—on a match head. Matches are sometimes used for scale in photographs.

• Hendrick Lucifer
• Ivar Kreuger
• John Leonard Orr
• Lighter
• London matchgirls strike of 1888
• Permanent Match
• Phillumeny
• Swedish Match
• The Little Match Girl
• Vesta case

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Threlfall, Richard E., (1951). The Story of 100 Years of Phosphorus Making: 1851–1951. Oldbury: Albright & Wilson Ltd.

Further reading[link]

• Beaver, Patrick, (1985). The Match Makers: The Story of Bryant & May. London: Henry Melland Limited. ISBN 0-907929-11-7
• Emsley, John, (2000). The Shocking History of Phosphorus: A Biography of the Devil's Element. Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-333-76638-5
• Steele, H. Thomas (1987). Close Cover Before Striking: The Golden Age of Matchbook Art. Abeville Press

External links[link]

Look up match in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Match

• "History of Chemical Matches". Chemistry.about.com. http://chemistry.about.com/od/everydaychemistry/a/matches.htm. 
• "The History of Matches". Inventors.about.com. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blmatch.htm. 
• "Making 125,000 Matches An Hour", August 1946, Popular Science article on the modern mass production of wooden stem matches
• "History of matchbooks". Matchcovers.com/first100.htm. http://www.matchcovers.com/first100.htm. 
• "The Rathkamp Matchcover Society". matchcover.org. http://www.matchcover.org. library.thinkquest.org/23062/match.htm
• "Lighting a Match", Royal Institution video on the ignition process

v t e Firecraft Tinder Kindling Wood fuel/Firewood Ember/Spark Campfire Wood ash Topics Combustion Friction fire Autoignition temperature (kindling point) Smoulder Early starters Hand drill Bow drill (Pump drill) Fire saw Fire plough Burning glass (parabolic mirror) Flint & Fire striker Fire piston Modern starters Match (lucifer) (Black match) Lighter Electric match Flint spark lighter Ferro rod (Ferrocerium) Other equipment Tinderbox Char cloth Fire ring Fire pan Punk (fireworks) Related articles Control of fire by early humans Native American use of fire Pyrolysis Survival skills Portal:Fire

Eddie Guerrero
Ring name(s)	Black Tiger II[1] Eddy Guerrero[2] El Caliente[1] Gory Guerrero, Jr.[1] Máscara Mágica[1]
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Billed weight	228 lb (103 kg)[3]
Born	(1967-10-09)October 9, 1967[1] El Paso, Texas[2][3]
Died	November 13, 2005(2005-11-13) (aged 38) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Billed from	El Paso, Texas[2][3]
Trained by	Gory Guerrero
Debut	September 18, 1987[1][4]

Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero Llanes^[5] (October 9, 1967 – November 13, 2005) ^[1] was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family.^[2] He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions. In the United States,^[2] Guerrero wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Guerrero's gimmick was that of "Latino Heat", a crafty, resourceful wrestler who would do anything to win a match. His catchphrase became "I Lie! I Cheat! I Steal!," which was used in one of his entrance themes. Guerrero partly used this phrase in his autobiography Cheating Death, Stealing Life.

Despite being a villain for most of his career, he got over in and outside the ring being the youngest, yet most popular and successful of the Guerrero brothers. Guerrero was widely regarded as one of the most respected and gifted technical wrestlers in history. Throughout his career, Guerrero encountered various substance abuse problems outside of wrestling, including alcoholism and an addiction to painkillers. His real-life problems were sometimes integrated into his storylines. Notwithstanding these issues, Guerrero won 23 titles during his career, including the WWE Grand Slam Championship.

Early life[link]

Eddie Guerrero became a wrestler, while his uncle Enrique Llanes (Yañez) and cousin Javier Llanes (Yañez) wrestled in Mexico. As a boy, Eddie Guerrero's father allowed him and Chavo Jr. to wrestle one another during intermissions in the wrestling promotions that Gory held. Gory ran wrestling promotions for nearly 15 years in the El Paso Coliseum.

Eddie Guerrero was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where he graduated from Jefferson High School and attended the University of New Mexico as well as New Mexico Highlands University on an athletic scholarship where he wrestled collegiately before going to Mexico to train as a professional wrestler, which he loved.^[4]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (1992–1994)[link]

In Mexico, he wrestled mainly for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), teaming with El Hijo del Santo as the new version of La Pareja Atómica (The Atomic Pair), the tag team of Gory Guerrero and El Santo.

After Guerrero turned on Santo and allied with Art Barr as La Pareja del Terror (The Pair of Terror), the duo became arguably the most hated tag team in lucha libre history.^[1] Along with Barr, Konnan, Chicano Power, and Madonna’s Boyfriend, Guerrero formed Los Gringos Locos (The Crazy Americans), a villainous stable.^[1][6] Guerrero later said that no matter how many people joined Los Gringos Locos, the stable was all about Art. Locos feuded mostly with El Hijo del Santo and his partner Octagón, eventually ending in a Hair vs. Mask match at the first lucha pay-per-view in America, When Worlds Collide, which they lost.^[7]

Guerrero and Barr's first break would come when they were noticed in late 1994 by the owner of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), Paul Heyman, and were approached about wrestling for him in 1995. Barr, however, died before he could join ECW with Guerrero.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1993–1996)[link]

In 1993, Guerrero began wrestling in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he was known as the second incarnation of Black Tiger. He became more successful upon his return when he won the Best of the Super Juniors 1996 tournament of junior heavyweights. He received a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion The Great Sasuke at NJPW Skydiving J but lost the match.^[8]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995)[link]

Guerrero won the ECW World Television Championship from 2 Cold Scorpio on his debut in ECW,^[9][10] and went on to have a series of acclaimed matches with Dean Malenko before they both signed with World Championship Wrestling later that year.^[11] Guerrero lost the ECW Television Championship to Malenko on July 21 of that year,^[12] but Guerrero regained the title on July 28.^[10] Guerrero lost the ECW Television Championship back to 2 Cold Scorpio on August 25.^[13] The next day, they had their last match which ended in a draw in a two out of three falls match at the ECW Arena. After the match, the locker room emptied and the two were carried around the ring by their fellow wrestlers while the crowd chanted "please don't go".^[14]

World Championship Wrestling (1995–2000)[link]

Return (1995)[link]

Guerrero returned to WCW in late 1995 along with Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit with whom he had worked with in NJPW and ECW.^[11][15] During his first few pay-per-view events, he competed in dark matches against Alex Wright.^[16] His first televised pay-per-view appearance was at World War 3 where he competed in the 3-ring, 60-man World War 3 battle royal for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Guerrero was one of the final nine men in the battle royal until he was tossed out of the ring by Four Horsemen members.^[17][18] At Starrcade 1995, Guerrero represented WCW in a WCW vs. NJPW World Cup tournament. He lost to Shinjiro Otani in the match, but WCW went on to win the series.^[19]

United States and Cruiserweight Champion (1996–1997)[link]

In 1996, Guerrero received several shots at the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship against Konnan at Uncensored^[20] and Ric Flair at Hog Wild.^[21] He feuded with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen during 1996 after Guerrero's partner Arn Anderson turned on him during a tag team match against Ric Flair and Randy Savage.^[22] In late 1996, he feuded with Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) after defeating him in a match at Clash of the Champions XXXIII.^[23] He started feuding with DDP to steal his nickname of "Lord of the Ring" but lost.^[24] Guerrero participated in a tournament for the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and defeated DDP in the final round at Starrcade 1996 to win the United States title.^[25]

In 1997, Guerrero defended the United States Heavyweight Championship against Scott Norton at Clash of the Champions XXXIV,^[26] Syxx in a ladder match at Souled Out,^[27] and Chris Jericho at SuperBrawl VII.^[28] His reign came to an end at Uncensored when Dean Malenko defeated him for the title.^[29]

After losing the United States Championship, Guerrero feuded with Jericho focusing on Jericho's WCW World Cruiserweight Championship. He challenged Jericho for the title at Clash of the Champions XXXV but lost.^[30] Guerrero demanded a rematch for the title. In the opening match of Fall Brawl 1997, Guerrero defeated Jericho to win the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship.^[31] He dropped the Cruiserweight title to Rey Mysterio, Jr. at Halloween Havoc in a Title vs. Mask match where Mysterio's mask was also on the line.^[32] On the November 10 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, he regained the Cruiserweight title back from Mysterio,^[33] and made a successful title defense against Mysterio at World War 3.^[34] After retaining the title against Dean Malenko in the opening bout of Starrcade 1997,^[35] Guerrero dropped the title to Último Dragón the following day on the December 29 episode of Nitro.^[36]

Feuding with Chavo Guerrero (1998)[link]

Guerrero feuded with Booker T. On the March 9, 1998 episode of Nitro, Guerrero's nephew Chavo Guerrero lost to Booker in a match. After the match, Guerrero suplexed Chavo to teach him a lesson.^[37] On the March 12 episode of WCW Thunder, he defeated his nephew Chavo in a match and forced him to become his "slave".^[38] At Uncensored, Chavo was forced to support Guerrero when he faced Booker T for Booker's WCW World Television Championship. Guerrero lost the match after receiving a missile dropkick.^[39] Guerrero and Chavo feuded with Último Dragón. Chavo lost to Dragón at Spring Stampede.^[40] At Slamboree, Guerrero defeated Dragón despite interference from Chavo.^[41] After the match, Chavo kissed Eddie and began to display insane behavior. At The Great American Bash, Chavo got an upset victory over Guerrero.^[42] They faced each other in a Hair vs. Hair match at Bash at the Beach which Guerrero won. Continuing to show his crazy behavior Chavo would shave his own head while Guerrero looked on in disbelief.^[43] Guerrero saved Chavo from beatings by Stevie Ray, seeming that he would align with Chavo but he wanted his release.^[44]

Latino World Order (1998)[link]

Despite his success and popularity, Guerrero had been one of many wrestlers who were frustrated at never being given a chance to be main event stars in WCW. These frustrations came to a head when Guerrero requested that WCW President Eric Bischoff either push his character or give him a raise for family reasons. Bischoff responded by allegedly throwing coffee at Guerrero (however, in his autobiography, Guerrero states that Bischoff accidentally knocked his coffee off the table and that it was a complete accident that he was hit). Furious, Guerrero demanded Bischoff release him from his contract on a live episode of Nitro. Guerrero then left the company for a period of months, angry at Bischoff for what he had done. Guerrero later returned to WCW, leading to the belief that maybe Guerrero's angry speeches against Bischoff were actually a work (Guerrero later confirmed it to be a worked shoot). Guerrero would later contradict himself on WWE's DVD Monday Night War claiming that he tried to put personal differences aside for the good of the company, yet found himself angry and outraged once more because of Bischoff's supposed continued refusal to elevate Guerrero and other similar wrestlers. He let Brian Adams pin him and get an upset victory in a match.^[44]

On-screen, Guerrero responded to Bischoff's actions by forming the Latino World Order (LWO), which was a take-off of Bischoff's New World Order.^[45] The group was an answer to Bischoff's "refusal" to push Latino wrestlers in ways they felt they deserved.^[45] The LWO was formed in October when Guerrero returned to WCW, with Héctor Garza and Damien.^[44] The group eventually grew to encompass almost all the Mexican wrestlers working for WCW at the time. They mainly feuded with Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Billy Kidman because they wanted Misterio to join the group. He faced Kidman in a match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship but Misterio interfered and helped Kidman win the match and keep the title.^[44] However, Guerrero was involved in a serious car accident on New Year's Day, 1999 that cut short the LWO storyline. Guerrero survived the accident and returned to wrestling in a matter of months.

Filthy Animals (1999)[link]

After his return in the summer of 1999, Eddie was the founding member of the Filthy Animals stable with Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Konnan (later growing to include Juventud Guerrera, Billy Kidman, and Disco Inferno).^[46] They feuded with the Dead Pool (Insane Clown Posse and Vampiro). They received two straight victories over the Dead Pool at Road Wild and Fall Brawl.^[47][48] They next feuded with The Revolution (Shane Douglas, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn). Guerrero was victorious over Saturn by disqualification in a singles match at Halloween Havoc.^[49] At Mayhem, the Animals lost to Revolution in a mixed tag team elimination match.^[50] When Vince Russo was fired as WCW booker and replaced by Kevin Sullivan, Guerrero asked for and received a release from his contract on January 19.^[51] He signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 2000 along with WCW stars Benoit, Malenko, and Saturn.

World Wrestling Federation (2000–2001)[link]

The Radicalz (2000)[link]

Guerrero and along with Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn debuted in the WWF on the January 31, 2000 episode of Raw is War as The Radicalz, interfering in a match involving the New Age Outlaws.^[52] During his first match with the WWF, a tag team match with the Radicalz against the Outlaws, Guerrero performed a Frog Splash off the top rope and severely injured his elbow on the landing. As a result, he was sidelined for several weeks.^[53]

Latino Heat (2000)[link]

Guerrero as European Champion with Chyna at the 2000 King of the Ring.

In March 2000, Guerrero began pursuing the affections of Chyna, who he referred to as his "Mamacita". Chyna initially rejected his advances, but allied with him following WrestleMania 2000, declaring that she could not resist his "Latino Heat."^[53][54] Guerrero won his first WWF title on the April 3, 2000 episode of Raw is War by defeating Chris Jericho for the WWF European Championship with help from Chyna.^[55][56] After Chyna abandoned Lita to be attacked by the Dudley Boyz, he and Chyna began a feud with Essa Rios and Lita, ending in a European title defense at Backlash, which was also billed as the night of Guerrero's prom (he was said to have just earned a GED). Guerrero defeated Rios after arriving at ringside in a 1957 Chevrolet, even wrestling in his tuxedo pants and a bow tie.^[53][57] Guerrero successfully retained the title against former Radicalz friends Saturn and Malenko in a Triple Threat match at Judgment Day,^[53][58] before finally losing the title to Saturn at Fully Loaded.^[53]

Over the next few months, friction began to build between Guerrero and Chyna. Chyna was upset when Guerrero pinned her to advance in the King of the Ring tournament.^[53] At SummerSlam, Chyna won the WWF Intercontinental Championship in a mixed tag match.^[53][59] They had also inserted themselves in the drama between Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Kurt Angle. Guerrero claimed to not mind and then begged Commissioner Mick Foley to let him take part in a title defense between Chyna and Angle on the September 4 episode of Raw is War, claiming he was afraid that Angle would injure Chyna. After Angle knocked Chyna down with the title belt, Guerrero "accidentally" pinned her to win his first Intercontinental Championship while trying to revive her.^[53][56][60] Chyna became visibly uncomfortable as Guerrero began to cheat in order to retain his title, while Guerrero was upset that Chyna was posing for Playboy magazine, even trying to invade the Playboy Mansion to stop the photo shoot.^[53] Just when it appeared that Chyna would leave Guerrero, he proposed to her and she accepted.^[53] At Unforgiven, Chyna helped Guerrero in retaining his title against Rikishi.^[53][61] The engagement was called off when Guerrero was caught showering with two of The Godfather's hos (one was Victoria) claiming that "Two Mamacitas are better than one!"^[53]

The Radicalz reunion (2000–2001)[link]

Guerrero turned into a villain as a result of the incident. Then, the Radicalz reunited and feuded with the reformed D-Generation X (Chyna, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, and K-Kwik). They defeated DX at Survivor Series in an elimination tag team match and assisted Triple H in his match with Stone Cold Steve Austin.^[53][62] Guerrero was later defeated by Gunn for the Intercontinental Championship, with help from Chyna.^[53] At Rebellion, Guerrero and Malenko lost to Gunn and Chyna.^[53][63] Benoit left the group to focus on a singles career while the rest of the Radicalz feuded with Lita and the Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff). At Armageddon, the Radicalz defeated the Hardyz and Lita in an elimination tag team match.^[53][64]

In early 2001, Guerrero feuded with Chris Jericho, Benoit, and X-Pac over Jericho's Intercontinental Championship. At No Way Out, the four men faced each other in a Fatal Four-Way match, which Jericho won.^[65] Guerrero focused on the European Championship, feuding with the champion Test defeating him at WrestleMania X-Seven to win his second European Championship with help from Saturn and Malenko.^[66][67] In April, Radicalz feuded with Test and his partners. Guerrero eventually left the Radicalz, siding with the Hardy Boyz and Lita. At this point, Guerrero developed an addiction to pain medication stemming from his 1999 car accident and in May 2001 was sent to rehab. To explain his absence, a storyline was created where Guerrero was "injured" by Prince Albert in a match.^[68] On November 9, 2001, he was arrested for drunk driving and was subsequently released by the WWF three days later.

Independent circuit (2001–2002)[link]

Guerrero started wrestling on the independent circuit after his release from WWF. On February 23, he faced fellow Mexican Super Crazy on the debut show of Ring of Honor known as The Era of Honor Begins to crown the first-ever IWA Intercontinental Champion. Guerrero lost the match.^[69][70] On February 24, he debuted in the Australian promotion World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) at The Revolution beating the champion Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis in a Triple Threat match for the WWA International Cruiserweight Championship.^[69][71] On March 1, he defeated the champion CM Punk and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship.^[69][72] He dropped the title back to Punk one day later on March 2.^[69] He vacated the WWA Cruiserweight title in April 2002 after returning to WWF.^[69]

Return To World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2002–2005)[link]

Return to Raw (2002)[link]

Guerrero returned to WWF on the April 1, 2002 episode of Raw, attacking Rob Van Dam.^[73][74] He feuded with Van Dam defeating him for his second WWF Intercontinental Championship at Backlash.^[75][76] After retaining the title against Van Dam at Insurrextion^[73][77] and Judgment Day,^[78][79] he finally lost the belt to Van Dam on the May 27 episode of Raw in a ladder match although a drunk fan jumped in the ring and knocked down the ladder that Guerrero was climbing, which caused both Guerrero and Van Dam to think up some new moves to continue the match without any mistakes.^[78][80] Guerrero then feuded with Steve Austin, but Austin left the WWE before a match could take place.^[78] Chris Benoit returned to WWE the night Guerrero lost the title and reunited with him. Guerrero and Benoit feuded with Ric Flair for a while and Guerrero even lost a match to Flair at King of the Ring.^[78][81] Guerrero lost a match to The Rock, challenging him for the WWE Undisputed Championship after The Rock sang a version of "La Bamba" with the words changed to insult Guerrero on the July 29 episode of Raw.^[78][82]

Los Guerreros (2002–2003)[link]

Guerrero lies on a corner, one of his characteristic traits.

On August 1, 2002, Guerrero and Benoit began to wrestle exclusively for WWE's SmackDown! brand. Guerrero feuded with Edge, to whom he lost at SummerSlam.^[83] Eddie continued his feud with Edge, whom he defeated at Unforgiven; they then had a No Disqualification match two weeks after Unforgiven on SmackDown which Edge won thus ending the rivalry.^[84] With Benoit focusing on Kurt Angle, Guerrero aligned himself with his nephew Chavo, forming the tag team Los Guerreros.^[85][86] In contrast to a previous WCW storyline with his nephew, Chavo fully agreed with his uncle as their slogan stated "We lie, we cheat, and we steal, but at least we're honest about it." In order to push the new tag team, vignettes were produced, which included things such as the two finagling their way into a rich lady's house and throwing a pool party.^[85]

The duo entered the eight-team tournament for the new WWE Tag Team Championship, sneaking past Rikishi and Mark Henry in the opening round,^[85][86][87] before starting a feud with the newly formed tag team of Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. In one of the team's definitive moments, Chavo told Benoit that his former friend Guerrero was assaulted by his tag team partner Angle. Benoit ran to make the save, only to have himself locked inside a room. Guerrero then appeared in the room and assaulted Benoit with a steel chair. Benoit and Angle managed to overcome their differences and eventually defeated Los Guerreros in the tournament semi-finals.^[85][86][88] Later on, Benoit and Angle won the title. Benoit and Angle then fought for a trophy for being the first WWE Tag Team Champion. Much to Benoit's surprise, Los Guerreros helped him win the match.

At Survivor Series, Los Guerreros faced the new champions Edge and Rey Mysterio and the team of Angle and Benoit for the title. Eddie made Mysterio submit to The Lasso From El Paso to win their first WWE Tag Team Championship.^[89][90] They were defeated by Team Angle (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) on the February 6, 2003 episode of SmackDown!.^[91][92] Los Guerreros and Team Angle began feuding with each other. Los Guerreros participated at WrestleMania XIX as contenders for the Tag Team Title, along with the team of Benoit and Rhyno. Both teams lost to Haas and Benjamin in a Triple Threat match.^[93] At Backlash, Los Guerreros lost to Team Angle in a rematch.^[94]

Teaming with Tajiri (2003)[link]

Five days prior to Judgment Day, Chavo tore his biceps, forcing Eddie to look for another partner. He chose Tajiri. They won the WWE Tag Team Championship, Guerrero's second and Tajiri's first at Judgment Day by defeating Team Angle in a ladder match.^[95][96] The following week, Guerrero and Tajiri managed to retain their title by cheating.^[91][97] In addition, they also defeated Roddy Piper and his protegè Sean O'Haire in Madison Square Garden.^[91][98] After Guerrero and Tajiri lost the titles to Team Angle on the July 3 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero turned on Tajiri, slamming his partner through the windshield of his low-rider truck. The next Smackdown! Guerrero said he did it because during the match Tajiri had accidentally hit his low-rider. Despite being portrayed as the heel, when Guerrero asked the audience if they blamed him for doing it, the audience responded by yelling "No!" ^[91][99]

United States Champion (2003–2004)[link]

Guerrero in 2004.

In July 2003, Guerrero competed in a tournament for the United States Championship. He managed to advance to the final round, defeating Último Dragón and Billy Gunn in the process,^[91] where he would meet Chris Benoit.^[100][101] At Vengeance, Guerrero turned to his cheating tactics, hitting Benoit with the belt at one point in the match. Guerrero tried to get Benoit in trouble by placing the title belt on top of the unconscious Benoit. It did not work, however, since he knocked out the referee earlier with a belt shot to the kidneys. The match ended with interference and a Gore from Rhyno, Benoit's own partner, who was furious at the team's failure. Guerrero himself said that this was a major point in the character of Latino Heat, since he himself realized that the fans wanted to see him lie, cheat, and steal. Guerrero pinned Benoit and won the WWE United States Championship.^[102][103]

At SummerSlam, Guerrero retained his title by defeating Rhyno, Benoit, and Tajiri in a Fatal Four-Way match.^[91][104] He turned face again by engaging in a rivalry with John Cena. On the September 11 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero challenged Cena to a "Latino Heat" Parking Lot Brawl match for the United States Championship, which Guerrero won with help from his returning nephew, Chavo.^[91][105] The next week, Los Guerreros defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (previously Team Angle) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship, making Eddie a double champion.

Guerrero engaged in a feud with The Big Show, which involved Guerrero giving the Big Show some laxative laced burritos and then later spraying the Big Show from a sewage truck.^{[91][106][107]} The feud ended when Guerrero dropped the United States title to Big Show at No Mercy.^[108] Four days later, Los Guerreros lost the Tag Team Championship to The Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny).^{[86][91][109]} They began feuding with The Basham Brothers, but failed to regain the titles at Survivor Series.^[110] As Los Guerreros attempted to regain the tag team title, things began to go downhill between Chavo and Guerrero and animosity began to build. Chavo then attacked and turned on Eddie after he suffered a beating from The Bashams.^{[86][111][112]} Guerrero feuded with Chavo and defeated him at the Royal Rumble to settle their feud.^[113]

WWE Champion (2004)[link]

Guerrero, with close friend Chris Benoit celebrating as reigning World Champions at WrestleMania XX.

When Chris Benoit was traded to Raw after winning the Royal Rumble, using his title shot to go for Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship, Eddie won a 15-man Royal Rumble style match on the January 29, 2004 episode of SmackDown! to earn a shot at the WWE Championship.^[111][114] After becoming the number one contender, Guerrero elevated himself to main event status and began feuding with the WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar. At No Way Out, Guerrero defeated Lesnar in the main event to win the WWE Championship.^[115][116] His next feud was with Kurt Angle, whom he defeated at WrestleMania XX to retain his title in his first big defense.^[117] At the end of this event, Guerrero celebrated in the ring with longtime friend Chris Benoit, who had just won the World Heavyweight Championship.^[118]

In March, he started a feud with fellow Texan John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) after JBL interrupted Eddie's match with Booker T.^[111][119] At Judgment Day, Guerrero defended his WWE title against JBL and retained the title after getting himself disqualified, hitting JBL with a low blow.^[120] At The Great American Bash, Guerrero defended the title against JBL in a Texas Bullrope match. JBL won after Angle (who was General Manager of SmackDown! at the time) reversed the decision after Guerrero appeared to have retained the title.^[121] On the July 8 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero pulled a switcharoo with Shannon Moore, who was wrestling as "El Gran Luchadore" and wore the costume.^[111][122] The next week on SmackDown!, Guerrero faced JBL in a steel cage match for the WWE title where El Gran Luchadore appeared again and cost Guerrero the match; he later revealed himself as Kurt Angle. Guerrero continued his feud with Angle again.^[111][123]

At SummerSlam, Guerrero lost to Angle after submitting to his ankle lock.^[111][124] Guerrero then allied himself with the Big Show. Each week Angle and his new allies Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak began targeting Guerrero and Big Show. Guerrero defeated Reigns in a singles match at No Mercy.^[111][125] General Manager Theodore Long booked a Survivor Series Elimination match between a team led by Guerrero and a team led by Angle. Guerrero's team consisted of himself, Big Show, John Cena (replacing the originally chosen Rey Mysterio), and Rob Van Dam. At Survivor Series, Guerrero's team defeated Angle's team.^[126] Guerrero, along with Booker T and The Undertaker, then challenged JBL for a WWE Championship rematch. Along the way, Guerrero found a partner in Booker T. At Armageddon, Guerrero and Booker's initial teamwork broke away, and the match ended with JBL pinning Booker following the Clothesline From Hell.^[111][127] Afterwards, Guerrero and Booker briefly and unsuccessfully attempted to win the Tag Team Championship.^[111][128]

Teaming and feuding with Rey Mysterio (2005)[link]

At No Way Out, Eddie teamed up with longtime friend and sometimes rival, Rey Mysterio and defeated The Basham Brothers to win his final title, the WWE Tag Team Championship for a fourth time, with it being Mysterio's third reign.^[129][130] Many expected the new champions to defend their title at WrestleMania 21, but after encouragement from Chavo,^[131][132] Guerrero challenged Mysterio to a one-on-one match instead so they could "bring the house down".^[131][133] The two wrestled a match at WrestleMania with Mysterio getting the win. Although visibly frustrated, Guerrero congratulated his partner.^[134] After several mishaps in the weeks following WrestleMania, the growing tension between Guerrero and Mysterio finally erupted when they lost their tag team championship to the new team MNM (Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury) on the April 21 episode of SmackDown!.^[135] Although the next week they received a rematch to regain the title, Guerrero turned heel once again by abandoning his partner, whom he had considered "his family" earlier in the show.^[136]

Guerrero and Mysterio with the WWE Tag Team Championship belts.

At the end of one episode of SmackDown!, he attacked his former tag team partner, Mysterio, leaving him bruised and bloody after suplexing him onto a set of steel steps. Guerrero, having turned heel, then adopted a new, somewhat sociopathic gimmick. During this time, he also stopped driving his low-riders down the ring and walked to the ring with a frown on his face, and reverted to using the Lasso from El Paso as his finishing move.^[131] At Judgment Day, Guerrero lost to Mysterio by disqualification after hitting Mysterio with a chair.^[137]

On the June 30 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero threatened to reveal a secret about Mysterio and his son Dominick. The storyline grew to involve the families of both men, with both sides pleading for Guerrero not to reveal the secret.^[138] Mysterio defeated Guerrero again at The Great American Bash, a match with a stipulation that if Guerrero lost, he would not tell the secret.^[139] Yet Guerrero revealed the secret anyway on the following episode of SmackDown! - telling Dominick and the audience that Guerrero was his real father. In the following weeks, Guerrero revealed the details of the secret in a series of what he called "Eddie's Bedtime Stories."^[140] During that time he now had a dark comical gimmick. He claimed that he had a child out of wedlock (Dominick) while his marriage was going through hard times. He claimed he then allowed Mysterio and his wife, who were "having trouble conceiving", to adopt the child as their own.^[131] At SummerSlam, Guerrero lost a ladder match over Dominick's custody to Mysterio.^[141] Their feud ended when Guerrero gained a victory over Mysterio in a steel cage match (even with commentator Tazz commenting "the monkey is off your back now I guess").^[142]

Final days (2005)[link]

Following his feud with Rey Mysterio, Guerrero was named number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship and given a title match with Batista. Despite this, Guerrero quickly proclaimed himself to be Batista's friend. Batista was well aware of Guerrero's sneaky reputation, and despite eventually accepting his friendship (initially to keep an eye on him), Batista would continually play mind games with Guerrero to expose his true intentions. A series of matches with MNM only supported Batista's suspicions that Guerrero was up to no good, as Guerrero appeared to have reverted to his cheating ways.^[131] In response to Batista's suspicions, Guerrero helped Batista win a match against his tag team partners, John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Christian.^[143] Batista defeated Guerrero at No Mercy to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in what would be Guerrero's last pay-per-view match. During the match, Guerrero struggled with a decision about whether or not to use a steel chair to secure the victory, eventually opting not to use it and losing as a result.^[144] Though the two demonstrated mutual respect after the match, Guerrero seemed displeased by the loss. Guerrero told Batista that he realized how low he had sunk since losing the Championship in 2004, having attacked his best friend Rey Mysterio. Guerrero told Batista that shaking his hand at No Mercy had returned his respect to him.^[131] This turned Guerrero face again.

Guerrero wrestled his final match on the November 11 episode of SmackDown!, defeating Mr. Kennedy to qualify for a place on the SmackDown! team at the Survivor Series ^[131][145] Randy Orton was named as the official replacement for Guerrero on the team.

Other media[link]

On March 13, 2004 (before WrestleMania XX), Guerrero (WWE Champion), along with The Big Show (United States Champion), Trish Stratus and Chris Jericho, made their guest appearances on MADtv as they "beat up" Jay Leno (Frank Caliendo) while Tonight Show Band leader Kevin Eubanks (Aries Spears) watched.

There have also been several DVDs and books released about his life and career, including Cheating Death, Stealing Life — The Eddie Guerrero Story (DVD, 2004), Cheating Death, Stealing Life — The Eddie Guerrero Story (book, 2005), and Viva La Raza: The Legacy of Eddie Guerrero (DVD 2008). In addition, the song "We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal" that he performed with Chavo was released on the WWE Originals CD.

Guerrero's catch phrase during the later part of his career with WWE was "Viva La Raza" (which is Spanish for "Long Live the Race"). In the mid parts of his career Guerrero took the title of "Latino Heat", which was also his theme song in the early 2000s

Guerrero had appeared in many games like WCW/NWO Revenge, WWF No Mercy, WWF Smackdown 2, WWF Smackdown!: Just Bring It. WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth, WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain, WWE Day of Reckoning, WWE SmackDown! vs Raw, WWE Day of Reckoning 2, and WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. He still also appears in various WWE games as a WWE Legend, such as WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2007, the PSP version of WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008, WWE All-Stars and WWE '12.

Personal life[link]

Guerrero is survived by his widow Vickie Guerrero. The two married on April 24, 1990^[146] and had two daughters: Shaul Marie Guerrero (born October 14, 1990)^[147] and Sherilyn Amber Guerrero (born July 8, 1995).

Guerrero also has another daughter; Kaylie Marie Guerrero (born 2002) with a woman named Tara Mahoney. He was separated from Vickie at the time, however Eddie had split from Tara before Kaylie was born. He reconciled with Vickie soon afterward, and they renewed their wedding vows.

Guerrero was a born-again Christian.^{[citation needed]}

Death[link]

On November 13, 2005, Guerrero was found unconscious in his hotel room (The Marriott City Center) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by his nephew, Chavo. Chavo attempted CPR, but Eddie Guerrero was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived on the scene. He was 38 years old. An autopsy revealed that Guerrero died as a result of acute heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Guerrero's wife Vickie Guerrero claimed that he had been unwell in the week preceding his death. On the November 30 episode of WWE Byte This!, Chavo said that Guerrero had been working hard and was at peak physical fitness as a result, doing cardiovascular and weight training exercises every day.

The episodes of Raw on November 14, 2005 and SmackDown! on November 18, 2005 each aired as tributes to Guerrero. No WWE employees were forced to perform, although several matches took place, including one featuring Chavo, who finished the match with his uncle's frog splash. Raw started off with all the superstars and several personnel on stage, as Vince McMahon addressed the live crowd before finishing with a ten-bell salute. In addition to the Raw and SmackDown tribute shows, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling dedicated the pay-per-view TNA Genesis (which aired the evening of his death) to Guerrero.^[148] while Ring of Honor named their next show "Night of Tribute."^[149] Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), WWE's former developmental territory, also paid tribute to Guerrero on their television taping following his death. Many of the wrestlers there wore arm bands with "E.G." on them. Eventually, other wrestlers, primarily his nephew Chavo and friends Mysterio and Christian, paid tribute to him in their matches by using the Frog Splash, Eddie's finisher. Combat Zone Wrestling also paid tribute to Guerrero with a ten-bell salute during one of their cards. Wrestlers CM Punk and Rey Mysterio dedicated some of their matches to Eddie Guerrero.

Hall of Fame and other mentions[link]

Guerrero was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1, 2006 by Rey Mysterio, his nephew Chavo Guerrero, and Chris Benoit in Chicago, Illinois on the night before WrestleMania 22.^[3] His widow, Vickie Guerrero, accepted the honor. The next night at Wrestlemania, Rey Mysterio won the World Heavyweight Championship, and dedicated the victory and the title to Guerrero.

There have been several tributes made to honor Guerrero since his induction into the Hall of Fame, including a package that featured not only his time on SmackDown!, but expanded to his life outside the ring, that aired on the Decade of SmackDown! special on October 2, 2009; a special titantron feature of WWE Hall of Famers who had competed in the Royal Rumble, which aired before the 2011 event, included Guerrero; and a place on the WWE Top 50 Superstars of All Time DVD, as voted by fellow superstars, who placed him 11th.

Guerrero has also been featured in the game WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, which was completed during mid-2005 and Eddie provides his own voice. The game attracted some minor controversy due to an in-game story where Eddie is placed into a coffin by The Undertaker, particularly the fact that life imitated art in this sensitive instance. The coincidence was more resounding in the United Kingdom, where the game was released during the week of Guerrero's death. He also appeared as a legend in the games WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2007, WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008 (PSP only) and WWE '12 and is included on the WWE Legends roster in the THQ video game "WWE All Stars."

Guerrero's family members within the business have also made numerous references to Eddie, ranging from simple guestures and anecdotes to the adaptation of his signature moves and mannerisms in the ring. When his brother Hector signed with TNA, Hector looked up to the sky and mentioned how his father and brother have inspired him and he thanked them. At WrestleMania XXVI Vickie Guerrero competed in a 10-Diva Tag Match, in which her team was victorious after she climbed the turnbuckle, pointed to the sky and connected with a "Frog splash." And on the November 15, 2010 "Old School" episode of WWE Raw, WWE Legend and Eddie's older brother Chavo Guerrero, Sr. (aka Chavo Classic) gestured to the sky and shouted "Eddie!" as he was introduced.

During the 2011 Royal Rumble match itself. Eddie's nephew Chavo Guerrero paid tribute to him by the doing one of Eddie's signature moves "The Three Amigos" (triple vertical suplex), and followed up by pointing to the sky and doing the dance Eddie used to do.

[edit] Sports Illustrated steroid investigation

On March 19, 2007, Sports Illustrated posted on its website an article in its continuing series investigating a steroid and hGH ring used by a number of professional athletes in several sports. This article mentioned several current and former WWE wrestlers, including Guerrero who was alleged to have obtained hCG and the steroid stanozolol in early 2005.^[150] At the time of the alleged steroid usage, the WWE had not yet instituted its Wellness Policy in which wrestlers are tested for substances, which was stated by WWE.com on the day the article was released.

In wrestling[link]

Guerrero giving a Frog splash during his tag team match with Rey Mysterio against the Basham Brothers during a WWE house show held in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada on January 15, 2005

• As Eddie Guerrero
  • Finishing moves
    • Frog splash (WCW / WWF/E)^[3] / Jackknife Splash^[2] (WCW) – adopted from and used as a tribute to Art Barr^[151][152]
    • Lasso From El Paso (Elevated cloverleaf with a knee to the back)^[3]
    • The Smokin' Gun (With the referee distracted Guerrero tosses a foreign object to his opponent & lies down, when the referee looks he assumes the opponent performed an illegal move on Guerrero & thus disqualifying the opponent)
  • Signature moves
    • Brainbuster^[1]
    • Dropkick,^[153] sometimes to the opponent's knee^[154] or from the top rope^[153]
    • Figure four leglock^[1]
    • Gory special^[1] – adopted from his father
    • Hilo (Slingshot somersault senton)^{[1][153][155]}
    • Hurricanrana, sometimes to an oncoming opponent,^[154] while springboarding^[155] or from the top rope
    • Monkey flip to cornered opponent^[153][155]
    • Multiple suplex variations
      • Belly to Back
      • German^[1]
      • Three Amigos (Triple rolling vertical suplexes)
      • Super^[1][155]
      • Vertical^[155]
    • Plancha^[1][155]
    • Splash Mountain^[1] (Sitout crucifix powerbomb)
    • Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker^[153][155]
    • Tornado DDT^[1][154]

• As Black Tiger
  • Finishing moves
    • Black Tiger Bomb^[1] (Sitout crucifix powerbomb, sometimes from the second rope)
  • Signature moves
    • Brainbuster, sometimes from the top of the turnbuckle
    • Slingshot somersault senton^[1]
    • Tornado DDT^[1]

• Managers
  • Chyna

• Nicknames
  • "Latino Heat"

• Entrance themes
  • Extreme Championship Wrestling
    • "Animal" by Pearl Jam (1995)
    • "Live and Let Die" by Guns N' Roses (1995)
  • World Championship Wrestling
    • "Bad Man" (1995–1998)
  • World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
    • "Latino Heat" by Jim Johnston (April 2 2000–May 21 2001, April 1 2002–March 13 2003)
    • "We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal" by Los Guerreros (used while partnering with Chavo Guerrero; March 20 2003–March 11 2004)
    • "I Lie, I Cheat, I Steal" by Eddie Guerrero (March 14 2004–April 28 2005,October 28 2005–November 11 2005)
    • "Can You Feel the Heat" by Eddie Guerrero (May 12 2005–August 21 2005)
    • "Gangsta Lane" by Jim Johnston (August 25 2005–October 21 2005)

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Guerrero as one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions

• Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
  • AAA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[156] – with Art Barr
  • AAA Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)^[157]

• Extreme Championship Wrestling
  • ECW World Television Championship (2 times)^[10]

• Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
  • IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[72]
• Latin American Wrestling Association
  • LAWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[158]

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Best of the Super Juniors (1996)^[159]
  • Junior Heavyweight Super Grade Tag League (1996) – with The Great Sasuke^[156]

• Pro Wrestling Federation
  • PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[156] – with Hector Guerrero

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Comeback of the Year (1999)^[160]
  • PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2002, 2004)^[161]
  • PWI Stanley Weston Award (2005)^[162]
  • PWI ranked him # 2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004.^[163]
  • PWI ranked him #81 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[164]
  • PWI ranked him # 18 with Art Barr of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[165]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)^[33]
  • WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[166]

• World Wrestling All-Stars
  • WWA International Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[167]
• World Wrestling Association
  • WWA Welterweight Championship (1 time)^[156]
  • WWA Trios Championship (1 time)^[156] – with Chavo Guerrero and Mando Guerrero

• World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Championship (1 time)^[168]
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (4 times)^[169] – with Chavo Guerrero (2), Tajiri (1), and Rey Mysterio (1)
  • WWE United States Championship (1 time)^[166]
  • WWF European Championship (2 times)^[170]
  • WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (2 times)^[171]
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)^[3]
  • Eleventh Triple Crown Champion
  • Sixth Grand Slam Championship

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best on Interviews (2005)
  • Feud of the Year (1994) with Art Barr vs. El Hijo del Santo and Octagón
  • Feud of the Year (1995) vs. Dean Malenko
  • Most Charismatic (2004, 2005)
  • Tag Team of the Year (1994) with Art Barr as La Pareja del Terror
  • 5 Star Match (1994) with Art Barr vs. El Hijo del Santo and Octagón on November 6
  • Tag Team of the Year (2002) with Chavo Guerrero as Los Guerreros
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)

Luchas de Apuestas[link]

References[link]