Eddie Guerrero

Born in El Paso, Texas on October 9, 1967 into Mexican wrestling royalty as the youngest son of Salvador "Gory" Guerrero, Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes grew up in a wrestling ring set up in his family's backyard. After mastering Mexican lucha libre, Japanese technical wrestling (competing as Black Tiger in New Japan Pro-Wrestling), and Paul Heyman's ECW, Guerrero entered WCW and WWE, mesmerizing audiences with his unparalleled ring psychology, breathtaking Frog Splash, and comedic brilliance. In 1999, Guerrero survived a near-fatal automobile accident that left him addicted to painkillers and alcohol, nearly destroying his career and marriage. In an extraordinary personal triumph, Guerrero achieved complete sobriety through devout Christian faith, returning to WWE in 2002 to create the immortal "Latino Heat" persona with his hilarious, beloved catchphrase: "I Lie, I Cheat, I Steal!" On February 15, 2004 at WWE No Way Out in San Francisco, Guerrero achieved the crowning summit of his career: in an emotionally electric, historic showdown, he defeated Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship, celebrating in the ring wrapped in the Mexican flag as arena crowds wept with joy. He was a WWE Grand Slam and Triple Crown Champion, revered by peers as the supreme technician of his generation. Tragically, on the morning of November 13, 2005, Guerrero died suddenly of heart failure at age 38 in a Minneapolis hotel room. Posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, Eddie Guerrero's legacy of heart, redemption, and joyful charisma lives forever: "Viva La Raza!"