Rey Mysterio Jr vs Eddie Guerrero (10/25/97)

[Guest Black Tiger]

On October 25th, 1997 WCW held their Halloween Havoc PPV event. The card was stacked to the brim with "great" matches such as Lex Luger vs Scott Hall, and Hollywood Hogan vs Roddy Piper. There was also a match that would leave a memory is wrestling fans for years to come: Crusierweight Title vs Mask: Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio Jr. I was 14 years old when the match first happened, Unfortunaly I have never seen it, so don't look for a match review. Instead I'll provie a buildup and an aftermath.

 

Eddy Guerrero had won the Cruiserweight Title at Fall Brawl from Chris Jericho. Eddy proved he was a fighting champion from the get go by defending against all comers. Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Psychosis etc were all defeated by Guerrero. There was one man lobbying for a title shot though that Eddy wasn't willing to face...Rey Mysterio Jr. Every week Rey would try to get a match and Eddy would turn him down for various reasons. Then on an episode of Nitro in early October things went in a new direction.

 

The opening match was Rey Mysterio Jr vs El Kelliante. Kelliante looked to be a very generic luchadore, he wore a half read and green mask, and long green tights and did some familiar moves. A slingshot elbow, a face twist with the boot, he almost started slapping his chest. Mike Tenay wouldn't shut up about how he knew nothing of this guy and gave it away.

 

Rey caught a surprise rana ala Sasuke in J-Cup and pinned him, then unmasked him to discover...Eddy Guerrero. Now with a victory, Rey had a reason to get his title shot. James J. Dillion agreed and he signed Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Eddy Guerrero for Hallloween Havoc. One week later Eddy was furious for having to put up his title and Rey had to put up nothing. Eddy wanted to make the match Mask vs Title. Rey agreed. Later that night as Rey was wrestling Dean Malenko, Eddy slid into the ring and took off his mask as Malenko was applying the Texas Cloverleaf, Rey had no choice, he had to submit.

 

Eddy and Rey put on a ****3/4 MOTYC at Halloween Havoc that saw Rey win the match and save his mask.

 

Afterwards, Rey would defend his title for two weeks and then lose to the same man he won it from...Eddy Guerrero. Which member of the booking comitee had their head stuck up their ass to make this ruling?

 

Two guys put on a MOTYC and you blow if off two weeks later, if they wanted to keep the belt on Eddy why not just make it a Mask match and then Rey earns his shot from winning that match, and Eddy wins. Rey wins the title and ends up looking like a non-contender. Is it a wonder WCW folded?

 

feedback and corrections (Much of this came from memory) are welcome.

[Guest shlidgn90]

the better story between rey/eddy was backstage.