WWE Classic of the Week: Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar at No Way out 2004

The 2004 No Way Out pay-per-view was seemingly built around the premise that Eddie Guerrero, long one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet, would compete in his first major WWE Championship match of his career.

His face was plastered all over the marketing materials, he was the top babyface on the SmackDown roster and was as over as he had ever been.

In order to seize the moment and capture the prize that had eluded him throughout his 15 years in the business, he would have to knock off the seemingly unbeatable Brock Lesnar.

The beastly Superstar had dominated the SmackDown brand since his phenomenal rookie year, amassing three WWE titles and defeating the top stars the industry had to offer. A competitor whose freakish, raw athleticism has never (and may never) be replicated, he was expected to be the face of World Wrestling Entertainment for years to come.

From the outside looking in, Guerrero was no match for Lesnar. The size difference and Lesnar's power advantage appeared to be too much for Latino Heat to overcome. But Guerrero had heart that could not be measured in any tale of the tape.

That, coupled with the presence of Goldberg, would prove all the second-generation star needed to even the odds.

Would he actually be able to do what Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, The Undertaker, John Cena and Hardcore Holly could not by beating Lesnar and taking the WWE Championship?

That would remain to be seen.

The Background

Brock Lesnar defeated Kurt Angle on September 18, 2003 during an episode of SmackDown. In a 60-Minute Iron Man match, Lesnar overcame the speed and endurance of the Olympic gold medalist to defeat Angle and regain the WWE Championship.

It was the start of a third reign with the title, a reign that would see him defeat Angle in subsequent rematches, not to mention withstand the challenges of Chris Benoit, The Undertaker and Hardcore Holly.

Holly, in particular, proved a threat to Lesnar. Whereas other challengers were focused solely on winning the championship, the veteran from Mobile, Alabama, was much more interested in avenging the broken neck he suffered at the hands of the former NCAA champion just over a year earlier.

After weeks of attacking and assaulting Lesnar from behind chairs and in sanctioned matches, Holly had the opportunity to not just defeat him but take his title as well at the January 2004 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Lesnar withstood the challenge of his rival, retaining his title and further establishing his dominance.

Meanwhile, Eddie Guerrero was in the midst of a personal war with nephew Chavo Guerrero.

Just months earlier, Eddie and Chavo had dominated the tag team title ranks as Los Guerreros. They defeated the likes of the World's Greatest Tag Team, thwarted attempts to take their titles by newcomers The Basham Brothers and were as strong and united as ever.

But Eddie's singles success had ignited a jealousy within Chavo that overwhelmed the once-unbreakable unit.

By the time the Guerreros lost the tag titles to the Bashams, Chavo could no longer take it. He betrayed his uncle, then sought the guidance of father Chavo Sr. as he waged war with his former partner.

At the same Royal Rumble pay-per-view at which Lesnar defeated Hardcore Holly, Eddie brutalized Chavo and ended their feud decisively.

Days later on SmackDown, Guerrero earned the right to advance to No Way Out and challenge Lesnar for the WWE Championship by winning a televised Royal Rumble match.

Though Lesnar poked fun at Guerrero's Mexican heritage, he had plenty of reason to be worried about the pay-per-view bout that awaited on February 15, 2004.

Not only did he have the challenge of an immensely talented professional wrestler before him, but he also needed eyes in the back of his head to watch Goldberg, who would be seated at ringside with vengeance on his mind.

After several backstage encounters and Lesnar's elimination of the former WCW champion in the 2004 Royal Rumble match, Goldberg would be looking to send a loud message to Lesnar.

The Match

The Analysis

The most beautiful thing about the WWE Championship match at No Way Out 2004 is the psychology and storytelling that unfolded.

Physically superior to Guerrero, Lesnar tossed him around the squared circle with reckless abandon. He was cocky and arrogant, clearly feeling as though he had the upper hand throughout despite the fact that his knee was damaged as a result of Eddie's ability to pinpoint a limb and work over it—not to mention that his nose was bloodied during the hard-hitting action.

But Guerrero fought through the pain, never giving up. After losing the United States Championship, enduring the heartache of his breakup with nephew Chavo and the Guerrero civil war that ensued, he fought back and put himself in position to win the title.

Lesnar's attempt to cheat behind the referee's back was thwarted by Goldberg, who blasted him with a spear and helped set up Guerrero's eventual, highly emotional WWE Championship win.

It was flawless storytelling from start to finish.

There are undoubtedly those who point to Goldberg's interference as a dark cloud hanging over the match, but it made sense within the context of the story. It had been built up in the weeks before the show, and despite the interference Lesnar still managed to kick out of a pinfall attempt and keep fighting, thus allowing Guerrero to eventually win the match on his own.

Eddie's ringside celebration with his family remains one of the biggest feel-good moments in WWE history, one that fans of his still remember vividly and fondly to this day.

The Aftermath

Lesnar and Goldberg would have that dream match weeks later at WrestleMania XX. Unfortunately, when word leaked out that neither Superstar would be sticking around after the Showcase of the Immortals, fans turned on the match, greeting it with considerable jeers and instead cheering referee "Stone Cold" Steve Austin instead of the combatants.

Goldberg would win the match, and Lesnar would depart WWE for the bright lights and big paydays of the National Football League.

Of course, that didn't pan out, so he returned to the ring in Japan. After a few matches there, he made his way to the world of mixed martial arts, debuting for Ultimate Fighting Championship. There, he became the sport's biggest draw and one of its most polarizing personalities.

In 2012, on the heels of medical problems that led to his departure from MMA, Lesnar returned to WWE. Two years after stepping foot back inside the squared circle, Lesnar defeated John Cena to become WWE world heavyweight champion.

He still holds that title at press time.

Guerrero found the pressures of being champion almost too daunting. As the top star on SmackDown, the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and as proud as he was to carry the title, he simply felt uncomfortable in his role.

After a successful title defense at WrestleMania XX in a win over Kurt Angle, Guerrero began feuding with John Bradshaw Layfield. In one of the bloodiest matches in pro wrestling history, he lost by disqualification to Layfield, then dropped the title to the surging new villain at Great American Bash.

A heel turn, feud with Rey Mysterio and blossoming rivalry with Batista would make up most of Guerrero's 2005 before tragedy struck.

On November 13, 2005, Eddie Guerrero passed away in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The wrestling world was struck incredibly hard by the untimely death of one of its most beloved stars. In the days and weeks that followed, video packages paid tribute to the all-time great, and one of the most memorable images in each was that of Guerrero holding the WWE title, celebrating with his mother just moments after winning it.

In April 2006, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, ensuring that his life and legacy will be immortal.