El Paso Times Recognizes Eddy Guerrero

[Guest Trivia247]

El Paso wrestler overcomes troubles to rejoin WWE

Victor R. Martinez

El Paso Times

 

Eddie Guerrero has grappled with many wrestlers in a career that spans more than 15 years.

 

In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Billy Gunn and Dean Malenko.

 

But not one of his matches has been as ferocious as the battle he had with himself.

 

"My battle with drugs and alcohol has been the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life," he said in a telephone interview from his home in Tampa, Fla. "But by the grace of God, I'm going on two years now, clean and sober."

 

The El Pasoan will wrestle at the WWE SmackDown! Tuesday at the Don Haskins Center.

 

After working his way through the ranks of professional wrestling, Guerrero was living large working for the World Wrestling Federation.

 

But it came tumbling down as fast as an opponent does when Guerrero applies his signature Frog Splash on him.

 

Guerrero was involved in a car crash that almost killed him on New Year's Eve 1998.

 

The resulting knee injury led to an addiction to prescription painkillers.

 

Guerrero faced his addiction by spending four months in a rehabilitation center, but he had an alcohol-related relapse in November 1999 and was released from his contract with the World Wrestling Federation.

 

"This was the hardest thing to come back from," Guerrero said. "You are battling a lot of personal demons. It is not physical, it is spiritual and mental."

 

He turned to family and friends to get him through it.

 

"They were always supportive," he said. "The bottom line is my strength came through Jesus Christ. Still today, I find my strength in him, and I always will."

 

Guerrero, born Oct. 9, 1967, grew up on Huerta Street off Delta Drive in South El Paso.

 

He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1985 and wrestled at the University of New Mexico.

 

"He didn't talk much back then, so it's surprising that he would become an international wrestling star," said Victor Galaviz, who sat next to Guerrero in algebra class. "It's great for El Paso to have one of its own to cheer for and watch on television."

 

Guerrero usually makes two trips a year to El Paso.

 

"I miss la raza," he said. "I miss the people, the weddings, the people I grew up with and mom's chilaquiles. She fixes me up when I'm here."

 

Guerrero comes from a wrestling family.

 

His father, Gory Guerrero, was a founding member of Lucha Libre and considered one of the best pro wrestlers in Mexican history. His brothers -- Chavo, Mando and Hector-- wrestled in Mexico and Japan. and his nephew Chavo Jr., is also a WWE wrestler.

 

"Out of my whole life, there were maybe four months that I thought I don't want to be a wrestler," he said. "But I knew what I wanted to do all my life. I grew up watching my dad and my older brothers do it. This is a dream for me."

 

During the comeback, Guerrero worked independent shows and toured Japan while waiting for his second shot.

 

He did not realize it at the time, but that was the best thing to happen to him.

 

"It really made me see that I really do love to wrestle," he said. "I had lost that feeling. I was just going through the motions. When I got released, I said, 'Well, there is nothing stopping me now' -- if I wanted to keep partying, I could do it."

 

Emotionally, he had hit rock bottom, he was not much better physically, and it could have been worse.

 

"It took me a long time to appreciate wrestling," he said. "I was no longer wrestling for 20,000 people; I was wrestling for 25 people. I found out I did want to wrestle. It got me grounded again. It reminded me why I was in wrestling. It became part of me again."

 

 

Link: Original Article/El Paso Times

[LJSexay 0]

I really like Eddy, and have even MORE respect for him based on everything he has overcome. Hopefully he can only go up from here...

[Fökai 0]

Guerrero faced his addiction by spending four months in a rehabilitation center, but he had an alcohol-related relapse in November 1999 and was released from his contract with the World Wrestling Federation.

 

EDIT: My bad. I had assumed it was 2000, because his release in November of 2001 didn't add up.

Edited August 28, 2003 by bravesfan

[Guest thrall585]

I guess the El Paso Times doesn't even really like their boy Eddie. They would have gotten the facts right if they truly cared about him.

Edited August 28, 2003 by thrall585

[Guest Loss]

Better yet, it was actually 2001 and it was still a good article.

[Guest thrall585]

>My bad. I had assumed it was 2000, because his release in November of 2001 didn't add up.

Add up in what?

[bob_barron 0]

Eddy was sent into rehab on June 4th, 2001 after showing up to RAW fucked up and causing a disturbance in the locker room.

 

He came back and worked two house shows in November against Funaki but then was arrested for DWI and was released from the company

[Guest thrall585]

Right. It is clear that he was released in 2001, not 2000

[Fökai 0]

>My bad. I had assumed it was 2000, because his release in November of 2001 didn't add up.

  Add up in what?

I had assumed he was released in May/June of 2001, since that was the last we saw of Eddie. (teaming up with the Hardys)

 

Released in November of 2001 didn't "add up" to me, but it turns out Eddie was STILL employed by the company and WAS released in November.

[Guest thrall585]

If you assumed he was released in May/June 2001, then why did you say you assume he was released in November 2000?

[Nevermortal 0]

In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Billy Gunn and Dean Malenko.

 

I've got a game.

 

Its called "Who doesn't belong?"

[Guest thrall585]

Guerrero

[Guest thrall585]

Just kidding

[Guest Boo_Bradley]

Waits for Eagan ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest Patorick]

In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Billy Gunn and Dean Malenko.

That's the best they could come up with?

[CanadianChick 0]

In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Billy Gunn and Dean Malenko.

 

I've got a game.

 

Its called "Who doesn't belong?"

When I read that line, I was thinking about the exact same thing.

[Mole 0]

I guess the El Paso Times doesn't even really like their boy Eddie. They would have gotten the facts right if they truly cared about him.

Since the guy who wrote the article probably didn't know anything about wrestling, it's okay for him to mess up a little bit. I don't think I have read ANY article about wrestling where they haven't messed up.

[Golgo 13 0]

As a journalist, you're supposed to get your facts straight no matter what. And considering Eddie wasn't even signed by the WWF the first time around until 2000.

[Ultra Violence 0]

JR: MAH GAWD Guerrero has faced BILLY GUNN KING!

 

King: PUPPIES!!!! I see a six year old... PUPPIES!

 

JR:HE HAS FACED BILLY GUNN... vile sadistic hoss structure damn his soul to STONE COLD STONE COLD STONE COLD hell

[Adam 0]

In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Billy Gunn and Dean Malenko.

 

I've got a game.

 

Its called "Who doesn't belong?"

When I read that line, I was thinking about the exact same thing.

That was the very first thing I thought of.

 

Shouldn't it have been :'In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko.' or even 'In the squared circle, Guerrero has faced the likes of Kurt Angle, Chyna and Dean Malenko.'??

[Ultra Violence 0]

he's faced the Rock and Stone Cold before....

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Eddie got love last night that would even make Hogan jealous.

[Ripper 0]

Eddie got love last night that would even make Hogan jealous.

Are you suggesting that Hogans wife isn't as good of a lover as Eddie's?

 

That's just not cool.

[bob_barron 0]

he's faced the Rock and Stone Cold before....

Eddy's also faced Triple H and Chris Jericho.

[Guest Choken One]

Has Eddy and Taker clashed?

 

I love to see that paring...

[cabbageboy 0]

I wouldn't. We all know UT would no sell everything Eddie does.

 

I was interested that Eddie went to New Mexico...did he graduate or just go for a year or two and then quit to wrestle professionally?