Eddie Guerrero: Forever Young

It seems just like yesterday when I found out one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero passed away, due to heart failure. Nov. 13, 2005 was such a sad day for wrestling fans around the world. It was definitely a tragic moment that hit the wrestling world hard like a meteorite.

Guerrero's employer, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), publicly implemented a wellness policy, consisting of stringent drug tests for all their superstars. Superstars that test positive end up suspended and may receive rehabilitation treatment.

Guerrero's death may not have been drug-related directly, but certainly, his past use of pain killers, steroids, and alcohol did contribute to his untimely demise.

It is a shame, since he was clean for a number of years prior to his death, although the Signature Pharmacy scandal of 2007 reveals that illegal performance enhancing drugs were shipped to his home two weeks before his passing.

Whatever the true circumstances surrounding his death may be, Latino Heat is considered one of the greatest ever. The man had it all—good look, suave attitude, charisma, and most of all, exceptional in-ring ability.

His matches with Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Edge, and Rob Van Dam (just to name a few) were almost always instant classics.

Guerrero spanned the globe too, wrestling for AAA in Mexico, NJPW in Japan, and ECW, WCW, and WWE in the states.

As nice as it is to see Guerrero's family members Vickie and Chavo Jr., as well as friends Batista and Rey Mysterio getting great exposure in WWE, that still doesn't change the fact the company over-exploited his death via a series of angles that tastelessly referenced him in late-2005, early-2006.

I know it's a show and it must go on, but using his name in an angle to get heat for then-Smackdown superstars Randy Orton and Chavo Guerrero was extremely insensitive. Then again, no one held a gun to their heads, so who knows...

Regardless of how you feel about the aforementioned angles, there should be no doubt in anybody's mind that Eddie Guerrero was one of the best of his generation. He overcame demons, worked hard, won the hearts of millions, and still leaves an impact on WWE today, as proven by their recent tribute to him on A Decade of Smackdown.

I could go on and on about Eddie Guerrero, but that video does all the justice for Latino Heat. It may have been four years since his death, but Eddie Guerrero will be forever young and loved. Rest in peace, Eddie. Thanks for the memories.

Viva La Raza!!!!!

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

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