Forgotten Classic Vol. Two: Eddie Guerrero v. JBL For WWE Title

(Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

Sorry about this article being a week late. I was busy, so I didn't have time to write it. Anyways, here is the second volume of my Forgotten Classics series. Like some of you have said, future volumes will include Ring Of Honor, AWA, WWWF and early WWF matches as well, but this week's is a classic match between the late, great Eddie Guerrero and the, then WWE Champion, JBL.

Enjoy the article my B/R peeps!

JBL vs Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship in a Steel Cage Match on July 15, 2004 on Smackdown

At No Way Out 2004, Eddie Guerrero fulfilled his lifetime dream and became the WWE Champion. He, then, went on to successfully defend his coveted championsip against Kurt Angle on the grandest stage of them all: Wrestlemania 20.

As you all know, shortly after Wrestlemania 20, the second ever WWE Draft took place and after all was said and done, Kurt Angle became the new Smackdown General Manager as a result of Paul Heyman quiting, due to him being drafted to Raw. During his tenure as General Manager, he was choke-slammed of a 30-foot ledge by Big Show, resulting in Kurt Angle being put in a wheelchair indefinitely. Whilst this was happening, a new superstar emerged from the dust left by the draft, a superstar that was know previously as one half of the APA but was know going by the name of John Bradshaw Layefield.

The self-proclaimed "Wrestling God" went on a mission to become the WWE Champion and he pursued Eddie Guerrero relentlessly, even causing Latino Heat's mother to have an heart attack at a house show in Eddie's hometown of El Paso, Texas.

After their brutal encounter at Judgement Day 2004—a match Eddie won by disqualification, but left with his face drenched in his own blood—JBL was awarded a rematch at The Great American Bash 2004. In the main event, JBL controversially beat Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bull-rope match. After Eddie thought he had won the match, his nemesis, and General Manager, Kurt Angle announced that JBL's shoulder had touched the corner first, resulting in a new WWE Champion being crowned and the reign of Latino Heat was coming to an abrupt end.

The following Smackdown, Eddie Guerrero arrived at the end of the main event, gave JBL the Three Amigos and announced that in three weeks from that date, it would be Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield for the WWE Championship inside a 15-foot high Steel Cage.

The stage was set for a memorable encounter, but no one could have foreseen that shocking twist that occurred at the end of the match.

The Match

Here's Part One.

Watch Part Two here.

Here's Part Three.

Here's the video for Part Four.

The Verdict

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?